Summary:

The mini flow channel experiment is meant and designed to determine the path of a fluid
flow over and around the submerged objects. These objects can be in different shapes
such as circular, triangular, aerofoil, rectangular and so on (The objects are shown in
pictures attached with this report). To carry out this experiment, a mini flow channel
apparatus used. First of all, the channel is cleaned and is ready to use. Then, the object or
the model is placed inside the flow channel and it is screwed in order to stay in one place.
After that, water is slowly released in the channel by turning the valve on. The valve is
opened slowly because if the valve is opened fast the flow rate will be fast as well and it
will cause inconsistent results. In order to get a clearer picture of the flow and in order to
at least see the pattern of flow, some ink or dye had be added with the water so that the
pattern can be seen.
The dye in the water causes the flow pattern to be visualized. Therefore, the patterns of
flow of water over and around objects of different shapes can be observed and studied. So
basically, this experiment is to demonstrate how exactly the fluids especially water will
behave when they face an obstacle or object in their flow path.
The results of this experiment will help in studying of influence of geometry in bodies of
water or generally in fluids. These results will also help in design of different structures
that are meant to be in water and as well as the behavior of flow of water due to the
existing obstacles in rivers, streams and so on. It is also important to be mentioned here
that this experiment is subjected to some certain limitations as well. For example, the
results of the experiment can be disturbed and changed by rate of the velocity of the
liquid. In the other words, we might get a different flow pattern when the velocity of the
flow is high compare with the results if the velocity of the fluid is low or vice versa.

Objective:
i.

To observe the phenomena of flow patterns around the bodies of airfoil-like of

different shapes.

ii.

To indicate the point of stagnation, areas of separation and eddy generation of

the different models.

Theory:
The study of flow around bodies of airfoil-like and other form is of great practical
importance, since they are used not only as airplane wings, but also as form the basis of
the design of blades for propellers, fans, pumps, steam, and water turbines. We shall limit
our consideration to two dimensional flow patterns.
Streamlines in flow are defined as lines at any instant, are tangent to the velocity
vectors, there can be no flow across streamline at any point. Once streamline pattern is at
hand, it is no longer necessary to include the individual velocity vector of fluid particles.
The maximum pressure intensity is reached at the nose of the body, where the
velocity is zero. This point is called a point of stagnation.

The separation of the flow from the surface of bodies is the direct consequence of
the development of the boundary layer. In laboratory experiment, this layer may be very
thin and its presence cannot often be detected visually; the cylinder shown in Figure has
diameter of 50 mm, and boundary layer, which starts to develop at the stagnation point in
front of the cylinder, is still less 1 mm thick just ahead of the separation point.

It is possible to apply potential flow theory to the airfoil, leading the prediction of
flow pattern of the kind illustrated in Figure. It is apparent that this flow pattern has
peculiar features: there is a stagnation point on the upper surface of the airfoil just
forward of trailing edge, and flow from the underside of the airfoil to the upper surface
takes place around the trailing edge.

When the airfoil first begin to move (it makes no difference whether we consider
the airfoil in motion, or the fluid motion), the flow pattern does in fact correspond to a
potential flow. The establishment of the flow is accompanied by the development of
boundary layers, and friction forces build up, the flow pattern changes. The result is that,
at the trailing edge, two streams of fluid that are traveling at different velocities meet. The
effect is to set up a lane of intense shearing a vortex sheet extended behind the airfoil.
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He shear forces set up n this plane act to equalize the velocities of two converging
streams. This process takes place very rapidly, and is accompanied by the formation of a
starting vortex resulting from the curling up of the vortex sheet. At a later stage the
starting vortex is carried away downstream, leaving behind it the vortex sheet sketched
in Figure.
The effect of the interaction between two streams is to accelerate the flow of the
fluid in the upper layer and to reduce the velocity in the lower layer. In accordance to
Bernoulli equation, the corresponding static pressure n the upper surface of the is
diminished, and pressure on the lower surface is increased. At the same time the
proportion of the fluid steam flowing above the airfoil increases, that flowing beneath
decreases and the position of the forward stagnation point is displaced downward.
The lift Force F only develops when the flow pattern of Figure as been
established, and is the consequence of the pressure difference between the upper and
lower surfaces of the airfoil; this is a consequence of friction force.

