Partial Exam FMOFT (Biomedical Engineering) Dic 3, 2014.

Academic year 2014/2015.

1. Books, notes, and any kind of device (calculators, smart-phones, smart-watches, ...) are not allowed.
2. If any numerical operation is needed, try to do it if you can, or write the corresponding formula.
3. Solve each problem on a separate sheet of paper and write (a) your full name and (b) your UB
number on each sheet.

1. Rocketing rotating tube (3 points)

A cylindrical tube of length L can rotate, with no friction, around one of its two extremes (point
A) where its section is SA and has a side hole at the other extreme (point B) with section SB . An
incompressible liquid, with density ρ and zero viscosity, has a laminar flow in the tube with velocity
vA in A. The side hole in B is such that the liquid flows out orthogonal to both the main axis of
the tube and the axis of rotation around A. The tube is in vacuum. Apart from the gravity and
the reaction force in A, there are no other forces acting on the tube.

(a) (0.5 points)

With respect to A, calculate the velocity of the liquid in B in the case the tube is not rotating
(case 1: the tube is held fixed) and in the case the tube is rotating with angular velocity ω in
the direction opposite to the liquid outflow (case 2: the tube is free to rotate).
Solution
Case 1: For the conservation of flow it is

vB = vA SA /SB

.
Case 2: Since the rotation is opposite to the liquid outflow, the velocity in B with respect to
the fixed point A is
0
vB = vB − ωL = vA SA /SB − ωL.

(b) (1 point)
Which is the total torque τB acting on the tube in B with respect to the center of rotation A
when the tube hangs vertically from A, in case 1 and in case 2?
Solution
Case 1: When the tube is held fixed the total torque calculated with respect to A must be
zero, specifically,
τtot = τA + τB = 0
 where τA is the toque due to the reaction force in A and τB is the torque acting in B associated
to the force FB due to the variation in time of the lineal momentum of the system in B:
∆m
FB = v B = vB ρQ = ρ(vA SA )2 /SB .
∆t
Therefore
τB = LFB = Lρ(vA SA )2 /SB .

0
Case 2: In this case the outflowing mass moves with velocity vB with respect to A. Hence,

∆m
FB0 = vB
0 0
= vB ρQ = ρ(vA SA /SB − ωL)vA SA .
∆t
Therefore
τB0 = LFB0 = ρL(vA SA /SB − ωL)vA SA .
(c) (0.5 point)
Which is the pressure PB in B associated to the force with torque τB in case 1 and case 2?
Solution
Case 1:
PB ≡ FB /SB = ρ(vA SA /SB )2 .
Note that this pressure is larger than 0, the pressure due to the vacuum.
Case 2:
PB0 ≡ FB0 /SB = ρ(vA SA /SB − ωL)vA SA /SB .
(d) (1 point)
Is it possible to apply the Bernoulli equation between A and B in case 1? And in case 2?
Explain why in both cases? (Hint: It can be shown that, if the tube is initially at rest, as
consequence of the outflow its angular velocity increases asymptotically in time reaching the
value ω∞ = vB /L).
Solution
In case 1 the tube is held fixed (cannot rotate), and the flow is (a) stationary along all the tube.
Since the liquid is also (b) incompressible, (c) has zero viscosity and (d) has a laminar flow,
all the hypothesis (a)-(d) of the Bernoulli equation are valid, therefore the Bernoulli equation
holds along the entire tube and for the outgoing flow of liquid.
0
In case 2, instead, the flow velocity vB in B depends on ω because the tube can rotate. Because
0
the torque τB depends on ω, the angular acceleration depends on ω, hence ω depends on time
0
(as indicated in the “hint”). Hence the flow velocity vB in B depends on time. Therefore, the
flow is not stationary and the Bernoulli equation cannot be applied.
For those that are curious:
It’s easy to show that the application of the Bernoulli equation in case 2 would lead to an
inconsistency.
In case 1, for example, when the tube is hanging vertically from A, indicating with g the
gravity acceleration, and because the system is in vacuum (no atmospheric pressure on B), if
is PA the pressure in A, then it is
1 2 1 2
PA + ρvA + ρgL = ρvB .
2 2
If, by absurd, the analogous expression would hold in case 2, then it would be:
1 2 1 0 2
PA + ρvA + ρgL = ρ(vB ) .
2 2
 0
However, for the result reported in the “hint”, vB would vanish for increasing time, hence the
right-hand-side of the Bernoulli equation would approach zero for increasing time, while the
left-hand-side is independent on time and always positive (if there is a outflow in B). This
absurd result is due to the fact that we are trying to apply the Bernoulli equation when one
of its hypothesis does not hold.

