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National University of Singapore Department of Mechanical Engineering ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I Tutorial 1

This document contains a tutorial for a fluid mechanics course. It includes 6 practice problems covering various topics in fluid mechanics, such as flow between parallel plates, flow in a circular pipe, boundary layer theory, and surface tension. The problems are presented with diagrams and ask students to determine quantities like forces, velocities, stresses, and capillary rise based on the given fluid properties and system parameters. Sample solutions are provided for each problem.

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225 views

National University of Singapore Department of Mechanical Engineering ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I Tutorial 1

This document contains a tutorial for a fluid mechanics course. It includes 6 practice problems covering various topics in fluid mechanics, such as flow between parallel plates, flow in a circular pipe, boundary layer theory, and surface tension. The problems are presented with diagrams and ask students to determine quantities like forces, velocities, stresses, and capillary rise based on the given fluid properties and system parameters. Sample solutions are provided for each problem.

Uploaded by

Cl Skye
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I Tutorial 1

National University of Singapore


Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I

Tutorial 1

1. As shown in Figure P1, a thin flat plate is sandwiched between two parallel
plates. The thin flat plate is separated from the top stationary plate by a
constant gap h1 filled with a fluid of viscosity m1. A constant gap h2 filled with
another fluid of viscosity m2 separates the thin flat plate from the bottom flat
plate moving to the left at a velocity of 0.5V. The contact area between the
thin flat plate and each fluid is A. Determined in terms of the given quantities
(i) the force F required to pull the thin flat plate to the right at a
velocity of V.
(ii) the location in the fluid of viscosity m2 where the fluid velocity is
zero.
  3  h
[Ans: (i) F  AV  1  2  ; (ii) h  2 ]
 h1 2h2  3

Figure P1

2. As shown in Figure P2, a 30 cm diameter circular plate rotates above a fixed


bottom plate. The two plates are separated by a constant gap of 2 mm filled
with glycerin (dynamic viscosity = 1.52 Pa·s). Determine the torque and
power required to rotate the circular plate at 100 rpm. Assume a linear velocity
distribution in the gap and that the shear stress on the edge of the rotating plate
is negligible.
[Ans: 6.329 Nm; 66.28 W]

Figure P2

Semester 1, AY2017/2018 1
ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I Tutorial 1

3. This problem introduces you to the concept of a boundary layer. When a


viscous fluid flows past a thin sharp-edged flat plate, a thin layer adjacent to
the plate surface develops in which the velocity, u, changes rapidly from zero
to the approach velocity, U, in a small distance, δ. This layer is called a
boundary layer. The thickness of this layer increases with the distance x along
the plate as shown in Figure P3. Assume that u  U y  and   3.5  x U ,
where ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. Determine an expression for the
force (drag) that would be developed on one side of the plate of length L and
width b. Express your answer in terms of L, b, ν and r, where r is the fluid
density.
[Ans: D  0.571b   LU 3 ]

Figure P3

4. As shown in Figure P4, a thin film of liquid of viscosity  and density  flows
under the action of gravity down a wide plate inclined at an angle  = 30 with
respect to the horizontal. The velocity distribution of the liquid film is given
2
u  y  y
by  A    B    C , where h is the film thickness and V is the surface
V h h
velocity. Assume that the shear stress is zero on the film’s free surface y = h.
(i) Determine the values of A, B and C.
(ii) Obtain an expression for V in terms of the other given quantities.
(iii) Determine the magnitude and direction of the shear stress that the
liquid film exerts on the fixed inclined plate.
 gh2  gh
[Ans: (i) A  1 , B  2 , C  0 ; (ii) V  ; (iii)   ]
4 2

Semester 1, AY2017/2018 2
ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I Tutorial 1

Figure P4

5. As shown in Figure P5, two vertical parallel plates spaced a distance a apart
are placed in a liquid with density r, surface tension  and contact angle θ (θ <
90). Derive an expression for the capillary rise h.
2 cos
[Ans: h  ]
 ga

Figure P5

6. Figure P6(a) shows a water strider, or pond skater, which is a slender insect,
about 0.5 cm long, that “runs” or “skates” on the surfaces of ponds and
streams. It stays easily on the surface because its feet are equipped with
numerous hairs which are non-wetting.
Suppose we model one of these non-wetting hairs as a long cylinder of radius
R (assume contact angle to be 180), and assume that it is set down on the
water with its axis parallel to the surface, as shown in Figure P6(b). The
surface tension is 0.073 N/m.

Semester 1, AY2017/2018 3
ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I Tutorial 1

Show that as the cylinder, or hair, is brought into contact with the water and
then depressed into it, the lift (upward) force exerted on it by surface tension
first increases, then reaches a maximum at a certain depression, and finally
decreases as the cylinder is depressed further. In short, as the hair is depressed
onto the water surface, the lift force L increases, reaches a maximum, then
decreases.
It is known that the average weight of the insect is 0.05 grams. What is the
total length of hair the insect must at least possess on its feet to support its
weight?
[Ans: 3.36 mm]

(a)

(b)
Figure P6

Semester 1, AY2017/2018 4

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