2/4/2020 Transport phenomena fluid mechanics problem solution BSL : Parabolic mirror fabrication from free surface shape

surface shape of rotating liquid

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Transport Phenomena - Fluid Mechanics Problem :

Parabolic mirror fabrication from free surface shape of rotating
liquid

Problem.
A plastic resin is in a vertical cylindrical vessel of radius R, which is rotating about its own axis at a
constant angular velocity W.

Figure. Parabolic mirror from free surface shape of rotating liquid.

a) Determine the shape of the free surface z(r) at steady state (neglecting end effects, if any). Let zR be
the liquid height at the vessel wall.

b) Show that the radius of curvature (of the free surface shape) is given by

c) The cylinder is rotated until the resin hardens in order to fabricate the backing for a parabolic mirror.
Determine the angular velocity (in rpm) necessary for a mirror of focal length 116 cm.
Given: The focal length f is one-half the radius of curvature rc at the axis.

Solution.
Click here for stepwise solution

(Click link again to hide stepwise solution)

a)

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2/4/2020 Transport phenomena fluid mechanics problem solution BSL : Parabolic mirror fabrication from free surface shape of rotating liquid

Step. Simplification of continuity equation

In steady laminar flow, the liquid is expected to travel in a circular motion with only the tangential
component of velocity. The radial and axial components of velocity are zero; so, vr = 0 and vz = 0.

For an incompressible fluid, the continuity equation gives .v = 0. In cylindrical coordinates,

(1)

So, vq = vq (r, z). If end effects are neglected, then vq does not depend on z. Thus, vq = vq (r).

Step. Simplification of equation of motion

There is no pressure gradient in the q-direction. The components of the equation of motion simplify to

(2)

(3)

(4)

As discussed later, the r-component provides the radial pressure distribution due to centrifugal forces and
the z-component gives the axial pressure distribution due to gravitational forces (the hydrostatic head
effect).

Step. Velocity profile by solving differential equation

The q-component of the equation of motion is integrated to get the velocity profile:

(5)

(6)

Since the velocity vθ is finite at r = 0, the integration constant C2 must be zero. Because vθ = ΩR at r = R,
C1 = 2Ω. Thus,

vθ = Ω r (7)

The above velocity profile suggests that each element of the liquid in a rotating cylindrical vessel moves
like an element of a rigid body.

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2/4/2020 Transport phenomena fluid mechanics problem solution BSL : Parabolic mirror fabrication from free surface shape of rotating liquid

Step. Free surface shape for rotating liquid in cylinder

Next, the velocity profile is substituted into the r-component of the equation of motion (Eq. 2) to get

∂p ρvθ2
∂r
= = ρΩ2r (8)
r

Integration gives

p = ρΩ2r2/2 + f1(z) (9)

The above expression for the pressure p is now substituted into the z-component of the equation of
motion (Eq. 4) to obtain

∂p df1
= −ρg ⇒ = −ρg or f1 = −ρgz + C3 (10)
∂z dz

On substituting the expression for f1 in Eq. 9,

p = ρΩ2r2/2 − ρgz + C3 (11)

The constant C3 is found from the following condition:

at r = R, z = zR and p = patm ⇒ patm = ρΩ2R2/2 − ρgzR + C3 (12)

where zR is the liquid height at the vessel wall and patm denotes the atmospheric pressure.

Subtraction of the above two equations eliminates C and gives the pressure distribution in the liquid as

p − patm = ρΩ2(r2 − R2)/2 + ρg(zR − z) (13)

Since p = patm at the liquid-air interface, the shape of the free liquid surface is finally obtained as

zR − z = Ω2(R2 − r2)/(2g) (14)

The free surface of the rotating liquid in a cylindrical vessel is a paraboloid of revolution (since Eq. 14
corresponds to a parabola).

b)

Step. General expression for radius of curvature

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2/4/2020 Transport phenomena fluid mechanics problem solution BSL : Parabolic mirror fabrication from free surface shape of rotating liquid

The circle that is tangent to a given curve at point P, whose center lies on the concave side of the curve
and which has the same curvature as the curve has at P, is referred to as the circle of curvature. It radius
(CP in the figure) defines the radius of curvature at P. The circle of curvature has its first and second
derivatives respectively equal to the first and second derivatives of the curve itself at P. If the coordinates
of the center C and point P are (r1, z1) and (r, z) respectively, then the radius of curvature CP is given by

rc = [(z1 − z)2 + (r − r1)2]1/2 (15)

Now, the radius CP is perpendicular to the tangent to the curve at P. So, the slope of the radius CP is
given by

dr z1 − z
− = (16)
dz r1 − r

Thus, the first and second derivatives of the curve at point P are

dz r − r1 d2z 1 r − r1 dz [1 + (dz / dr)2]

= and = +
z1 − z (z − z)2 dr = (17)
dr z1 − z dr2 1 z1 − z

On substituting the above derivatives in Eq. 15, the general expression for the radius of curvature is
obtained as

(18)

c)

Step. Angular velocity necessary for parabolic mirror fabrication

Let z0 be the height of the liquid surface at the centerline of the cylindrical vessel. Substituting z = z0 at r
= 0 in Eq. 14 gives zR − z0 = Ω2R2/(2g). Thus, an alternative expression (in terms of z0) for the shape of
the free surface is

z = z0 + Ω2r2/(2g) (19)

Differentiating the above expression twice gives

dz 2 d2z 2
= Ω r and = Ω (20)
dr g dr2 g

On substituting these derivatives into Eq. 18, the radius of curvature of the parabola is given by

(21)
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2/4/2020 Transport phenomena fluid mechanics problem solution BSL : Parabolic mirror fabrication from free surface shape of rotating liquid

rc = [1 + Ω4r2/g2]3/2 (g/Ω2)

Since the focal length f of the mirror is one-half the radius of curvature rc at the axis,

f = ½ rc|r = 0 = g/(2Ω2) (22)

Finally, the rotational speed Ω necessary to fabricate a mirror of focal length f is given by

Ω = [g/(2f)]1/2 (23)

Step. Substitution of numerical values

On substituting the focal length f = 116 cm and the gravitational acceleration g = 981 cm/s2 in the
above equation, the rotational speed may be calculated as 2.06 rad/s = 2.06 x 60/(2π) rpm = 19.65 rpm.

The numerical value above for the focal length f in cm may be changed and the rotational speed
recalculated by clicking on the button below.

Recalculate

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