ANSWER SHEET

EXPERIMENT: Drag Measurement on Cylindrical Bodies

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 10 APRIL 2019

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 17 APRIL 2019

LECTURER’S NAME: DR SHAMSUL BAHARI BIN AZRAAI

GROUP MEMBERS :

NAME MATRIC NUMBER

MUHAMAD SYAZWAN BIN ABDUL KADIR B041510140

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1. OBJECTIVES
To determine the drag coefficient of a circular cylinder using direct weighing and
pressure distribution methods.

2. INTRODUCTIONS
Fluid dynamic drag is the force resisting the motion of a body through a fluid, or,
equivalently, the force of a moving fluid on a stationary body. It is necessary to
know the drag force in order to calculate for the thrust required for an airplane to
fly, the power required to propel a ship at the desired speed, or the support
necessary to keep a building upright on a windy day. In this experiment we will
determine the drag on a circular cylinder using three different methods, any of
which may be used for drag measurement on other bodies under similar flow
conditions.

3. THEORY
The resistance of a body as it moves through a fluid is of great technical importance
in hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. In this experiment we place a circular
cylinder in an air stream and measure its resistance, or drag by two methods; direct
weighing method and pressure distribution method.

The curve had shown in Figure 1represents a section of an oval cylinder. Motion of
the cylinder through stationary fluid produces actions on its surface, which give rise
to a resultant force.

At any chosen point A of the surface of the cylinder, the effect of the fluid may
conveniently be resolved into two components, pressure, p, normal to the surface
and shear stress along the surface.

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L
τδs
p
s

δs δD

 L
P
τ

M
A
A
U d C D
C
P

Figure 1 A section of an oval cylinder

Let U denote the uniform speed of the motion and  the density of the fluid, then the
dynamic pressure in the undisturbed stream, ½U2, is

½U2 = Po - po (1)

Where Po is the total pressure and po is the static pressure in the oncoming stream.

This pressure is a useful quantity by which the gauge pressure p and shear stress  may be
dimensionalised, and the following dimensionless term are defined
p − po
Pressure coefficient, cp = ; (2)
½ U 2


Skin friction coefficient = c f = (3)
1 U 2
2

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The combined effect of pressure and shear stress gives rise to resultant force on the
cylinder. This resultant may conveniently be resolved into the following components
acting at any chosen origin C of the section as shown in Figure 1.
a. A component in the direction of U, called the drag force, of intensity D per unit length
of cylinder.
b. A component normal to the direction of U, called the lift force, of intensity L per unit
length of cylinder
c. A moment about the origin C, called the pitching moment, of intensity M per unit
length of cylinder

These components may be expressed by definition of drag coefficients as follows:-

D
Drag coefficient, CD = (4)
½ U 2 d
L
Lift coefficient, C L = (5)
1 U 2 d
2
M
Pitching moment coefficient, CM = (6)
1 U 2 d 2
2

In which d denotes a suitable dimension which characterizes the size of the cylinder. In
Figure 1 this is shown as the width measured across the cylinder, normal to U.

We may see how pressure and skin friction coefficients are related to lift and drag
coefficients. Theoretical calculation shows that the drag of a cylinder may be found by
measuring p and τ over the surface. For the case of circular cylinder, the effect of skin
friction is very small compared to pressure drag and therefore may be neglected. This
assumption allows us to calculate CD from the measured pressure distribution over the
cylinder surface. In this “Pressure distribution method”, CD can be calculated as
2
CD =  c Cos  d
0
p (7)

Alternatively, by plotting cp cos θ against θ, CD may be obtained from the area beneath the
curve. The area A beneath the mean curve is :-

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
A =  c p Cos  d (8)
0

which from equation (7), we recognize as the drag coefficient. This integration can be
evaluated in various ways such as by using Simpson’s or the trapezium rule etc. (Hint:
Refer to your Numerical Method notes on how to calculate area under a curve)

In “direct weighing method”, the drag force is written as Dl, that is the product of the drag
per unit length and the length l of the cylinder. Dl is measured in units of gram-force
(gmf). By substituting Dl in equation 4, the experimental CD by direct weighing method
can now be calculated as

Dl
Drag coefficient, CD = (9)
1 U 2 dl
2
Where Dl is the experimental measured drag force in gmf, d is the diameter of
cylinder and l is the length of cylinder

Assuming that the fluid is incompressible and non-viscous, the following theoretical
formula can be applied:

1 1
p = pa − p0 = U 2 − u 2 (10)
2 2

p=
1
2
(
U 2 1 − 4 sin 2  ) (11)

p
cp = = 1 − 4 sin 2  (12)
1 U 2
2

Equation 10 to equation 12 is the theoretical result for an incompressible, inviscid fluid,

and forms the basis of comparison with experimental results.

