DRAG ON A CIRCULAR CYLINDER

INSTRUCTED BY

Mr. Peshala Gamage

GROUP MEMBERS

De Silva SYS

De Zoysa AID

Deshapiya KP

Dehikumbura HMCKMB

Dewanarayana AT NAME : H.M.D.P. Herath

Dissanayaka DMA COURSE : BSc Engineering

Dissanayaka NCM INDEX NO : 150220V

Fernando HMS GROUP : ME.A3

Fonseka HFR DATE OF PER : 2017.02.20

Gamage PR DATE OF SUB : 2017.03.06

INTRODUCTION

Fluid flow over solid bodies frequently occur in practice, and it is responsible for various
physical phenomena such as drag force acting on automobile, power lines, underwater pipe lines and trees.
Therefore getting a good understanding about the external flow about the bodies is important in building
many engineering designs such as automobiles, airplanes, buildings, pipe lines, turbines, ships,
submarines.

Fluid flows occurs forces on bodies in various directions. The force a flowing fluid exert on a
body in the flow direction is called the drag force. Drag is usually an undesirable effect we get much
efforts to minimize the drag force. Reduction of drag force is commonly associated with the fuel
consumption of automobiles, submarines and aircrafts. Improved safety and durability of structures
subjected to high winds and reduction of noise and vibration. But sometimes drag is beneficial effect in
that situations we maximize it in that cases. Drag is sometimes useful such as in parachutes.

Drag force determination is very important because it is a factor which affects safety, efficiency
and durability of engineering designs. There are various methods in determining the drag force or drag
coefficient. The drag coefficient or the drag force is determined with the use of wind tunnels in most of
times. The drag force depend on the shape of the object which is faced to the fluid flow. So the drag
coefficient should be calculated for various geometric shapes. In the fluid flows the force changes with the
speed of the fluid and several other parameters. A dimensionless coefficient (CD) is calculated to
determine the drag force in a flowing fluid environment.

In this experiment we observe the drag force on a circular cylinder. Here considered fluid is air
and wind tunnel is used which can supply a medium velocity air. The pressure is varying about the axis of
the cylinder and there is a considerable pressure variation around it.
THEORY

When a circular cylinder is placed in the fluid stream the resultant fluid flow will have various flow
patterns which depends on the flow velocity, cylinder diameter and fluid type. For the convenience these
are often grouped to form a non-dimensional parameter called the Reynolds number (Re). Normally Re is
defined as,

𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑋 𝐶𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑋 𝑈𝑝𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝜌𝐷𝑉

𝑅𝑒 = =
𝐷𝑦𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝜇

There are two methods of evaluating the drag force and lift force. One method is based on the pressure
distribution. And the other method is based on the rate of change of momentum of the fluid.

Method 1

At high Reynolds number, the forces are determined by the pressure and could be obtained by integrating
the pressure distribution around the body.

Ps
θ
ds
U0

𝐷𝑝 = ∮ 𝑃𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃. 𝑑𝑠

The drag force can be calculated directly by evaluating the cyclic integral of the pressure
distribution because in the case of cylinder lift force would not be present.

Method 2

When a force is applied on the cylinder by the fluid, an equal opposite force will also be applied on the
fluid. This force will reduce the momentum of the fluid. Because of that by calculating the rate of change
of momentum of the fluid the force acting on the cylinder can be estimated.

U0, P0

𝐻
H Vi, Pi= Atmospheric
𝑛
D
D (on the body)
(on the fluid)
 𝐷 − 𝑃0 𝐴0 = ∫ 𝑚̇𝑈0 − ∫ 𝑚̇𝑖 𝑉𝑖

𝐷 = 𝑃0 𝐴0 + 𝜌 [∫ 𝑈02 𝑑𝐴0 − ∫ 𝑉𝑖2 𝑑𝐴𝑖 ]