Figure 2.4: Illustration of the streamlines over a typical airfoil in two tests at
different angles of attack

Figure 2.5: Consecutive pictures of the flow around a cylinder

Figure 2.6: Flow over a sharp plate of width b and elliptic cylinder with major axis

Description of Equipment

This experiment introduces a simple demonstration of two dimension fluid flow over
and around submerged objects of different shapes. The visualization of low pattern is by
introducing ink for visual or photographic observations of flow along the bodies, and
reveal such special features of flow as stagnation points, separation and formation of
eddies. In addition, the study of influence of airfoil geometry on flow pattern is made
possible by different wing shapes.
The equipment consists of mini flow channel, Hydraulics Bench, water and water
ink. The mini flow channel consists of a transparent working section of large depth to
width ratio having been varied by using of undershot and overshot gates at upstream and
downstream ends, respectively. Water is fed to the streamlined channel entry from a
stilling tank to reduce the turbulent intensity. Water discharging from the channel is
collected in the volumetric tank of the Hydraulic Bench, and is returned to the stilling
tank for recirculation. A dye injection system having 5 needles is located at the vertical
inlet section of the channel allowing flow visualization in the conjunction with white
background on the rear face of channel. The streamlines defining the direction of flow I
the water are rendered visible by the injection of dye / ink at the upstream section of the
channel.

Technical Data
Dye injection needles ---------------- 5
Dye reservoir capacity --------------- 0.5
Width of channel --------------------- 15 mm
Length of channel -------------------- 620 mm
Depth of channel --------------------- 180 mm
Models
Small and large cylinders.
Narrow crested and broad crested weirs.
Crump weir.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical aerofoils.

Procedure:
1. The amount of ink dye is adjusted to be dropped to get a clear flow pattern.
2. The nut that is situated at the center and slip in any way of the four shapes object
into the tank is initially unscrewed and after that screw it back.
3. The knob that is below the hydraulic bench is turned to get a desire flow. After
that, higher velocity is obtained by turning the knob.
4. The flow pattern is obtained and sketched out.
5.

The tap is closed and waits for a while to empty the tank.

6. The shaped object is take out and exchanged with other shape object.
7. Step 2 to 6 is repeated with all different shapes and the flow pattern is observed.
Model for which it is necessary to study the flow pattern is in the channel at the
determined angle of attack of put the water ink / dye in dye injection system on top of the
tank reservoir. The flow of the dye and the height of the stream lines are adjusted to
ensure full visibility. The flow velocity is determined by volumetric method. There is also
a need to examine the position of undershot and overshot gates because they determine
the level of fluid in the channel and the flow velocity. The best vertical (form observation
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five dyed jets must be seen simultaneously) position of 5 needles system been chosen, the
features of flow pattern are analyzed. It is best to place the channel not on the Hydraulic
Bench but on a separate table to eliminate vibration, hence streamlines formation. The
channel discharge, however, should be still to the Hydraulics Bench.

Data and Observation:

The mini flow channel experiment does not have numerical data or readings such as the
other experiments; instead it is only observation and study. During this experiment, we
observed different flow patterns using different shapes and then in order to have a clearer
understanding of them and to compare them with theories, we took pictures of the flow
pattern for different geometries which are included in this laboratory report. At the same
time, since no numerical data are involved with this experiment, therefore, no
calculations are involved as well.

The rectangular block

The triangle block

The airfoil shape block

The round shape block

The vertical rectangular block

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Analysis Result:
This experiment introduces a simple demonstration of two dimension fluid flow
over and around submerged objects of different shapes. The objective of this experiment
is to study the flow patterns around bodies of airfoil-like of different shapes and to
indicate the point of stagnation, areas of separation and eddy generation of the flow of
different models. For this experiment, two dimensional flow pattern concepts are used.
When immersed in liquid (i.e. water) will affect the way or pattern of the fluid flowing
pass through it. In this observation, a two dimensional flow pattern concept is used.
Theoretically, this is what that occurs in the following fluid. When the maximum
pressure intensity is reached at the nose of the body, here the velocity would then be zero
and this exact point is called the stagnation point.
When the fluid stream flows around a body, it tends to adhere to the surface for a
portion of the length of the body. Then, at a certain point, the thin boundary layer
separates from the surface, and turbulent wake is formed. In the sketch, we are able to
notice that the stagnation point is always at the front of the body where the direction of
flow is while the turbulent wake formed is at the back of the body where the pressure is
much lower than stagnation point
In this experiment, we have managed to sketch out the flow patterns of five
different shaped objects and label out the flow in data and observation section. The points
of stagnation as well as the areas of separation are also indicated. So, we are not able to
indicate the eddy generation of the flow due to the occurrence of errors which will be
discussed in detail in Discussion session.
For the first model that we used is the cylindrical object. From this, we are able to
see that the fluid tends to adhere to the surface for the portion of length of the body. As
the cylindrical objet has a circular shape, so the streamlines adhered at stagnation point
are separated at two areas of separation, which is the top of the object and the bottom of
the object.

