Quiz 1: Fluid and Particle Mechanics

Instructions:
1) Each question carries 20 marks.
2) Exam duration including the time for scanning the response sheet is 60 minutes.
3) Reply your response as a separate email to ramkarn@iitism.ac.in with your name and
roll number as the subject of the email.
4) Your video must be on during the exam.

Problem 1: An incompressible Newtonian fluid of density ρ and viscosity µ is present in

the annular region formed by two infinitely long cylinders with inner cylinder having radius
Ri and outer cylinder having radius having Ro . Determine the velocity vector v = (vr , vθ , vz )
due to the rotation of the outer cylinder with a steady angular velocity Ω. The mathematical
equations describing the dynamics of such flow at an arbitrary Reynolds number are

∂vr 1 ∂vθ ∂vz

+ + = 0, (1)
 ∂r r ∂θ ∂z
∂vr ∂vr vθ ∂vr vθ ∂vr ∂p
ρ + vr + − 2 + vz =−
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r ∂z ∂r
2 2 2
   
1 ∂ ∂vr vr 1 ∂ vr 2 ∂ vθ ∂ vr
+µ r − 2+ 2 2 − 2 + , (2)
r ∂r ∂r r r ∂θ r ∂θ ∂z 2
 
∂vθ ∂vθ vθ ∂vθ vr vθ ∂vθ 1 ∂p
ρ + vr + + + vz =−
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r ∂z r ∂θ
2 2 2
   
1 ∂ ∂vθ vθ 1 ∂ vθ 2 ∂ vr ∂ vθ
+µ r − 2+ 2 2 + 2 + , (3)
r ∂r ∂r r r ∂θ r ∂θ ∂z 2
1 ∂ 2 vz ∂ 2 vz
     
∂vz ∂vz vθ ∂vz ∂vz ∂p 1 ∂ ∂vz
ρ + vr + + vz =− +µ r + 2 2 + (4)
∂t ∂r r ∂θ ∂z ∂z r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z 2

Assume an axisymmetric, fully-developed, and steady laminar flow. You can use additional
assumptions to arrive at the result.

Problem 2: A Newtonian fluid is flowing in a horizontal straight pipe with a steady-state

and fully developed velocity profile vz = Um (1 − r2 /R2 ) in laminar regime where R is the

1
radius of the pipe and Um is the maximum velocity. Find the length of the pipe up to which
fluid will travel due to the imposed pressure gradient before stopping owing to the frictional
losses.

Problem 3: A venturimeter is installed in a pipe of radius 0.5 cm through which water

is flowing. Assume the velocity profile same as the one given in Problem 2 with maximum
velocity 2 cm/s. The fluid in the venturi manometer is mercury and shows reading 10 cm.
If the coefficient of the venturimeter is 0.98 then what is the mass flow rate at the throat of
the venturimeter? Can you justify the use of parabolic velocity profile?

Problem 4: Several particles of diameter 6 mm are falling through air. The particle ma-
terial density is 1330 kg/m3 and particles occupy 40% of space by volume while the remaining
is occupied by the air. What is the settling velocity of the particles?
Hint: Use the parameter

 (1/3)
gρ(ρp − ρ)
K = Dp (5)
µ2

to determine the regime. If K < 2.6 then it is a Stoke’s flow regime. If 68.9 < K < 2360
then Newton’s flow regime.

Problem 5: A machine intends to crush the iron ore at 100 ton/hr from average size
50 mm to a lower size by providing power 1000 kW. Estimate the approximate average
diameter of the crushed product.