NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, WARANGAL

(An Institution of National Importance)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III B.TECH. (MECHANICAL ENGINEERING) I SEMESTER
ME305 - MECHANICAL MEASUREMENTS
END SEMESTER EXAMINATION, DECEMBER - 2016
Date: 02.12.2016 Max. Marks: 50
Note: 1. There are 10 questions on this paper, 2. Assume missing data if any, suitably, 3. Answer to the point.

1. Explain the stages of a generalized measurement system with a neat schematic and an example (5 marks)

Expected Response:
1. Detector or Transducer stage (Input stage) – detects and transforms the signal to more usable form.
2. Intermediate stage – enhances the signal by amplification, filtering, attenuation etc…
3. Final or Output stage – indicates, records or control the variable being measured. – 3 marks

Schematic – 1 mark
Example with explanation – 1 mark

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. For an input of Asin(ωt), plot the input and output response of a first order instrument. Give the expressions
for output at any time t, the time lag and the amplitude ratio. (5 marks)

Expected Response:
1. Plot with all details – 2 marks
2. Expressions with explanation of each term involved – 1 mark each

∅
∆𝑡 =
𝜔

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. List any five methods to minimize measurement uncertainties. (5 marks)

Expected Response:
1. Calibration of all measuring devices with standards of high accuracy.
2. Selection of measuring devices with range close to that required, to minimize errors.
3. Collection of large data set and obtaining the best estimate.
4. Choosing the best combination of devices with the least possible overall uncertainty.
5. Choosing the best method of calculating the result, which gives least uncertainty.

Each point – 1 mark

________________________________________________________________________________________
 𝑙
4. The time period T of a simple pendulum is given by 𝑇 = 2𝜋√𝑔 where l is the length of the pendulum and g
is the acceleration due to gravity. If the uncertainty in measuring the period of a simple pendulum is 0.05%
and in measuring the length is 0.6%, what is the uncertainty in the calculated value of g? (5 marks)

Expected Response:

1. Uncertainty equation – 1 mark

2. Solving the equation with proper substitution – 2 marks
3. Answer – uncert in g is 0.24(l/T2) and % uncert in g = 0.608% - 2 marks

________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Derive an equation to show temperature sensor as a first order system. Discuss the effects of different
parameters on its time constant. (5 marks)

Expected Response:
Consider a temperature probe as a system subject to transient temperature.
ρ – density of the probe material (kg/m3)
V – volume of the probe material (m3)
A – surface area of the probe (m2)
C – specific heat of the probe material (J/kg.K)
h – heat transfer coefficient between probe and the fluid (W/m2.K)
The probe is assumed to be thermally ‘lumped’ (at uniform temperature T for any given time t). Let T 0 be
the initial temperature of the probe and T∞ be the fluid temperature.
By energy conservation,
Rate of change of energy stored in the probe = Rate of heat transfer between
the probe and the fluid

That is,
𝑑𝑇
−𝜌𝑉𝐶 𝑑𝑡 = ℎ𝐴(𝑇 − 𝑇∞ ) -------------------------(4.1)
𝑑𝑇 ℎ𝐴 ℎ𝐴
+ 𝜌𝑉𝐶 𝑇 = 𝜌𝑉𝐶 𝑇∞ -----------------------------(4.2)
𝑑𝑡
𝜌𝑉𝐶
has the unit of time and is called as the time constant τ of the first order system. It involves thermal and
ℎ𝐴
geometric properties. Equation (4.2) can now be written as
𝑑𝑇 𝑇 𝑇∞
+ = ----------------------------(4.3)
𝑑𝑡 𝜏 𝜏

Above derivation - 3 marks

Discussion on effect of parameters on time constant - 2 marks

________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Explain Wien’s displacement law and the operation of a vanishing filament optical pyrometer on basis of that,
using neat schematics. (5 marks)

Expected Response:

Wien’s Displacement Law

Black body radiation curve for different temperatures, peaks at a wavelength inversely proportional to the
temperature. The shift in these maximum points explains the change in color as the body is heated i.e.,
higher temperature results in concentration of radiation in lower wavelength portion of the spectrum.
 Wien’s displacement law statement – 1 mark
Equation and Diagram – 1 mark
Optical pyrometer working – 2 marks
Diagrams of the device and vanishing filament – 1 mark