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The second model that we used for this experiment is aerofoil object. The front of
the object is oval-shaped, like cylindrical object. When the velocity of liquid (water) is
low, no turbulent wake forms. When the velocity increases, a turbulent wakes form
behind the object. So, for the experiment for the second model, the wake have separate
into two areas which is at the top and bottom of the object after the streamlines have
passed through the stagnation point.
The next model that we used was the triangular-shaped object. When the
streamlines passed through the triangular-shaped object, we were able to see that the
fluids tend to adhere to the surface for the portion of length of the body.
Next, the cubic object was fixed to the channel. For this object, we notice that
when the fluid flow is low velocity, the streamlines are close to one another. In this case,
the area of separation is at the top of the model.
Lastly, the model we used is the rectangular-shaped object. For this object, we can
notice that when the fluid flows with low velocity, the streamlines are close to one
another. While the velocity increasing, no turbulent wake is formed and the streamlines
have large gaps between one another.

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DISCUSSIONS
Looking back at our pictures taken in this experiment and comparing them with the
sketches of the theories, some kinds of flaw can be seen in our pictures. In some pictures
the path of the fluid is very blur and cant be seen while in some others, it is very
obvious. This is because the dye tank needles were inconsistent. Sometimes, they
dispense ink while sometime they dont, therefore, it become difficult to see the patterns
properly and to take a proper picture.
For example, Figure 2.3 shows the pattern of a flow around and over an aerofoil while if
we compare it with Figure 2.10, we can see that there are some differences. As I
mentioned before, these difference can be cause by different reasons. Some of them are as
follows:
Inconsistency of the ink dispenser: The dye was kind of non-linear and the lines
of the dye dispensed from the dye dispenser were mostly fragmented causing
difficulties in taking the right pattern of the flow
Inconsistency of the flow rate of the liquid: Adjusting the valve in the hydraulic
bench would also cause a sudden decrease or increase in the flow rate which that
would disturb the whole flow pattern
Vibration of the hydraulic bench: Obviously, since the hydraulic bench is run by a
motor, it will vibrate. This vibration disturbs the flow pattern and that is why it is
recommended to put the mini flow channel apparatus in a separate table while
doing this experiment, but since there wasnt any extra table around, we put the
mini flow channel apparatus on the hydraulic bench.
Imbalances in the hydraulic bench, improper handling of the equipment,
equipment failure may also disturb the flow pattern in the mini flow channel.
Similarly, comparing Figure 2.10 which is circular object with the theories, we can figure
out some differences. For example Figure 2.2 is illustrating theoretically that how a

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circular object will behave. Studying Figure 2.2, we can obviously identify point of
stagnation, point of separation, and the places where eddies are formed. For Figure 2.10
however, since the dye in the water is inconsistent and it is kind of fragmented, therefore,
the formation of eddies cannot be seen properly. The point of stagnation in Figure 2.10
can be seen but hat point also not the same as the theory as in Figure 2.2. But in overall, if
these certain problems and limitations did not exist, this experiment could be exactly the
same as theories because it is a straight forward experiment and no calculations and so on
are involved.

Conclusion:

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In conclusion, based on the objective of this experiment which is to introduce a simple

two dimensional demonstration of a fluid flows over or around the submerged obstacle
objects, to provide a visualized flow pattern by addition of dye in the water, or a
photographic observation of flow over or around the submerged objects and to study the
influence of the geometry in the behavior of fluids, the experiment was carried out
accordingly and the following conclusion can be drawn from the experiment:
Firstly, the two dimensional demonstration of the fluid flow was introduced by the help of
a mini flow channel apparatus. Since the water is a transparent substance and since it is
difficult to see its flow pattern by the naked eyes, therefore some ink or dye is added in
the water by special needles or dispenser in order to see and have a visualized picture and
behavior of the pattern of fluids flowing around or over a submerged object. Tracing the
pattern of the flow by the ink is also referred to as the photographic observation.
Secondly, in order to study and see the influence of geometry in the fluids flow pattern,
objects of different geometry are actually required to be tested. Different objects will
have their own effect and causing some the fluid characteristics such as stagnation point,
separation point, and formation of eddies and so on. For example, as seen in our pictures,
in Figure 2.7, there is a point of stagnation, there is an area where the water tries to
separate from the body or point of separation but based on our picture we see no place
where possible an eddy can be formed.
Same goes to Figure 2.8 which has almost the same characteristic as Figure 2.7. But in
Figure 2.9, which is actually a triangular shape, there is a possibility that point of
stagnation, point of separation and eddies will be formed. For a circular object, Figure
2.10 and for an aerofoil object, Figure 2.11, theses characteristics can easily be formed
due to the geometry of the object.

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Figure 2.13: A typical diagram shows the area of separation and the point of
stagnation in a body submerged in the water

Figure 2.14: Comparing of an sphere and a golf ball to show the point of separation.
In a smooth surface, the point of separation immediately and the wake or the area of
the separation is wide while in a rough surface the point of separation is not
immediately and therefore the wake is thinner.

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Figure 2.15: Minimum pressure and stagnation line points

Figure 2.16: A typical picture showing different points in a aerofoil

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