You are on page 1of 3

MECH 533: Fundamentals of Aerodynamics

Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University

Assignment #1: Review of Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics


Due 25th. September, 2017

1. The x component of velocity in a two-dimensional incompressible flow field is given by


(x2 y 2 )
u=
(x2 + y 2 )2
, where u is in m/s, the coordinates are measured in meters, and = 2 m3 /s. Show
that the simplest form of the y component of velocity is given by
2xy
v= .
(x2 + y 2 )2
There is no velocity component or variation in the z-direction. Calculate the acceler-
ation of fluid particles at points (x, y) = (0, 1), (0, 2), and (0, 3). Estimate the radius
of curvature of the streamlines passing through these points. What does the relation
among the three points and their radii of curvature suggest to you about the flow
field? Verify this point by plotting these streamlines. [Hint: You will need to use an
integrating factor.]
2. Consider the case where a steady, incompressible, uniform flow whose velocity is U
approaches a flat plate. In the viscous region near the surface, which is called the
boundary layer, the streamwise component of velocity is given by
 y 1/6
u = U

where , the boundary layer thickness at a given station is a function of x. Is a
horizontal line parallel to the plate and a distance from the plate (where is equal
to at the downstream station) a streamline?
3. A useful component for the x component of velocity in an incompressible laminar
boundary layer is a parabolic variation from u = 0 at the surface (y = 0) to the
freestream velocity, U , at the edge of the boundary
layer (y = ). The equation for
the profile u/U = 2(y/) (y/)2 , where = c x and c is a constant. Show that the
simplest expression for the y component of velocity is
 
v 1  y 2 1  y 3
= .
U x 2 3

1
Plot v/U versus y/delta to find the location of the maximum value of the ratio v/U .
Evaluate the ratio where = 5mm and x = 0.5m.

4. A jet transport aircraft cruises at 12 km altitude in steady level flight at 820 km/hr.
Model the aircraft fuselage as a circular cylinder with diameter D = 4m and length
L = 40m. Neglecting compressibility effects, estimate the skin friction drag force on
the fuselage. Evaluate the power needed to overcome this force.

5. Coastdown tests, performed on a level road on a calm day, can be used to measure
aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance coefficients for a full-scale vehicle. Rolling
resistance is estimated from dV /dt measured at low speed, where aerodynamic drag
is small. Rolling resistance then is deducted from dV /dt measured at high speed to
determine the aerodynamic drag. The following data were obtained during a test
with a vehicle, of weight W = 25, 000lbf and frontal area A = 79ft2 : Estimate the

V (mph) 5 55
dV
dt
(mph/s) -0.150 -0.475

aerodynamic drag coefficient for this vehicle. At what speed does the aerodynamic
drag first exceed rolling resistance?

6. A pitot-static tube is used to measure the speed of air at standard conditions at a point
in a flow. To ensure that the flow may be assumed incompressible for calculations of
engineering accuracy, the speed is to be maintained at 100 m/s or less. Determine
the manometer deflection, in millimeters of water, that corresponds to the maximum
desirable speed.

7. Consider the flow field represented by the velocity potential = Ax+Bx2 By 2 , where
A = 1ms1 , B = 1s1 , and the coordinates are measured in meters. Obtain expressions
for the velocity field and the stream function. Calculate the pressure difference between
the origin and point (x, y) = (1, 2).

8. Consider the velocity field V~ = (x2 + y 2 )i 2xy 3 j.

(a) Is the flow irrotational or rotational?


(b) Calculate the circulation around the right triangle shown in Figure 1.
I
~ =?
V~ ds

(c) What is the integral of the component of the curl V~ over the surface of the
triangle? ZZ
( V~ ) n dA =?

2
Figure 1: Path of a closed curve

9. The velocity field for steady inviscid flow from left to right over a circular cylinder, of
radius R is given by
"  2 # "  2 #
R R
V~ = U cos 1 er U sin 1 + e
r r

Obtain expressions for the acceleration of a fluid particle moving along the stagnation
streamline ( = ) and for the acceleration along the cylinder surface (r = R). Plot
ar as a function of r/R for = , and as a function of for r = R; plot a as a
function of for r = R. Comment on the plots. Determine the locations at which
these accelerations reach maximum and minimum values.

10. The stream function of a two-dimensional incompressible flow is given by



= ln r
2
(a) Graph the streamlines.
(b) What is the velocity field represented by this stream function? Does the resultant
velocity field satisfy the continuity equation (conservation of mass)?
(c) Find the circulation about a path enclosing the origin. For the path of integration,
use a circle of radius 3 with a centre at the origin. How does the circulation depend
on the radius?

You might also like