𝑛
𝐻
= 𝑃0 𝐻 + 𝜌 [𝐻𝑈02 − ∑ 𝑉𝑖2 ]
𝑛
𝑖=1

APPARATUS
 Wind tunnel
 A cylinder with special modifications to locate the open end of the manometer at the surface of the
cylinder.
 Anemometer
 Manometer
 Meter ruler
 String

PROCEDURE

 Set the cylinder inside the wind tunnel and attach the free end of the tube that is connected to the
cylinder to the manometer.
 Turn on the wind tunnel and read the pressure value that gives the upstream pressure.
 Get the manometer readings by rotating the cylinder 00-3600 in 200 degree intervals.
 Measure the velocity of the flow at the center of the wind tunnel exit.
 Take the velocities of 4 points above the cylinder and 4 points below the cylinder.
 Repeat the same procedure for another upstream velocity.
 Take the cylinder out and measure the diameter of it.
 Measure the angle of the tray which holds the manometers.
 Measure the atmospheric pressure.
CALCULATION

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝜌. 𝑔. ℎ. 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 816𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 𝑋 9.81𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 𝑋 0.414𝑚 𝑋 𝑆𝑖𝑛 450

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 2343.38 𝑃𝑎

Method 1

Case 1

Choosing a streamline which is going 18cm above from the center of the wind tunnel,
1 1
𝑃𝑖𝑛 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ + 2 𝜌𝑈0 2 = 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ + 2 𝜌𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 2

1 1
𝑃𝑖𝑛 + 2 𝜌𝑈0 2 = 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 2 𝜌𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 2

2 2(𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑃𝑖𝑛 )+𝜌𝑉 2

𝑈0 = √
𝜌

2 2
2(1549.98)+1.16𝑥17.37
𝑈0= √ 1.16

U0 = 53.535 ms-1

𝐻
Drag force of the cylinder = 𝑃0 𝐻 + 𝜌 [𝐻𝑈02 − 𝑛 ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑉𝑖2 ]

0.46𝑚
=1549.98𝑃𝑎 X 0.46𝑚 + 1.16𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 [0.46𝑚 X 𝑈02 − ∑9𝑖=1 𝑉𝑖2 ]
9

Total drag force = 𝐹 𝑁𝑚−1 𝑋 0.457𝑚

𝜌𝐷𝑉 1.16𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 𝑋 0.093𝑚 𝑋 𝑉𝑚𝑠 −1

Reynolds number = =
𝜇 1.846 𝑋 10−5 𝑃𝑎.𝑠

=
2𝐹 2𝑋 𝑁
Drag coefficient = 𝜌𝑈 2𝐷𝐴 = 1.16𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 𝑋 ()2 𝑋 0.093𝑚 𝑋 0.457𝑚
0

=
Case 2

Choosing a streamline which is going 18cm above from the center of the wind tunnel,
1 1
𝑃𝑖𝑛 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ + 2 𝜌𝑈0 2 = 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ + 2 𝜌𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 2

1 1
𝑃𝑖𝑛 + 2 𝜌𝑈0 2 = 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 2 𝜌𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 2

2 2(𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑃𝑖𝑛 )+𝜌𝑉 2

𝑈0 = √
𝜌

2 2
2(1549.98)+1.16𝑥17.37
𝑈0= √ 1.16

U0 = 53.535 ms-1

𝐻
Drag force of the cylinder = 𝑃0 𝐻 + 𝜌 [𝐻𝑈02 − 𝑛 ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑉𝑖2 ]

0.46𝑚
=1549.98𝑃𝑎 X 0.46𝑚 + 1.16𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 [0.46𝑚 X 𝑈02 − ∑9𝑖=1 𝑉𝑖2 ]
9

Total drag force = 𝐹 𝑁𝑚−1 𝑋 0.457𝑚

𝜌𝐷𝑉 1.16𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 𝑋 0.093𝑚 𝑋 𝑉𝑚𝑠 −1

Reynolds number = =
𝜇 1.846 𝑋 10−5 𝑃𝑎.𝑠

=
2𝐹 2𝑋 𝑁
Drag coefficient = 𝜌𝑈 2𝐷𝐴 = 1.16𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 𝑋 ()2 𝑋 0.093𝑚 𝑋 0.457𝑚
0

