Curtin Engineering, Curtin University of Technology

Fluid Mechanics 230

Mid-Semester Test (Part A of Course) - 2014
1 hour plus ten-minutes reading time - Attempt two out of three questions
(Each question is worth 20 marks)
Note that there is an equation data-sheet at the end of the test paper
Throughout, take the acceleration due to gravity to be 10 m/s2 , and water to have a density of
1000 kg/m3 .
Question 1.
Figure 1 shows a skier of total mass, m=80kg, sliding on two skis at a constant speed,
u=60km/h, down a slope of angle, =40 . Each ski has a surface area, A=0.135m2 . Assume
that the skis and snow are both perfectly hard and flat, and there is a parallel, h=20m gap
between ski and snow, filled with water of dynamic viscosity =2103 Ns/m2 .

Fd
Fs

mg

Figure 1

(a) Sketch a suitable model for the motion of the water between the skis and the snow. Assume
that the snow does not melt, and that the skier is travelling in a straight line. (3 marks)
(b) Using Newtons law of viscosity, find the resistive force that the skis experience. (6 marks)
(c) Figure 1 shows all forces (in equilibrium) acting on the skier. Using your previous result,
calculate Fd , the aerodynamic drag force acting on the skier.
(4 marks)
(d) What is the meaning and use of the Reynolds number in the characterisation of a fluid flow?
(4 marks)
(e) Calculate the Reynolds number, and state whether it is laminar or turbulent. (For this
flowfield, the transitional Reynolds number is Re=370).
(3 marks)

(Total: 20 marks)

Question 2.
Figure 2 shows a reservoir, held by a small dam, that feeds into a storage tank. The storage
tank has a horizontal inspection hatch of cross-sectional area 2m2 and a vertical sluice gate of
height 4m, and 1m width (into the paper). The sluice gate is held shut by a strut, at an angle,
=40 .

Hatch (area 2m2)

7m

A
5m

4m

Sluice Gate
(width 1m)

P
2m

Figure 2

(a) Calculate the vertical force that the hatch fixings must resist.

(2 marks)

(b) Calculate the horizontal force on the sluice gate.

(6 marks)

(c) By taking moments about A, calculate the compressive force, P in the strut.

(6 marks)

(d) Suggest two (non-trivial) ways in which the compressive force, P, in the strut could be
reduced.
(2 marks)
(e) Explain why it is not necessary to know the value of atmospheric pressure when evaluating
the forces in parts (a-c) above.
(2 marks)
(f) Describe the relationship between absolute pressure and gauge pressure. Suggest circumstances in which one might need to know the absolute pressure.
(2 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

Question 3.
Figure 3 shows the basic design of a propulsion system that produces a high-speed water jet,
angled at =30 below horizontal. The water jet has speed u2 . The component includes a pump
that is shown schematically. The jet nozzle has cross-sectional area 0.08m2 . At the inlet side
of the component, the feed-pipe has cross-sectional area 0.2m2 and the (uniform) flow speed
is 8m/s; the component is designed such that the surrounding water is at a very low gauge
pressure, which can be assumed to be zero.
In the questions that follow, ignore the effects of viscosity and gravity, and assume that the
water flow is incompressible throughout.

Area
0.2m2
PA

8m/s

Figure 3

Area
2
0.08m

PA u2

(a) By drawing a suitable control volume around the component, show that the water exits the
jet nozzle with a speed, u2 =20m/s.
(5 marks)
(b) Determine the magnitude and direction of the force experienced by the component.
(10 marks)
(c) By considering the rate of change of kinetic energy as the fluid moves through the component,
estimate the power required to run the pump.
(3 marks)
2 , where
Hint: The rate at which kinetic energy crosses the inlet and outlet branches is 12 mu
m
is the mass flow rate, and u is the flow speed, crossing the boundary.
(d) Is your result to part (c) above an under- or over-estimate of the power required? Justify
your answer.
(2 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

Equation data sheet

The following equations may be useful to you. All symbols have their usual meanings.
The two-dimensional equation of streamlines is:
dy
v
=
dx
u

where

v = ui + vj

Newtons law of viscosity applied to a velocity profile u(y) is:

=

du
dy

Reynolds number is defined as:

Re =

Fluid density Typical flow speed Typical length

U L
=
Dynamic viscosity of the fluid

The hydrostatic pressure at depth y, is given by:

p = gy
For a fluid control volume (CV), the two-dimensional mass-conservation and momentum equations are respectively given by:

 ZZ
I

v.ndA
dV =
t
CS
CV
 I
 ZZ
X

Ff =
v dV +
v(v.n)dA
t
CV
CS
This can be (informally) rewritten as:

{Mass of fluid inside the CV} = m

IN m
OUT
t
X

Forces acting upon the fluid in the CV = {Momentum inside the CV} (M IN M OUT )
t
For uniform flow with speed U perpendicular to a control surface, the mass and momentum
fluxes (in the direction of U ) through an area A of the control surface are respectively given by:
M = mU

m
= U A
The Bernoulli equation can be written as:

1
p + U 2 + gz = constant along a streamline
2