MEC294: Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

EXPERIMENT 3
TITLE: IMPACT OF JET

1.0 OBJECTIVE
a) To measure the reaction force produced by the impact of a jet of water on to various target
vanes’ surface.
b) To investigate and determine the force required to keep a target at a datum level while it is
subjected to the impact of a water jet.
c) To compare and analyze the experimental results with the theoretically calculated values.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
Impact of Jet apparatus enables experiments to be carried out on the reaction force produced on
vanes when a jet of water impacts on to the vane of various form. The study of these reaction
forces is an essential step in the subject of mechanics of fluids which can be applied to hydraulic
machinery such as the Pelton Wheel and the Impulse Turbine.

3.0 THEORY
When a jet of water flowing with a steady velocity strikes a solid surface, the water is deflected to
flow along the surface. Unlike the impact of solid bodies, there is no rebound and unless the flow is
highly turbulent, there will be no splashing. If friction is neglected by assuming an inviscid fluid and
it is also assumed that there are no losses due to shocks then the magnitude of the water velocity
is unchanged, the pressure exerted by the water on the solid surface will everywhere be at right
angles to the surface. Newton’s second law of motion states that a mass that is accelerated
required a force that is equal to the product of the mass and acceleration. In fluid mechanics,
whenever fluid are forced to go through a restriction or change direction. The analogy to Newton’s
second law in fluid mechanics is known as the momentum equation.

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MEC294: Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

Vi Vi

Vi cos 
Impact Velocity, Vi Vi

Height, h Vi sin 

Vi

Nozzle Velocity, Vn

Figure 1: Impact of a Jet

Consider a jet of water which impacts on to a target surface causing the direction of the jet to be
changed through and angle θ as shown in Figure 1 above. In the absence of friction, the magnitude
of the velocity across the surface is equal to the incident velocity V i. The impulse force exerted on
the target will be equal and opposite to the force which acts on the water to impart the change in
direction.
Applying Newton’s Second law in the direction of the incident jet

Force  M ass  Acceleration

 M ass Flow Rate  Change in Velocity
.
- FX  M V
.
 M (VX,out - VX,in )

 MVi cos - Vi 
.
- FX

 M Vi 1 - cos 
.
FX

. .
But M = ρ Q , therefore;
.
F  ρ Q Vi (1  cos θ)

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MEC294: Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

.
And dividing trough by ρ Q Vi which is the incident momentum

F
.
 1  cosθ
ρ Q Vi

In each case it is assumed that there is no splashing or rebound of the water from the surface
so that the exit angle is parallel to the exit angle of the target.
a) Effect of Height
The nozzle velocity (exit velocity) can be calculated from the measured flow rate and the nozzle
exit area.

.
Q
Vn 
A

However, as the nozzle is below the target, the impact velocity will be less than the nozzle
velocity due to interchanges between potential energy and kinetic energy.
Applying the Bernoulli equation between nozzle and plate:

 Pn   Vn2  P   Vi 2 
      Z n    i      Z i 
 
   2g     2g 

Since the jet is open to the atmosphere,

 Pn   Pi 
      0
   

And

Z n   Z i   h

Therefore,

Vi 2  Vn2  2 gh

Where h is the height of target above the nozzle exit.

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MEC294: Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

b) Impact on Flat 180° Plane Target

For the flat 180° plane target θ is 90º. Therefore cos θ = 0

F
.
 1  cos θ  1
ρ Q Vi

c) Impact on 120° Conical and 30° Flat Plate Target

The target exit angle, θ is 120º. Therefore cos θ = 0.5

F
.
 1  cos θ  0.5
ρ Q Vi

d) Impact on Hemisphere Target

The target exit angle, θ is 180º. Therefore cos θ = - 1

F
.
 1  cos θ  2
ρ Q Vi

By using the above equation, we can compare the theoretical and experimental of force value
of target with different angle.
Theoretically,

F  mg

Experimentally,

F  ρ Q Vi  1 - cos 
.

