CH2015 FLUID AND PARTICLE MECHANICS

TUTORIAL 5

1. The average pressure and shear stress acting on

the surface of the 1-m-square flat plate are as
indicated in Fig. Determine the lift and drag
generated. Determine the lift and drag if the
shear stress is neglected. Compare these two sets
of results.

2. Air at 30oC flows at a uniform speed of 35.0 m/s along a smooth flat plate. Calculate the
approximate x-location along the plate where the boundary layer begins the transition
process toward turbulence. At approximately what x-location along the plate is the boundary
layer likely to be fully turbulent?

3. A fluid, with density 773 kg/m3, flows at

3.05 m/s over a flat plate 3.05 m long and
0.91 m wide. At the trailing edge, the
boundary-layer thickness is 2.54 cm.
Assume the velocity profile is linear, as
shown, and that the flow is two-
dimensional (flow conditions are independent of z). Using control volume abcd, shown by the
dashed lines, compute the mass flow rate across surface ab. Determine the drag force on the
upper surface of the plate.

4. Consider two pressure taps along the wall of a laminar

boundary layer as in Fig. The fluid is air at 25°C, 𝑣1 = 10.3
m/s, and the static pressure 𝑝2 is 2.44 Pa greater than
static pressure 𝑝1 as measured by a very sensitive
differential pressure transducer. Is outer flow velocity
𝑣2 greater than, equal to, or less than outer flow velocity
𝑣1 ? Explain. Estimate 𝑣2 .

5. Consider two-dimensional laminar boundary-layer flow along a flat plate. Assume the velocity
𝑣 𝜋𝑦
profile in the boundary layer is sinusoidal, 𝑣 𝑥 = sin ( 2𝛿 ). Find expressions for: (a) The rate of
∞
growth of δ as a function of x. (b) The total friction force on a plate of length L and width b.

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6. A thin flat plate is installed in a water tunnel as a splitter. The plate is 0.3 m long and 1 m
wide. The freestream speed is 1.6 m/s. Laminar boundary layers form on both sides of the
plate. The boundary-layer velocity profile is approximated as parabolic. Determine the total
viscous drag force on the plate assuming that pressure drag is negligible.

7. Because of the velocity deficit, 𝑣∞ − 𝑣𝑥 , in

the boundary layer, the streamlines for flow
past a flat plate are not exactly parallel to the
plate. For air blowing past the flat plate
shown in Fig. plot the streamline A— B that
passes through the edge of the boundary
layer (𝑦 = 𝛿𝐵 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 𝑙) at point B. That is,
plot y =y(x) for streamline A—B. Assume
laminar boundary layer flow.

8. The square, flat plate shown in Fig. a is cut into four equal-sized pieces and arranged as shown
in Fig. b. Determine the ratio of the drag on the original plate [case (a)] to the drag on the
plates in the configuration shown in (b). Assume laminar boundary flow. Explain your answer
physically.

9. Standard air flows over a horizontal smooth flat plate at freestream speed of 20 m/s. The
plate length is 1.5 m and its width is 0.8 m. The pressure gradient is zero. The boundary layer
is tripped so that it is turbulent fromthe leading edge; the velocity profile is well represented
by the 1/7th -power expression. Evaluate the boundary-layer thickness, δ, at the trailing edge
of the plate. Calculate the wall shear stress at the trailing edge of the plate. Estimate the skin
friction drag on the portion of the plate between x = 0.5 m and the trailing edge.

10. Air at 20oC flows at 10.0 m/s over a smooth flat plate of
length L = 1.52 m (Fig.) (a) Plot and compare the
laminar and turbulent boundary layer velocity profiles
in physical variables (𝑣𝑥 as a function of y) at x = L. (b)
Compare the values of local skin friction coefficient for
the two cases at x = L. (c) Plot and compare the growth
of the laminar and turbulent boundary layers.

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11. The aerodynamic drag on a car depends on the “shape” of the car. For example, the car shown
in Fig. has a drag coefficient of 0.35 with the windows and roof closed. With the windows and
roof open, the drag coefficient increases to 0.45. With the windows and roof open, at what
speed is the amount of power needed to overcome aerodynamic drag the same as it is at 65
mph with the windows and roof closed? Assume the frontal area remains the same. Recall
that power is force times velocity.

12. A 0.10-m-diameter circular cylinder moves through air with a speed 𝑣∞ . The pressure
distribution on the cylinder’s surface is approximated by the three straight-line segments
shown in Fig. Determine the drag coefficient on the cylinder. Neglect shear forces.

13. A drop of water in a rain cloud has diameter D= 42.5 m as shown in

the figure. The air temperature is 25°C, and its pressure is standard
atmospheric pressure. How fast does the air have to move vertically
so that the drop will remain suspended in the air?

14. A tennis ball with a mass of 57 g and diameter of 64 mm is dropped in standard sea level air.
Calculate the terminal velocity of the ball. Assuming as an approximation that the drag
coefficient remains constant at its terminal-velocity value, estimate the time and distance
required for the ball to reach 95% of its terminal speed.

15. A sheet of plastic material 1.2 cm thick, with specific gravity SG = 1.7, is dropped into a large
tank containing water. The sheet is 0.6 m x 1.2 m. Estimate the terminal speed of the sheet
as it falls with (a) the short side vertical and (b) the long side vertical. Assume that the drag is
due only to skin friction, and that the boundary layers are turbulent from the leading edge.

16. A 70 kg bicyclist is riding her 15 kg bicycle downhill on a road with a slope of 12° without
pedalling or braking. The bicyclist has a frontal area of 0.45 m2 and a drag coefficient of 1.1 in
the upright position, and a frontal area of 0.4 m2 and a drag coefficient of 0.9 in the racing
position. Disregarding the rolling resistance and friction at the bearings, determine the
terminal velocity of the bicyclist for both positions. Take the air density to be 1.25 kg/m 3.