2. Two connected tanks (3 points)

Let us consider an incompressible, non-viscous, homogeneous liquid having a laminar flow between
two reservoirs separated by a distance L connected through a pipe of non-constant cross section, as
indicated in the figure. At short times the flow can be considered stationary. If we know the cross
sections (S for the upper reservoir, S1 at point 1, S2 at point 2, Sc at point c), the heights H and
h, the distance L and the angle α, find:
(a) (1 point)
The flow velocity in the middle point c between points 1 and 2, in terms of Sc , S2 , H, L.
(b) (1 point)
The height y reached by the liquid in a tube located in c. Give y in terms of Sc , S2 , H, L and
α.
(c) (1 point)
Assuming a constant escape velocity, how long does it take to empty the upper reservoir just
a P % of its capacity? How good is this approximation?

Solution
√
a) patm + ρgH = patm + 12 ρv22 ; v2 = 2gH
S2 √
Sc vc = S2 v2 and therefore vc = Sc 2gH

b) pc − patm = ρgy, so y = pc −p
ρg
atm

Applying Bernoulli, patm + ρgH = pc + ρgz + 12 ρvc2 where z is the height between 2 and c.
vc2 L vc2 S22 L
Combining both, y = (H − z) − 2g =H− 2 tan α − 2g = H(1 − Sc2 ) − 2 tan α
c) The required time is given by v1 S1 t = 0.01P Sh, with v1 S1 = v2 S2 = vc Sc .
0.01P Sh
Hence, t = √ 2gHS2
.
To assume a constant escape velocity is a good approximation only if P is very small since the
escape velocity depends on the height of the water in the reservoir. Note that Bernoulli equation
only holds if the flow can be considered stationary within the time of interest.
3. Controlling the level of water with a rotating gate (4 points)
An ‘L-shaped’ gate of length L, width w and density ρ lies on the surface of water (see Fig. 1).

w
(a) (1 point)
What should be the length L to maintain the gate in equilibrium in its vertical position (Fig.
2 (a)) on the water interface knowing τ , the surface tension of water (density of water ρw )?
Solution
One should consider 4 interfaces. Force balance: mg = 4τ L, m = 2ρL2 w thus L = 2τ /ρwg.
(b) (1.25 point)
Consider that the gate has been rotated by an angle θ > 0 with respect to the previous
equilibrium position (as shown in Fig. 2 (b)). Write an expression relating the maximal angle
θmax required to remove the gate’s left wall from the surface of water to τ , L and ρ. Compare
it with the case where we neglect the surface tension.
Solution
The maximal angle θmax is reached when the torque on the right and left sections are equal.
Torque for the left section: M1 (mg) + M1 (τ ) = L2 m 1 2 2 Lm 2
2 g cos θ + 2 2 τ L + τ L = 2 2 g cos θ + 2τ L .
Lm
Torque for the right section: M2 (mg) = 2 2 g sin θ.
M1 = M2 → sin θmax −cos θmax = 8τ L
mg Without surface tension effects θmax = π/4. For τ > 0,
θmax > π/4.

(a) (b)

(c) We use this gate to control the level of water in a tank (see Fig. 3). The point O is fixed.
i. (0.5 point)
Explain why the tank empties when the level of water becomes too large.
Solution
When the level is too high the torque due to the hydrostatic forces on the vertical wall
are larger that the ones on the other wall and the gate rotates around O.
ii. (1.25 point)
 Calculate the height threshold hmax above which the gate rotates. Neglect the weight of
Rb
the gate and the surface tension. Hint: a xn dx = (bn+1 − an+1 )/(n + 1).
Solution
Torques on each wall:
M1 = L2 L2 ρw gh − L2 m
2g
Rh 3

8 M2 = 0 ρw g(h − z)zLdz = Lρw6gh 1 Hydrostatique

√
h = hmax for M1 = M2 . If we consider m = 0 then: hmax = 3L.
z

A
A
A�

A�

x O h
B O
B
L
h
h0

On pourra poser H = h − h0 .

1. Expliquer sommairement pourquoi la porte bascule lorsque la hauteur d’eau

est trop élevée.
2. Enumérer et tracer sommairement les forces agissant sur la porte. On négligera
ensuite le poids de la porte.
3. Calculer le moment en O des forces de pression exercées par l’eau et l’air sur
la porte.
4. En négligeant le poids de la porte, en déduire la hauteur h de liquide pour
laquelle la porte bascule. Le résultat dépend-il de la pression atmosphérique ?

Exercice 1.11 : Dimensionnement d’un barrage poids

Il existe plusieurs types de barrages adaptés à la structure du sol et du sous-sol que

l’on peut classer en deux grandes familles : les barrages poids qui stabilisent l’eau
uniquement par leur masse, et les barrages arc-boutants qui s’appuient sur les bords.

Nous allons dans cet exercice calculer la taille d’un barrage poids triangulaire, de
largeur l, de hauteur h et d’angle au sommet α.

O�

h
G
j

A i O