ENGINEERING FLUID MECHANICS

Midterm 1 November 3rd

Solution Groups 37/38/39

Short theory questions (2 points)

1. State the continuity equation for a fluid particle and simplify it for an incompressible flow.

The continuity equation reads

1 Dρ ∂ρ
= −∇ · v =⇒ + ∇ · (ρv) = 0
ρ Dt ∂t
which indicates that the unitary rate of change of the fluid particle volume is due to the
divergence of the velocity field. For an incompressible flow, i.e., no change in volume,
one simply has ∇ · v = 0.

2. Compute the net force per unit width exerted by the liquid of density ρ sitting at rest on the
semi-cylindrical dome Σw shown in the figure.
pa

ρ g
H Σw

pa
R

The force is just given by the weight per unit width of the liquid sitting on top of the
dome. That is given by

F = ρg(2RH − πR2 /2) = 2RHρg (1 − β),

with β = πR/(4H). You may take g = −ez .

3. The schematic below shows the flow of two incompressible flows between two parallel plates.
Indicate the boundary conditions needed to solve for the velocity at both walls and the fluid-
fluid interface.

The boundary conditions are i) no-slip at the walls and ii) continuity of velocities and
stresses at the liquid-liquid interface (see sketch below).

1
 Solid, impermeable walls

v2 = 0
v2 ρ2 , µ 2
n
Fluid 2 v 1 = v2
−p1 n + τ̄¯′1 · n = −p2 n + τ̄¯′2 · n
v1 ρ1 , µ 1
Fluid 1

v1 = 0

Z Z
4. The work done by pressure per unit time is −pv · n dΣ = ∇ · (−pv) dV . Describe
Σf Vf
briefly the physical meaning of the volumetric contributions ∇ · (−pv) = −v · ∇p − p∇ · v:

Both terms represent the power density developed by pressure forces which is invested
into

−v · ∇p: changing the kinetic energy.

−p∇ · v: raising/decreasing the internal energy by means of compression/expan-

sion of the fluid particle.

2
Flow kinematics (2 points)

Consider the 2-dimensional flow field v = (vx , vy , 0) given in Cartesian coordinates by

vx (x, t) = A sin ky, vy (x, t) = A sin kx
where A > 0 and k are constants.
1. Determine the stagnation points. (0.5 points)

The stagnation points verify vx = 0 and vy = 0. They are thus given by:

vx = 0 =⇒ sin ky = 0 =⇒ ky = πn, |n| = 0, 1, . . .

vy = 0 =⇒ sin kx = 0 =⇒ kx = πm, |m| = 0, 1, . . .

Therefore they are of the form (x, y) = πk (n, m)n,m∈ Z for any z.

2. Is the flow incompressible? (0.5 points)

The divergence of the flow field is

∂vx ∂vy ∂vz
∇·v = + + = 0 + 0 + 0 = 0.
∂x ∂y ∂z
The flow is therefore incompressible.

3. Compute the streaklines of the fluid particles that passed through (xo , yo ). (0.5 points)

Since the flow is steady, we can compute the streamlines instead:

dx dy
= =⇒ sin kx dx − sin ky dy = 0
A sin ky A sin kx
Upon integration of the latter,

cos kx − cos kxo = cos ky − cos kyo

4. Compute the acceleration a = Dv/Dt. (0.5 points)

∂
Recalling that D/Dt = ∂t
+ v · ∇, we have

∂vx ∂v
x ∂vx ∂vx
ax =  + vx + vy + vz = A2 k sin kx cos ky
∂t  ∂x ∂y ∂z
∂vy ∂vy ∂vy ∂vy
ay =  + vx + vy + vz = A2 k sin ky cos kx
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z
∂vz ∂vz ∂v
z ∂vz
az =  + vx  + vy  + vz = 0.
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z

3
Problem on conservation equations in integral form (6 points)

The schematic below shows the principles of an injector pump. The device consists of a round pipe
of cross-sectional area A filled with liquid with density ρ at temperature T2 . A canister containing the
same liquid at temperature T1 is piped to the main duct using a hose of cross-sectional area αA, where
α < 1 is a constant. The vertical distance from the free surface to the centreline of the main pipe is
h (see figure). The feeding stream is issued from the hose with uniform velocity v1 , which induces a
uniform velocity v2 of the outer stream at station i , where the pressure is pi , uniform. Because of the
mixing of the two streams, the fluid at the outlet, which is open to the ambient atmosphere at pressure
pa , leaves the pump with different uniform values of velocity vo and temperature To at section o . In
your analysis of the flow through sections i – o , use the suggested control volume (sketched with
dotted lines). Also, viscous effects can be entirely neglected throughout.

A p = pi Q̇ p = pa

v2
αA
ρ v1
T2
h
vo
pa i o To

g Main pipe
ρ
T1 Hose

1. Compute the velocity vo as a function of v1 , v2 , α, and A. (1 point)

Straight application of mass conservation yields

αAv1 + (1 − α)Av2 = Avo =⇒ vo = αv1 + (1 − α)v2

2. By applying the momentum conservation equation on the suggested control volume, determine
the pressure jump pi − pa in terms of v1 , v2 , α, and A. (1 point)

The momentum equation along the streamwise direction results in

ρv12 αA + ρv22 (1 − α)A + pi A = ρvo2 + pa A

which, combined with the result from continuity gives

pi − pa = −ρα(1 − α)(v1 − v2 )2

4
3. Determine pi as a function of pa , v1 , ρ, g, and h by applying Bernoulli’s equation to suitable
points along the fluid path from the free surface to the outlet of the hose. Consider the flow
contained in the canister to be at rest. (1 point)

Application of Bernoulli’s equation along an imaginary streamline joining a point at the

free surface with a point right at the outlet of the hose yields
1
pa + 02 + 0 = pi + ρv12 + ρgh,
2
where the datum z = 0 is placed at the free surface. Rearranging the above equation
provides another expression for the pressure differential
1
pi − pa = − ρv12 − ρgh
2

4. Combine your previous results from parts 1–3 to obtain the relationship between v2 and v1 . For
instance, solve for v2 in terms of the remaining parameters. (1.5 points)

Combining the result from momentum and Bernoulli’s equations provides an equation
that relates v1 and v2 , i.e,
1
ρα(1 − α)(v1 − v2 )2 = ρv12 + ρgh
2
which can be solved for v2 as follows:
1/2 1/2
gh + v12 /2 gh + v12 /2
 
v1 − v2 = ± =⇒ v2 = v1 ∓
α(1 − α) α(1 − α)

5. Measurement of the outlet temperature reveals that To is given by the mixing law
1 1 1
= + .
To T1 T2

Give an expression for the total amount of heat transferred through the walls Q̇ if the specific
heat of the liquid is c, constant. (1.5 points)

The total energy equation reads

vo2 pa v12 pi v22 pi

     
Go cTo + + − G1 cT1 + + − G2 cT2 + + = −Q̇
2 ρ 2 ρ 2 ρ

where Go = ρvo A, G1 = ρv1 αA, and G2 = ρv2 (1 − α)A.