ME 5103: Incompressible Fluid Flow July – November 2021

Assignment 2
Assigned: 22nd September 2021 Due: 1st October 2021 Max. marks: 100

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1. (10 points) Consider the steady, two-dimensional, incompressible, velocity field given by, V = i(ax
ˆ + b) +
ˆj (−ay + cx), where a, b and c are constants. Calculate the pressure as a function of x and y.

2. (10 points) Write down the (do not derive!) the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible
flow in the Cartesian and Cylindrical coordinates in differential form. Comment on the differences you notice
between the terms in the two coordinate systems.

3. (10 points) The x-component of velocity of a two-dimensional incompressible laminar boundary layer on a flat
surface can be approximated, for y ≤ δ as,

y3 y4
!
y
u ≈U 2 −2 3 + 4 ,
δ δ δ
√
where δ = C x and C is a constant. Assuming a no-slip condition at the wall, find an expression for the
y-component of velocity v(x, y) for y ≤ δ. Calculate the maximum value of v at location x = 1m, for the
free-stream fluid velocity U = 3m/s and with a boundary layer thickness of δ = 1.1cm.

4. (20 points) Consider a steady, laminar, fully developed, incompressible flow between two vertical parallel plates
ˆ 0 and the right
that are infinite in the z direction. The left plate moves parallel to its surface at a velocity of jV
plate is held stationary. The fluid between the plates moves as a result of the motion of the left vertical plate as
well as a pressure gradient that is applied in the vertical (y) direction. There is no flow in the z-direction and
the gravity acts in the negative y-direction.

(a) Reduce the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations to model this flow field, by reasoning the non-contributing
terms.
(b) Prove that the x-component of velocity is zero
(c) Prove that the pressure gradient in the y-direction must be constant.
(d) Obtain an expression for the velocity of the fluid.

5. (20 points) A cylinder of unknown dimensions is tested in a cylindrical wind-tunnel of 0.75m diameter as shown
in figure 1. The pressure is uniform at sections 1 and 2. The pressure at section 1 is 30 mm of water (gage) and
the pressure at section 2 is 15 mm of water (gage), and the mean speed of air is 12.5 m/s. The velocity profile
at section 2 is linear, it varies from zero at the centerline to a maximum at the tunnel wall. Neglect the viscous
resistance on the walls of the tunnel.

(a) Calculate the mass flow rate in the wind tunnel.

(b) Calculate the maximum velocity at section 2.
(c) Calculate the drag force on the cylindrical object.

Figure 1: Schematic for problem 5.

ME 5103: Incompressible Fluid Flow July – November 2021

6. (10 points) A rectangular block of mass M, rolls along a smooth horizontal plane as shown in figure 2. The
block travels initially at speed U0 . At t = 0 the block is struck by a liquid jet and its speed begins to slow.
Obtain an algebraic expression for the acceleration of the block for t > 0. Solve the equation to determine the
time at which U = 0.

Figure 2: Schematic for problem 6.

7. (20 points) Consider the pipe system shown in figure 3, through which oil with a specific gravity of .95 and a
flow rate of 0.58 m3 /s flows, and the gage pressures are shown in the figure. Determine the force and torque
that are exerted by the pipe assembly on its supports which are the center of the pipe.

Figure 3: Schematic for problem 7.