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4. PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS
4.1 APPARATUS
The AF10 Airflow Bench and AF12 Drag Measurement Apparatus is
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Diagram of apparatus

Given data:
Diameter of cylinder, d = 12.5 mm
Length of cylinder, l = 48 mm
1 mmH2O = 0.0981 mbar
1 gmf = 981 x 10-3 N

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4.2 Procedure
A) Direct Weighing Method

1. Weighing arm fixed to the balance position by adjusting the adjustable counter balance.

2. Adjustable counter balance is clamped when the weighing arm at balance position and
equipment is switched on.

3. Wind speed is opened and brought up to the maximum.

4. Weights are added to the scale pan. The wind speed is trimmed so that the weighing arm at
balance positions. The balance position is a position when the weighing arm did not spring
back when being push downward. Measure it as a drag force.

5. Value of ΔHo (pressure head caused by total pressure Ps) and Δho (pressure head caused by
static pressure Po) is recorded in Table 1.

6. Step 4 until 6 is repeated by decreasing the weight in amount of 5 gm for each experiment
for at least seven times.

B) Pressure Distribution Method

1. The circular cylinder is fixed with the protractor mounted in place, and equipment is
switched on.

2. The wind speed is opened at some convenient value near the maximum.

3. The protractor is set up to 0°. The value of ΔHo (pressure head caused by total pressure Po),
Δho (pressure head caused by static pressure Po) and Δh (pressure head caused by surface
pressure p) is recorded in Table 2. The value of ΔHo and Δho are constant.

4. Step 3 is repeated by setting the protractor to another value. It is recommended that 20°
intervals be used until it complete to 180°.

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EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Table 1 Drag Force Measured by Direct Weighing

Drag Force  Ho  ho
(gmf) (mm) (mm)
32 62 16
27 52 12
22 42 8
17 32 6
12 22 2
7 12 0
2 2 -2

Table 2 Pressure Distribution around a Cylinder

 h
(Deg.) (mm)
00 60
200 48
400 2
600 -46
800 -54
1000 -48
1200 -48
1400 -48
1600 -50
1800 -50

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Note:

1. The pressure should be relatively symmetrical about the line  = 0o, so assume the

values of pressure are similar for reverse direction ( = -20o until -180 o).

2. The initial value of pressure head are shown in below:

𝐻0,𝑖=90𝑚𝑚

ℎ0,𝑖=88𝑚𝑚

ℎ𝑖=88𝑚𝑚

3. Δ𝐻0 is constant: 62 mm, so pressure head caused by total pressure

𝑃0=𝜌𝑔Δ𝐻0

𝑃0=1000×9.81×0.062

𝑃0=608.22𝑁/m^2

4. Δℎ0 is constant: 16 mm, so pressure head caused by static pressure 𝑝0=156960𝑁𝑚2⁄.

𝑝0=𝜌𝑔Δℎ0

𝑝0=1000×9.81×0.016

𝑝0=156.96𝑁/𝑚^2

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EXPERIMENTAL RESULT

Table 3 Drag Force Measured by Direct Weighing

Drag Force  Ho Po  ho po Po – po = ½U2

(gmf) (mm) (N/m2) (mm) (N/m2) (N/m2)
32 62 637.65 16 156.96 480.69
27 52 510.12 12 117.72 392.40
22 42 412.02 8 78.48 333.54
17 32 313.92 6 58.86 255.06
12 22 215.82 2 19.62 196.20
7 12 137.34 0 0 137.34
2 2 19.62 -2 -19.62 39.24

Sample Calculation:

