ME 305 Fluid Mechanics I

Fall 2019
Sections 2 & 3
Homework 7
Due on December 27th, Friday, until 17:00 (submit to the TA’s)
Please refer to Homework Guidelines (posted in Odtuclass) when preparing your assignment.

1. A long structural component of a bridge has the cross-section shown below. When a steady wind passes
around this component, vortices may develop and are shed at some definite frequency, 𝜔 downstream. These
vortices may create harmful periodic forces acting on the structure. Therefore it is important to determine this
frequency.
vortices
𝑉
𝑦 structure 𝐷

𝑥
𝐻

The shedding frequency 𝜔 is expected to depend on the lengths, 𝐷 and 𝐻, the wind approach velocity 𝑉 and
the air density 𝜌 and viscosity 𝜇, i.e.
𝜔 = 𝑓(𝐷, 𝐻, 𝑉, 𝜌, 𝜇)
a) From the Buckingham-Pi theorem, explain why there will be 3 non-dimensional groups (Pi terms) in the
above representation – do not obtain the Pi terms yet.
b) By applying the Buckingham Pi theorem, obtain the non-dimensional form of the above relation as:
𝜔𝐷 𝐷 𝜌𝑉𝐷
= 𝐹- , .
𝑉 𝐻 𝜇
c) For the structure of interest, 𝐷 = 0.1 𝑚 𝐻 = 0.3 𝑚 and the wind velocity is 𝑉 = 50 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟. The air density
and viscosity are 1.23 𝑘𝑔/𝑚< and 1.79 × 10@A 𝑃𝑎 𝑠, respectively. The frequency 𝜔 for this structure is to be
obtained through the use of a small-scale model that will be tested in a water tunnel. For the model, 𝐷E =
2 𝑐𝑚 and the water density and viscosity are 998 𝑘𝑔/𝑚< and 1.00 × 10@< 𝑃𝑎 𝑠, respectively. Determine
(i) the model dimension, 𝐻E ,
(ii) the water velocity in the water tunnel.
(iii) If the model frequency is measured as 𝜔E = 49.9 𝐻𝑧, what will be the corresponding frequency
for the prototype ?

2. A square parking lot of width 𝑤 is bounded on all sides by a curb of height ℎ, with only one opening of
width 𝑏 as shown. During a heavy rain, the lot fills with water and it is of
interest to determine the time 𝑡 it takes for the water to completely drain 𝑤
from the lot through the shown opening, after the rain stops. The time 𝑡 is ℎ
assumed to depend on the dimensions 𝑤 , 𝑏 and ℎ , the gravitational
acceleration 𝑔 and the rain water density 𝜌 and viscosity 𝜇, i.e. 𝑤
𝑡 = 𝑓(𝑤, 𝑏, ℎ, 𝑔, 𝜌, 𝜇)
a) From the Buckingham-Pi theorem, explain why there will be 4 non- 𝑏
dimensional groups (Pi terms) for the above representation – do not obtain
the Pi terms yet.
b) By applying the Buckingham Pi theorem, obtain the non-dimensional form of the above relation as:
 𝑔 𝑏 ℎ 𝜇
𝑡O = 𝐹P , , R
𝑤 𝑤 𝑤 𝜌Q𝑤 < 𝑔
c) A scale model is to be used to study this problem. For a length scale of 𝑙T ⁄𝑙E = 10,
(i) obtain the drain time scale 𝑡T ⁄𝑡E .
(ii) Explain why water (same fluid as that in the actual lot) can not be used in the model experiments.
(iii) If a fluid with the same density as water is used, determine the required viscosity scale, 𝜇T ⁄𝜇E .

3. For the piping system, which is shown in the figure below, the diameter of the orifice (opening) at the upper
reservoir is 0.005 m. The length and diameter of
the pipe are 100 m and 0.1m, respectively. All
piping material is commercial steel. The
kinematic viscosity and density of water are
1x10-6 m2/s and 1000 kg/m3, respectively.
Neglecting all the minor head losses and
assuming the system is operating at steady state,
determine
a) the head delivered by the pump and,
b) the power required by the pump, if the pump
efficiency is 75 percent.

4. In the laboratory set-up shown, water is circulated at a rate of 0.053 m3/s with a pump through a piping
system (0.0225 mm pipe surface roughness) of constant diameter of 225 mm. Four elbows of the same material
and diameter are attached to the piping system as shown (various loss-related parameters are given in the
figure). A fully open globe valve is placed after the pump. Water returns to the tank through a turbine.
Assuming steady flow (water in the tank is kept at constant level), what power is supplied to the turbine, if the
head supplied by the pump to the system is 10 m? For water r =1000 kg/m3, n =1×10-6 m2/s.

15 m

four 900 Standard elbows

(Le/D = 30)

9m 9m

4m 4m
TURBINE TANK PUMP

Globe valve (Le/D = 340)

Exit loss Square edge inlet
(k = 1.0) (k = 0.5 )