UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PART III

END OF SEMESTER I EXAMINATION

COURSE : FLUID MECHANICS

CODE : ME304

EXAMINERS : I MADANHIRE / T HOVE

DATE : MAY / JUNE 2016

DURATION : 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

a. Answer any FOUR questions

b. Each question carries 25 MARKS
c. Marks are awarded for good clarity for calculations

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

a. Answer book
b. Non-programmable Calculator
c. Formulae sheet provided
d. Moody’s diagram provided at the end of the question paper

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QUESTION 1
1a) Explain the relevance of dimensional analysis in fluid mechanics problem solving. [5]

1b) Using Buckingham’s π theorem, derive an expression for thrust P developed by a

propeller assuming that it depends on angular velocity ω, speed of advance V, diameter D,
dynamic viscosity µ, mass density ρ, elasticity of the fluid medium which can be denoted by
speed of sound in the medium C. [20]

QUESTION 2
2a) Explain what you understand by the following terms in fluid mechanics
i. Stream lines
ii. Continuity principle
iii. Mean velocity [3]

2b) Derive Bernoulli’s energy equation from first principles [12]

2c) A Venturimeter is used for measuring flow of water along a pipe as given in the figure
below. The diameter of the Venturi throat is two fifths the diameter of the pipe. The inlet and
throat are connected by water filled tubes to a mercury U-tube manometer. The velocity of flow
along the pipe is found to be 2.5(H)1/2 m/s, where H is the manometer reading in meters of
mercury. Determine the loss of head between inlet and throat of the Venturi when H is 0.49.
(Relative density of mercury is 13.6).

[10]

QUESTION 3
3a) Show that the rate of flow across a triangular notch is given by Q = CdKH5/2 m3/s, where
Cd is an experimental coefficient, K depends on the angle of the notch, and H is the height of the
undisturbed water level above the bottom of the notch in meters.

3b) State the reasons for the introduction of the coefficient.

3c) Water from a tank having a surface area of 10 m2 flows over 90° notch. It is found that
the time taken to lower the level from 8cm to 7 above the bottom of the notch is 43,5 seconds.
Determine the coefficient Cd assuming that it remains constant during this period.

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QUESTION 4
4a) Two probes are combined as shown in the pitot - static tube in the figure below. The
inner tube is used to measure the stagnation pressure at point B while the static pressure at C is
sensed by the small holes in the outer tube.

Show that the free flow velocity v at point A is given by

V = {2gΔh (ρm – ρ)}1/2 [12]

4b) Assuming that the static pressure variation in the stream direction is so small and given
that ρ = 1000kg/m3, ρ m = 13 600 kg/m3 and Δ h = 300 mm . Calculate the velocity at point A
in the flow.

[13]

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, Ca = 2.5

The radial-flow pump used has characteristic curve approximated by the formula:
, 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]

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 (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]
3
b) Given that at a discharge of 250m /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 6.1 to deliver 250 m3/hr at a head of 50 m.
[10 marks]

Page 4 of 6
Figure Q 6.1: Dimensionless radial-flow pump performance curves

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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