=
Method 2(Pressure Variation)

Rotation Angle – θ Pressure - Ps

(Degrees) (Pa)

Case 1 Case 2

0 2343.38 2399.99

20 2343.38 2411.31

40 2320.74 2411.31

60 2332.06 2366.03

80 2320.24 2388.67

100 2343.38 2411.31

120 2354.71 2433.95

140 2241.50 2264.14

160 2083.01 2049.05

180 2003.76 1935.84

200 2037.73 1969.80

220 2162.25 2162.25

240 2332.06 2399.99

260 2366.03 2445.27

280 2332.06 2388.67

300 2332.06 2377.35

320 2332.06 2399.99

340 2343.38 2411.31

360 2343.38 2399.99

 Pressure (Pa) VS Angle (Case 1)
0
360 2400 20

340 2300 40

2200
320 60
2100

2000
300 80
1900

1800
280 100

260 120

240 140

220 160

200 180

Drag Force 𝐷𝑝 = ∮ 𝑃𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃. 𝑑𝑠

𝜋𝑑 3.142 ×0.093𝑚
𝑑𝑠 = = = 0.0162
18 18

𝐷𝑝 = ∑18
𝑖=0 𝑃𝑖 cos 20𝑖 × 0.0162
DISCUSSION

In the practical Drag coefficient of the given cylinder is determined when it is in

a wind flow. In this practical obtained drag coefficient changes of each other. Here two methods are used
to determine the drag coefficient. Also there are two velocities. In the two methods calculating systems are
totally different. It may affect to the variety of results. Also these methods are unable to describe the
turbulent flow characteristics. Here the laminar flow behavior is assumed. And all the calculations depend
on that assumption. In the rate of change in momentum method it is assumed that the pressure at the exit is
zero. And in that method velocity is measured in nine points only. It is not an accurate method to
determine the drag force by taking only nine velocity readings. The velocity measured in rate of change in
momentum method is measured from a little distance from the cylinder.

In the pressure distribution method the pressure measurement can be affected by

many things. The angle change cannot be done in a complete accurate method. The angle could be
changed. So the value of drag coefficient can be changed.

For the two velocities the drag coefficient has changed. When the velocity
increases the temperature of the air can be changed. Because of that the dynamic viscosity, density of air
can be changed. In the change in speed the laminar flow can be changed in to turbulent flow or the
turbulent nature of the flow could be reduced.
 In the practical it could be obtained the drag coefficient of a cylindrical shaped object. Cylindrical
shape used in many engineering applications. The result obtained can be implemented to large scale
structures subjected to fluid flow around it. When building cylindrical shaped buildings or structures we
could calculate the drag force and select the materials which are with the necessary strength. The ability to
face various wind situations can also calculated. The actual flow behavior can be estimated with the use of
these results. In oil rigs constructions and water tower constructions these can be useful.

We could test the scaled model of the construction in these conditions and obtain the behaviors. The
Reynolds number should be same as in the experimental case and the practical case. Because of the
physical similarities of two bodies the experimentally calculated data may be useful.

In automobiles drag force is a resistance to motion most of times. Drag force is a factor dependent
by drag coefficient. Drag coefficient depends on body shape and surface roughness. Reduction in drag
force affects the fuel consumption of automobiles. Because of that car manufactures are trying to obtain
more less drag coefficient having shapes. Early car had nearly rectangular shapes or sharp edges. But after
that designers realized that Sharp edges having bodies are having higher drag coefficients. Then they
make more curved bodies for cars. After several years they noticed that more curved shaped bodies are
having higher drag coefficients than medium curved bodies. So now car shapes are medium curved. Aero
foil shape is having much less drag coefficient values than other geometrical shapes.
 Therefore, the modern car shape is designed according to the half streamlined body shape where
the drag is more than the streamlined body shape but practical in manufacturing.