UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ME 304 FLUID MECHANICS

EXAMINER: ENGINEER T. HOVE

Time Allowed: 3 Hours Date: JUNE 2017

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

THIS PAPER IS MADE UP OF SIX QUESTIONS

ANSWER ANY FOUR (4) QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

(a) Distinguish between the properties of a fluid and a solid [2 marks]

(b) Write concise notes on the following properties of fluids.

i) Density, Specific Weight, Specific Volume and Specific Gravity [4 marks] ii)
Compressibility [2 marks]

(c) Sketch on the same chart, the variation of shear stress 𝜏 with velocity gradient 𝑑𝑢⁄𝑑𝑦

for an elastic solid, ideal plastic, non-Newtonian fluid, Newtonian fluid and ideal fluid.
[5 marks]

(d) In Fig. Q1, oil of absolute viscosity 𝜇 fills the small gap of thickness Y.
(i) Neglecting fluid stress exerted on the circular underside, show that the torque T
required
𝟐𝝅𝝁𝝎𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟑𝜶 𝟒

rotate the truncated cone at constant speed 𝜔 is given by: 𝑻 = [(𝒂 + 𝒃) -

𝒀𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜶

𝒂𝟒]. [8
marks]
(ii) What is the rate of heat generation, in watts, if the oil’s absolute viscosity is 0.20
Ns/m2, 𝛼 = 45o, a = 450 mm, b = 60 mm, Y = 0.2 mm and the speed of rotation is 120
rpm?
[4 marks]

Figure Q1
QUESTION 2

a) By analyzing the forces acting on the infinitesimal prism of unit width, which is immersed
in a fluid (Figure Q2a), show that the values of the pressure acting at any point in a fluid
at rest are equal regardless of its direction. [5 marks]

Figure Q2a

b) (i) Write down the expressions for the pressure difference p1-p2 in Figures Q2b (a) and 2b
(b) [4 marks]

Figure Q2b

(ii) Obtain the pressure p at point A in Q2c: (a), (b) and (c) [3 marks]
Figure Q2c

c) Salt-gradient solar ponds are artificial lakes of a few meters deep that are used to store
solar energy. The rise of heated (and thus less dense water) is prevented by adding salt at
the bottom of the pond. In a typical salt-gradient solar pond, the density of water
increases in the gradient zone, as shown on Figure Q2d. The variation of density with
depth, can be expressed as

where 𝜌0 is the density of water at the surface, (s = -z) is the vertical distance from the
top of the gradient zone and H is the thickness of the gradient zone.

Figure Q2d: Salt-gradient solar pond

(i) Show that the gauge pressure at a depth s from the top of the gradient zone is given by:

where P1 is the gauge pressure at the top of the gradient zone. [10 marks]
 (ii) For H = 4 m; 𝜌𝑜= 1040kg/m3, and a thickness of 0.8 m for the surface zone, calculate
the gauge pressure at the bottom of the gradient zone. [ 4 marks]
(iii) Plot the variation of gauge pressure with depth of gradient zone from s= 0 m to s
= 4 m. [6 marks]

QUESTION 3

a) Show that:
i) The horizontal force acting on a submerged plane is equal to the product of the
pressure at the centroid of the submerged part of the plane and the area of the
plane. [3 marks]
ii) The vertical distance of the center of pressure 𝑦𝐶 from the surface of a fluid, for

the submerged plane, is given by:

where 𝑦𝐺 is the vertical position of the centroid of the plane, 𝐼𝐺 is the geometric

moment of inertia of area about the centroid and 𝐴 is the area of the plane.

[5 marks]

b) A heavy car plunges into a lake during an accident and lands on its wheels (Figure Q3). The
door of the car is 1.2 m high and 1 m wide, and the top edge of the door is 8 m below the
surface of the lake.
i) Determine the magnitude of the hydrostatic force on the door and the position of
the center of pressure. [6 marks]
ii) What force does the driver of the car require to apply at the door handle (1 m
away from the hinge axis) in order to open the door? [5 marks]
iii) Discuss if the driver of the car can open the door given that the maximum force
that the driver can apply is 2 kN. [2 marks]
iv) Suggest what hydrostatic innovation the driver should apply in order to easily
open the door. [4 marks]
Figure Q3

QUESTION 4

(a) Write down, defining all the terms, the energy equation for a pipe system involving a
pump with pumping head, Hp, pumping through a piping line with flow velocity, V, and
head loss, hL, between an open surface reservoir at elevation z1 and an open-discharge
delivery point at elevation z2 .
[5 marks]
(b) (i) Explain the terms “ Hydraulic Grade Line” and “Energy Grade Line”
(ii) Sketch and explain the Hydraulic Grade Line and Energy Grade Line for the pipe system
shown on Figure Q4. [6 marks]
 Fig Q4: Sketch of pipe system

(c) Water at 20oC (kinematic viscosity 1 x 10-6 m2/s) is transported for 500 m through a 40
mm diameter horizontal cast iron pipe with a flow rate of 0.0025 m3/s. Calculate the
pressure drop (in kPa) over the 500 m length of pipe.
[6 marks]
(d) What diameter of pipe should be selected in c) above to limit the head loss to 30 m?
[8 marks]

Information
The frictional loss factor may be obtained by used of the Moody diagram, below, or by

use of the Swamee and Jain equation:

Moody diagram showing the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor plotted against Reynolds
number for various roughness sizes

QUESTION 5

Water is being pumped between two reservoirs in a pipeline with the following characteristics:
Pipe diameter, D = 300 mm
Pipe length, L = 70 m
Friction factor, f = 0.025
Overall abrupt loss coefficient, K = 2.5

The radial-flow pump used has characteristic curve approximated by the formula:
𝐻𝑃 = 22.9 + 10.7 − 111𝑄2 , where HP is in meters and Q is in m3/s.
(a) Determine the discharge QD and pump head QD for the following situations:
(i) Static head = 15m and one pump is being operated [5 marks]
(ii) Static head = 15 m and two identical pumps are operated in parallel [6 marks]
(iii) The static head is 25 m [6 marks]

(b) Plot the pump-pipe operating conditions of (i), (ii) and (iii), i.e. plot the pump characteristic
and system curves showing the operating points for each case.
[8 marks]

QUESTION 6

a) By means of a neat sketch and using the energy equation, explain the term Net Positive
Suction Head (NPSH) with reference to a pump. [5marks]
b) Given that at a discharge of 250 m3/hr the NPSH required for a certain pump is 7.4 m,
determine the maximum elevation, above a water surface of the suction reservoir, the
pump may be situated. Water at 15oC is being pumped; the vapor pressure is 1666 Pa and
the density 1000 kg/m3. [5 marks]
c) Write expressions for the following dimensionless parameters of a pump species, defining
all the symbols.
(i) Head coefficient
(ii) Flow rate coefficient
(iii) Power coefficient
(iv) Pump efficiency [5 marks]

d) Determine the speed (revs/minute), diameter (mm) and required power (kW) for the pump
with dimensionless characteristics given on Figure Q6 to deliver 250 m3/hr at a head
of 50 m. [10 marks]
Figure Q6: Dimensionless radial-flow pump performance curves

END OF QUESTION PAPER