_______________________________________________________________________________________

7. A rotating concentric cylinder viscometer is run at an angular speed of 1800±5 rpm. The geometric data is
specified as r1 = 37±0.02 mm, r2 = 38±0.02 mm, L = 100±0.5 mm and thickness of fluid layer at the bottom,
a = 1±0.01 mm. What is the torque experienced by the stationary cylinder? Estimate uncertainty in torque
measured if the fluid in the viscometer has viscosity of 0.0331 kg/ms. (5 marks)

Expected Response:

1800
𝜔 = 1800𝑟𝑝𝑚 = × 2𝜋 = 188.5 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
60
Nominal value of Torque - 2 marks

2𝑟2 𝐿 𝑟12
𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑇𝑖 + 𝑇𝑎 = 𝜇𝜋𝜔𝑟12 [ + ] = 0.222 𝑁. 𝑚
𝑏 2𝑎

Uncertainty equation and proper substitution – 1 mark

Uncertainty in Torque = ±0.005 Nm or 2.25% - 2 marks

_______________________________________________________________________________________

8. List some of the crucial steps before identifying and finalizing upon, the measuring instruments to be used in
any experiment. (5 marks)

Expected Response:

1. Objectives
2. List of specific results needed
3. Methodology for overall experiment
4. Parameters needed to calculate the results
5. Quantities to be measured for obtaining above parameters
6. Range of measured quantities
7. Method for individual measurements
8. Apparatus preliminary design

___________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Approximately 106 discrete electrical components can be placed on a single integrated circuit (chip), with
electrical heat dissipation as high as 30,000 W/m2. The chip, which is very thin, is exposed to a dielectric
liquid at its outer surface, with ho = 1000 W/m2. K and T∞,o = 20 °C, and is joined to a circuit board at its inner
surface. The thermal contact resistance between the chip and the board is 10-4 m2.K/W and the board
thickness and thermal conductivity are Lb = 5 mm and kb = 1 W/m.K, respectively. The other surface of the
board is exposed to ambient air for which hi = 40 W/m2.K and T∞,i = 20 °C. (a) Under steady-state conditions
for which the chip heat dissipation is 30,000 W/m2, what is the chip temperature? (b) The maximum
allowable heat flux is determined by the constraint that the chip temperature must not exceed 85°C.
Determine this for the foregoing conditions. (c) If air is used in lieu of the dielectric liquid, the convection
coefficient is reduced by approximately an order of magnitude. What is the value of maximum allowable heat
flux for ho = 100 W/m2.K?(d) With air cooling, can significant improvements be realized by using an aluminium
 oxide circuit board and/or by using a conductive paste at the chip/board interface for which resistance is
10-5 m2.K/W? (5 marks)

Expected Response:

(a) – 1 mark

(b) – 1 mark

(c) – 1 mark

(d) – 2 marks

________________________________________________________________________________________

10. A metal block of square cross section with side 2 cm and length 5 cm with thermal conductivity 400 W/mK is
insulated on its four vertical sides and the bottom by material of thermal conductivity 2 W/mK, as shown in
the figure below. The insulation thickness is 1 cm on all five sides. The metal block is heated from inside by
some electrical source. Fluid of temperature 20 oC flows over the top surface of the metal block with a heat
transfer coefficient of 100 W/m2K. Suggest suitable method to calculate the heat carried by the fluid from
the metal block and the heat loss to the surrounding from the block through the insulation. Specify the
required sensors, their location and show sample analysis. (5 marks)
Expected Response:

Sensors required – 2 marks

1. Mass flow rate sensor
2. Temperature sensor – Thermocouple
3. Voltmeter
4. Ammeter

Method

Heat carried by the fluid from the metal block can be calculated using, 𝑚̇𝑐𝑝 ∆𝑇. Use mass flow rate sensor on
the top to measure flow rate. We need one TC on the surface and the other ambient (value given anyway).
– 1 mark

To get the heat loss from the block we can either do it by using 𝑉𝐼 − 𝑚̇𝑐𝑝 ∆𝑇 or we can use TCs at the inner
and outer surface of the insulating material to get ∆𝑇. Then by conduction and convection we can estimate
the amount of heat loss through the insulation to the surrounding. – 1 mark

Sample analysis – 1 mark

_______________________________________________________________________________________