Mech. Eng. Ph.D.

Preliminary Qualifying Examination

January 22, 2009

Fluid Mechanics
This is one of five problems. You are required to do four out of five problems. Clearly indicate
which four problems you are selecting. Show all work on the exam sheets provided and write
your student number on each sheet. Do not write your name on any sheet.

Student Number ______________________________________________________

1.

Consider the low-speed flow of air between parallel disks as shown.

Assume that the flow is incompressible and inviscid, and that the velocity
is purely radial and uniform at any section. The flow speed is V = 15 m/s
at R = 75 mm. Simplify the continuity equation to a form applicable to this
flow field. Show that a general expression for the velocity field is
r
V V ( R / r )er for ri r R . Calculate the acceleration of a fluid particle at the
locations r ri and r R .

Fig. 1

Mech. Eng. Ph.D. Preliminary Qualifying Examination

January 22, 2009

Fluid Mechanics
This is one of five problems. You are required to do four out of five problems. Clearly indicate
which four problems you are selecting. Show all work on the exam sheets provided and write
your student number on each sheet. Do not write your name on any sheet.

Student Number ______________________________________________________

2.

Consider steady laminar flow ( , ) in a parallel-plate device where one

wall is lined with endothelial cells to demonstrate elongated cell
alignment

with

substantial

shear

flow.

Given

water 103 kg / m3 ,

water 103 Ns / m2 and h 250 m as well as measured water 10,50,100 dyn / cm 2 ,

calculate the operational conditions, i.e., associated Reynolds numbers
and entrance length (for cell placement in the fully-developed flow
region).
(Assume Poiseuille-type flow.)

Fig. 2

Mech. Eng. Ph.D. Preliminary Qualifying Examination

January 22, 2009

Fluid Mechanics
This is one of five problems. You are required to do four out of five problems. Clearly indicate
which four problems you are selecting. Show all work on the exam sheets provided and write
your student number on each sheet. Do not write your name on any sheet.

Student Number ______________________________________________________

3.

The pressure drop in a Venturi meter varies only with the fluid density,
pipe approach velocity, and diameter ratio of the meter. A model venture
meter tested in water at 20 oC shows a 5 kPa drop when the approach
velocity is 4 m/s. A geometrically similar prototype meter is used to
measure gasoline (density 680 kg/m 3) at a flow rate of 9 m3/min. If the
prototype pressure gauge is most accurate at 15kPa, what should the
upstream pipe diameter be?

Solution:

Given: P=fn(, U, d/D)

Using Buckingham Pi theorem to obtain the useful relationship of
non-dimensional pressure drop: P/(U2)= fn(d/D)
For Water model:
5000/(998. 42 ) = 0.313
For Gasoline prototype:
15000/(680 . U2 ) = 0.313
Solve for U
U = 8.39 m/s
By definition, Flow rate : Q =U A= U (D2 )/4, and is given as 9/60 m3/s;
Solve for D , obtain

D=0.151 m

Mech. Eng. Ph.D. Preliminary Qualifying Examination

January 22, 2009

Fluid Mechanics
This is one of five problems. You are required to do four out of five problems. Clearly indicate
which four problems you are selecting. Show all work on the exam sheets provided and write
your student number on each sheet. Do not write your name on any sheet.

Student Number ______________________________________________________

4.

The drag force of a bullet-shaped device may be measured using a

wind tunnel. The tunnel is round with a diameter of 1 m, the pressure at
section 1 is 1.5 kPa gage, the pressure at section 2 is 1.0 kPa gage, and
air density is 1.0 kg/m^3. At the inlet, the velocity is uniform with a
magnitude of 30 m/s. At the exit, the velocity varies linearly as shown in
the sketch. Determine the drag force on the device and support vanes.
Neglect viscous resistance at the wall, and assume pressure is uniform
across sections 1 and 2.

Fig. 4

Mech. Eng. Ph.D. Preliminary Qualifying Examination

January 22, 2009

Fluid Mechanics
This is one of five problems. You are required to do four out of five problems. Clearly indicate
which four problems you are selecting. Show all work on the exam sheets provided and write
your student number on each sheet. Do not write your name on any sheet.

Student Number ______________________________________________________

5. A hydroelectric power plant in Fig. 5 takes in 30m3/s of water through
its turbines and discharges it at V2 = 2 m/s at atmospheric pressure.
The head loss in the turbine and penstock system is hf= 20 m.
a. Calculate the exit area
b. Estimate the power extracted by the turbine in megawatts.

Fig. 5