𝑃0=𝜌𝑔Δ𝐻0

𝑃0=1000×9.81×0.062

𝑃0=637.65𝑁/𝑚^2

𝑝0=𝜌𝑔Δℎ0

𝑝0=1000×9.81×156.96

𝑝0=480.69𝑁/𝑚^2

𝑃0−𝑝0=637.65 – 156.96 = 480.69Pa

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Table 4 Pressure Distribution around a Cylinder

h p p − po
cp =
 (mm) (N/m2) p - po 1 U 2 cp Cos 
(Deg.) (N/m2) 2
(N/m2)
00 60.00 588.60 431.64 0.96 0.96
200 48.00 470.88 313.92 0.70 0.65
400 2.00 19.62 -137.34 -0.30 -0.23
600 -46.00 -451.26 -608.22 -1.35 -0.68
800 -54.00 -529.74 -686.84 -1.52 -0.26
1000 -48.00 -470.88 -627.84 -1.39 0.24
1200 -48.00 -470.88 -627.84 -1.39 0.70
1400 -48.00 -470.88 -627.84 -1.39 1.07
1600 -50.00 -490.50 -647.46 -1.44 1.35
1800 -50.00 -490.50 -647.46 -1.44 1.35
Sample calculation :

𝑃0=608.22𝑁𝑚2⁄

𝑝0=156.96𝑁𝑚2⁄

½⁄𝜌𝑈^2=𝑃0−𝑝0

½⁄𝜌𝑈2=608.22−156.96=451.26𝑁𝑚2⁄

𝑝=𝜌𝑔Δℎ

𝑝=1000×9.81×0.06

𝑝=588.6𝑁/𝑚^2

𝑝−𝑝0=588.6−156.96=431.64𝑃𝑎

𝐶𝑝=(𝑝−𝑝0)/(½⁄𝜌𝑈^2)=(431.64)/(451.26)=0.96

𝐶𝑝cos𝜃=0.96cos(0)=0.96

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DISCUSSION

1. For the direct weighing method, plot the drag force against the dynamic
pressure. Establish the slope and calculate the drag coefficient, 𝐶𝐷.

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2. For the pressure distribution method, plot the graphs of 𝑐𝑝 and 𝑐𝑝cos 𝜃 as
functions of angle 𝜃. Determine the drag coefficient, 𝐶𝐷.

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3. Discuss the difference of the values obtained for the drag coefficient by those
two methods.
The direct weighing and pressure profiles give the values of coefficient of drags
that show close agreement in the range of angle of incidence between 0˚ to 20˚.
Begin with 20˚ to 180˚, the drag coefficient value of pressure distribution method
starts deviating from the drag coefficient value of direct weighing method. The
method which come out from drag coefficient, the theoretical value is pressure
distribution method, while the drag coefficient found from the method that are
experimental value is direct weighing method. Nevertheless, the most reliable
method is direct weighing method because the pressure method ignored the existed
skin friction.

4. Discuss the differences of theoretical and experimental values of drag

coefficient, 𝑪𝑫.
The theoretical and experimental values of drag coefficient are totally a little bit
different. The difference between both values are around 0.04++. Ignoring the skin
friction, this experiment show that there is no a big different in getting the result.
So, we can ignore the skin friction because its effect in the results is too small.

5. State the possible errors expected in this experiment and suggestions to reduce
the errors.
First, the possible error that can be found throughout the experiment is the parallex
error which is when taking the data of Δ𝐻𝑜 and Δℎ𝑜, which are the observer might
not accurate. The position of eyes must be parallel to the scale and take the reading
from 2 to 3 times to get the average of the reading accurately. Then, the counter
balance must be balance before starting the experiment because it will affect the
experiment result. For example, it should on centre between up and down before
starting the experiment.

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CONCLUSION

This experiment are conducted to determine the drag coefficient of circular cylinder using
direct weighing and pressure distribution methods. From this experiment we have
calculated the valued of the drag coefficient from both methods which are not a big
different. The value of drag coefficient for direct weighing method is the experimental
value while the value of drag coefficient for pressure distribution method is the theoretical
value. This show us that there are errors occurred during this experiment conducted, such
as parallax errors and the unbalanced counter balance. These kinds of errors can lead to
inaccuracy when taking the reading which eventually affecting the value of the drag force
when calculated. As a conclusion, the student able to analyzed using pressure distribution
method based on the experiment had been done. Students also already know about the drag
force phenomena. Finally, the objective is achieved regarding the analyze the pressure
distribution method and the hypothesis is accepted whis is angular rotation become bigger,
the flow of pressure coefficient getting slower.

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