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MEC294: Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

4.0 APPARATUS

1
7

2
8
3
9

4
10

Figure 2: Impact of Jets Apparatus

Table 1: Components Description

No. Description No. Description

1 Pointer 7 Weight Platform
2 Spring Tension Adjuster 8 Spring
3 Wing Nut 9 Screw Nut
4 Interchangeable Target 10 Interchangeable Nozzle
5 Brass Weight 11 Water Inlet
6 Weight Carrier

Figure 3: Interchangeable Target Vanes

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MEC294: Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

5.0 PROCEDURE
1. Open the weight platform by unscrewing the screw nut and screwing the wing nut.
2. Attach the 5 mm nozzle onto the bottom vertical shaft and hemisphere target vane onto top
vertical shaft.
3. Close the weight platform by unscrewing wing nut and screwing the screw nut.
4. Position the weight carrier on the weight platform.
5. Adjust the spring tension adjuster to ensure the distance of 20 mm between the nozzle and
the target vane by first pressing the spring until the target vane touches the nozzle.
6. Move the pointer so that it is aligned to the weight platform.
7. Release the spring and adjust the spring tension adjuster to ensure distance between the
weight platform and the pointer is 20 mm, and then record this value as h.
8. Then move the pointer so that it is aligned to the weight platform that is floating in mid
position.
9. Turn on the pump and establish the water flow by steadily opening the bench control valve
until it is fully open.
10. The target vane will now be deflected by the impact of the jet. Add weights onto the weight
carrier until the weight platform is again floating in mid position (weight platform aligned
with pointer).
11. Measure and record the flow rate, together with the corresponding value of weight on the
weight carrier. Observe the form of the deflected jet and note its shape.
12. Reduce the weight on the weight carrier in steps and maintain balance of weight platform
by regulating the flow rate for a few steps, each time recording the value of flow rate and
weight on the weight carrier.
13. Close the control valve and switch off the pump.
14. Repeat the experiment with different target vanes and nozzles.
15. To change the target vanes and nozzles, open the weight platform by unscrewing the
screw nut and screwing the wing nut.
16. After the target vanes and nozzles are change, close the weight platform by unscrewing the
wing nut and screwing the screw nut.

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MEC294: Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

6.0 RESULT AND ANALYSIS

1. Record the data obtained on the result sheets for target vane’s shape (Table 2 – Table 9).
2. Calculate the flow rate and the nozzle velocity. Correct the nozzle velocity for the height of
the target above the nozzle to obtain the impact velocity.
3. Calculate the experimental force and the theoretical force produced by the jet for each flow
rate and target vane’s shape, then compare.
4. Plot a graph of the experimental force (vertical) against theoretical force (horizontal) and
obtain the slope. (note; the scale of both axis should be the same, i.e. start the scale with
zero value and set the increment of 0.5 for both x&y-axis)

7.0 DISCUSSION
1. Explain the graphs obtained from the experiment including the reasons why the graphs are in
such form?
2. Discuss why it is crucial to make sure the placement of the nozzle head is at the center under
the vane?
3. Discuss how addition weights onto the weight carrier would affect the force exerted onto the
target vane when water stream strikes it?
4. Explain what types of errors are identified during the experiment, and explain how it affects the
experimental result? (Please specify other than parallax error)
5. In the application of the momentum equation, discuss why we can usually disregard the
atmospheric pressure and work with gage pressures only?
6. As an application of this study, discuss in terms of momentum and airflow how a helicopter is
able to hover?

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MEC294 : Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

Table 2: Nozzle Size : 5mm, Target: Inward Hemisphere, Nozzle Area: 1.9635 × 10-5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(L) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

Table 3: Nozzle Size : 5mm, Target: Cone 120°, Nozzle Area: 1.9635 × 10 -5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(L) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

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MEC294 : Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

Table 4: Nozzle Size : 5mm, Target: Flat 180°, Nozzle Area: 1.9635 × 10 -5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(Liter) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

Table 5: Nozzle Size : 5mm, Target: Flat 30°, Nozzle Area: 1.9635 × 10 -5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(Liter) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

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MEC294 : Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

Table 6: Nozzle Size : 8mm, Target: Inward Hemisphere, Nozzle Area: 5.0265 × 10 -5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(Liter) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

Table 7: Nozzle Size : 8mm, Target: Cone 120, Nozzle Area: 5.0265 × 10-5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(Liter) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

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MEC294 : Thermofluids Lab (Fluid Mechanics Laboratory)

Table 8: Nozzle Size : 8mm, Target: Flat 180, Nozzle Area: 5.0265 × 10-5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(Liter) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

Table 9: Nozzle Size : 8mm, Target: Flat 30, Nozzle Area: 5.0265 × 10-5 m2

Time (s) Flow Nozzle Impact

Volume Average h Theoretical Experimental
Weight (g) Rate, Q Velocity, Velocity, Vi Error (%)
(Liter) T1 T2 T3 Time (s) (mm) Force, Fn (N) Force, F (N)
(m3/s) Vn (m/s) (m/s)
250 4 20
200 4 20
150 4 20
100 4 20

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