EGR313- Mechanical Systems Project II

Homework Assignment 1
It is due on Thursday, Sep. 1 at the beginning of the class period.

NAME: _________________________________________

Problem 1: The Hazen-Williams hydraulic formula for the mass-flow rate, mɺ through a pipe of diameter
 ∆p 
0.54

D and length L is given by mɺ = K ρ D 2.63   where ∆p is the pressure drop and ρ is the liquid’s
 L 
density. What are the base dimensions, SI units and US customary units of the constant K? [5]

− Ky ˆ Kx ˆ
Problem 2: A flow’s velocity vector field is given by v = i+ 2 j where K>0. Develop the
x +y
2 2
x + y2
expression for the streamlines and draw a few representative streamlines to visualize the flow pattern.
(Don’t forget to include direction of the flow.) What flow could this pattern represent? [5]

Now, let’s get a bit more ambitious and learn something that may be new to some of you.
Problem 3: A two-dimensional steady velocity field is given by
vx = K ( x 2 − y 2 ), v y = −2 Kxy , vz = 0 K = const > 0 .
Derive an expression for the streamline pattern, sketch a few streamlines with flow direction in the upper
half plane, i.e. y ≥ 0 and interpret the possible flowfield the pattern may represent.1 [10]

1
An ordinary differential equation of the form M ( x, y )dx + N ( x, y )dy = 0 where M and N are arbitrary continuous
∂M ∂N
functions in a domain R, is said to be exact if and only if = in R. Then for such a differential equation in the domain
∂y ∂x
R the solution is
x y x y

f ( x, y ) = ∫ M (τ , y )dτ + ∫ N ( xo ,τ )dτ = C1 or g ( x, y ) = ∫ M (τ , yo )dτ + ∫ N ( x,τ )dτ = C2

xo yo xo yo
where (xo,yo) is any arbitrary point in the domain R and C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants. The point (xo,yo) can be judiciously
chosen such that easier to perform integrations are produced, e.g. (0,0) if it is included in the domain R. For suitable values of
the constants C1 and C2 the above two choices will produce the same solution, so we can choose either expression to obtain
the solution, i.e. choose either f(x,y) or g(x,y).
SOLUTION

Problem 1: Let L=length, M=mass and T=time as the base dimensions involved. To find the base
dimensions of the constant it is best to first solve the equation for the constant, K:

mɺ
K=
 ∆p 
0.54

ρD 2.63
 
 L 

and then substitute on the RHS the base dimensions and simplify. We recognize first,
mass M M M
mɺ → = , ρ → 3 , ∆p →
time T L LT 2 .

−0.54
M L3 −2.63  M  T 0.08 L1.45
K→ L  2 
L0.54 = M −0.54T −1+ 2(0.54) L3− 2.63+ 2(0.54) =
T M  LT  M 0.54

s 0.08 m1.45 s 0.08 ft1.45

K→ K→
So, the SI units for kg 0.54 and US customary units lb0.54

Ky Kx dx dy
Problem 2: We recognize that vx = − , vy = 2 . Streamline: = .
x +y
2 2
x +y 2
vx v y

Substitution, separation of variables and integration leads

2 2
x y
∫ xdx = −∫ ydy ⇒ 2
+
2
= C1 ⇒ x 2 + y 2 = C = R 2 . We recognize that the

expression represents a family of concentric circles with the center being the
origin of x-y coordinate system with radius R = C for any arbitrary C. We also
recognize that the flow direction is counter-clockwise since (K>0) for x>0
⇒ v y > 0, for y > 0 ⇒ vx < 0 . Possibly a 2-D view of a tornado funnel or do I
dare think of flushing the toilet?

dx dy dx −dy
Problem 3: Streamline: = ⇒ = ⇒ (2 xy )dx + ( x 2 − y 2 )dy = 0 of the form
vx v y K ( x − y ) 2 Kxy
2 2

∂M ∂N
Mdx+Ndy=0 where M(x,y)=2xy and N(x,y)=x2-y2. This is an exact differential since = 2x = .
∂y ∂x
After properly choosing ( xo , yo ) = (0,0) since it is contained in the domain of interest, i.e. y ≥ 0 and any x,
the solution is
y
τ3
x y
x y3
f ( x, y ) = ∫ 2τ ydτ + ∫ −τ dτ = C1 ⇒ f ( x, y ) = τ y −
2 2
= x2 y − = C1 .
0 0
0 3 0
3
(Can you convince yourselves that the above is a solution to the differential equation?)
y3
So, the streamline pattern is x 2 y − = C1 . We can’t solve
3
y for y explicitly, but we can solve for x to help us sketch the
pattern.
y3 + C
x=±
3y
To help us sketch the pattern we first recognize that for
±y
C=0 we have x = which is an equation of a line of
3
x
slope ± 3 . For direction we note that
v y = −2 Kxy ⇒ For x > 0 → v y < 0 and For x < 0 → v y > 0 .