MECHANICS OF FLUIDS

V. Krishna
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS

Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes - 1

V. Krishna
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes - 1

Class 42: Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes - 1

In this class you learn about solving numericals on flow in pipes.
Lesson Content
➢ Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Concept Based Questions on Laminar Flow in Pipes

It is claimed that the shear stress at the centre of a circular pipe during
fully developed flow is zero. Do you agree with this claim? Explain.
Answer
The claim is correct. We have the variation of shear stress with radius
𝐫
𝛕= 𝛕𝐰
𝐑
Courtesy: “Fluid Mechanics
From the above expression it is clear that shear stress is – Fundamental and
Applications” (in SI units),
• directly proportional to radius r Yunus A.Cengel, John
M.Cimbala, Tata McGraw
• maximum at r = R with a value of τw Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.
2006.
• zero at the axis of pipe, since at the axis, r = 0
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Concept Based Questions on Laminar Flow in Pipes

Consider fully developed flow in a circular pipe with negligible entrance

effects. If the length of the pipe is doubled, the head loss will (a) double
(b) reduce by half (c) remain constant (d) treble.
Explain reasons for your answer.
Answer
From the Darcy-Weisbach equation we have
L Vavg 2
∆hL = f
D 2g
It is clear that head loss ∆hL is directly proportional to length L and hence
if L is doubled, ∆hL is doubled.
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Concept Based Questions on Laminar Flow in Pipes

Someone claims that the volume flow rate in a circular pipe with laminar
flow can be determined by measuring the velocity at the pipe axis in the
fully developed region, multiplying it by the cross-sectional area, and
dividing the result by 2. Do you agree? Explain reasons for your answer.
Answer
Velocity at the pipe axis = Vmax
Courtesy: “Fluid
ഥሶ = Across section × Vavg
Volume flow rate = V Mechanics –
Fundamental and
ሶV Vmax Vmax Applications” (in SI
ഥ = Across section × since Vavg = units), Yunus A.Cengel,
2 2 John M.Cimbala, Tata
McGraw Hill Publishing
Hence claim is valid Co. Ltd. 2006.
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Concept Based Questions on Laminar Flow in Pipes

Someone claims that the average velocity in a circular pipe in fully

developed laminar flow can be determined by simply measuring the
velocity at a point midway between the pipe axis and pipe wall surface
(pipe radius/2). Do you agree? Explain reasons for your answer.
Answer
r2 Courtesy: “Fluid
We have V = Vmax 1− 2 Mechanics –
R Fundamental and
2 Applications” (in SI
R Rൗ2 3 units), Yunus A.Cengel,
At r = , V = Vmax 1 − 2
= Vmax John M.Cimbala, Tata
2 R 4 McGraw Hill Publishing
𝐕𝐦𝐚𝐱 Co. Ltd. 2006.
But we know that, 𝐕𝐚𝐯𝐠 = . Hence claim is not valid.
𝟐
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes

In fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe, the velocity at R/2

(midway between the pipe axis and the pipe wall surface) is measured to
be 6 m/s. Determine the velocity at the pipe axis (centre of the pipe).
Solution
VRൗ = 6 m/s
2
Courtesy: “Fluid Mechanics –
r2 Fundamental and Applications”
We know that V = Vmax 1 −
R2 (in SI units), Yunus A.Cengel,
John M.Cimbala, Tata McGraw
2
Rൗ 3
Hill Publishing Co. Ltd. 2006.
VRൗ = Vmax 1− 2 = Vmax
2 R2 4
3
6 = Vmax → 𝐕𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝟖 𝐦/𝐬
4
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes

The velocity profile in fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe of

𝒓𝟐
inner radius R = 2 cm, in m/s, is given by 𝒖 𝒓 = 𝟒 𝟏 − 𝟐 . Determine
𝑹
the average and maximum velocities and the volume flow rate.

Courtesy: “Fluid Mechanics –

Fundamental and Applications” (in SI
units), Yunus A.Cengel, John
M.Cimbala, Tata McGraw Hill
Publishing Co. Ltd. 2006.
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes

Solution
r2
We know that u = umax 1− 2
R
𝑟2
It has been given that → u r = 4 1 − 2
𝑅
By inspection it is evident that → 𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝟒 𝐦/𝐬
umax 4
𝐮𝐚𝐯𝐠 = = = 𝟐 𝐦/𝐬
2 2
Volume flow rate = V ഥሶ = Across section × uavg = πR2 × uavg = π 2 × 10−2 2 ×2
𝐦 𝟑
ഥሶ = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟏𝟑
𝐕
𝐬
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes

The velocity profile in fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe, in

m/s, is given by 𝒖 𝒓 = 𝟔 𝟏 − 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒓𝟐 where r is the radial distance
from the pipe axis in m. Determine (a) pipe radius (b) the average
velocity through the pipe (c) the maximum velocity through the pipe and
(d) the volume flow rate.

Courtesy: “Fluid Mechanics – Fundamental and Applications” (in SI units), Yunus

A.Cengel, John M.Cimbala, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Co. Ltd. 2006.
MECHANICS OF FLUIDS
Numericals on Laminar Flow in Pipes

Solution
r2
We know that u = umax 1− 2
R
It has been given that → u r = 6 1 − 100r 2
By inspection it is evident that → 𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝟔 𝐦/𝐬
r2 1
By inspection it is also evident that → = 100r 2 → = 100 → 𝐑 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝐦
R2 R2
umax 6
𝐮𝐚𝐯𝐠 = = = 𝟑 𝐦/𝐬
2 2
ഥሶ = Across section × uavg = πR2 × uavg = π 0.1
Volume flow rate = V 2 ×3
𝐦 𝟑
ഥሶ = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟒𝟐
𝐕
𝐬
THANK YOU

V. Krishna
Department of Mechanical Engineering
vkrishna@pes.edu