Faculty of Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Course : National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering

Subject : Fluid Mechanics 3 (FLM 300S AND MFE030)

Evaluation: Mid Term, Semester 1, 2012

Date : 26 March 2012

Time : 2 Hours = 120 Min

Marks : 65 Marks = 100 %

Examiners : JG Mukuna-Mabala & S.Saal

Moderators : S. Pietrangeli

Instructions : 1. Answer all questions

2. Pocket calculators may be used
3. Use the provided data - formula sheet and Moody Chart
4. Clearly show your work
5. You are NOT allowed to help another student, try to get help or communicate
with another student
6. Make sure you are having the correct question paper in front of you
7. You may NOT have any book(s), notes, documents, or other papers,
which may be of help during the test in your possession
8. WRITE YOUR STUDENT NUMBER ON THE FRONT PAGE
OF YOUR ANSWER BOOK
QUESTION 1

1.1 From first principals find the equation which expresses the velocity profile for laminar flow
condition in a round pipe. (7)

1.2 What are the equations for maximum and mean velocity of flow in a pipe? (3)

1.3 If a pipe is 45 mm in diameter, with a length of 25 m and the pressure drop is 2.7 Pa for that
length. What is the maximum shearing stress and where is it located?
(2)

1.4 The water temperature is 20oC in the above mentioned system. What is the velocity 15 mm
from the centre of flow? (2)
[14]

QUESTION 2

2.1 Using the Rayleigh or Buckingham Pi method, show that the flow rate Q through an orifice for an

ideal liquid is given by the equation, , where d is the diameter of the

orifice, ρ the density of the liquid and P is the pressure difference. (6)

2.2 If the value of K was to be determined experimentally to be, , then

show that the above equation can be further expressed as a product of the area of the orifice and
the velocity of the fluid.
(4)

[10]

QUESTION 3
Gate Valves

90 Deg Bends
25m

PUMP
90 Deg Bends

A particular farm has two dams. When both are full the water levels are 25m vertically apart. The
dams are connected with a 210mm internal diameter pipe of length 105m in series with two 155mm
internal diameter pipes in parallel (see sketch). Each of the 155mm pipes is 1.9km long. For most of
the year the quantity of water that flows due to gravity is sufficient to keep the lower dam filled.
However, it is sometimes necessary to connect a portable pump in the 210 mm diameter pipe line to
increase the flow rate. The efficiency of the pump is 70%. All pipes are galvanized iron. Entry and
exits are sharp. The 210 mm diameter pipe is straight and contains two fully open gate valves.
During normal operation (gravity flow and pumping) both valves are fully open. There are two
regular 90°flange bends in each of the 155mm pipes. Water temperature is 20°C. (Ignore the
sudden reduction from the 210 mm to 155 mm pipe)

3.1 Assume for this question (3.1) that all flows are fully turbulent. Calculate the flow rate due to
gravity only (i.e. without pump).Convert your frictional factor into Darcy’s coefficient to simplify
your calculations. (14)

3.2 Is the assumption in (3.1) that the flow is fully turbulent in each pipe valid? Use calculations
to support your answer. (4)
[18]

QUESTION 4

Find the hydraulic mean depth and condition of flow in this profile if the water at 20◦C has a velocity
of 1.5m/s for the system shown. The circle has a diameter of 30 mm and the triangle has equal
sides of 80 mm each. [12]

100 mm

200 mm

QUESTION 5

A pump supplies water through a 400 m long pipe to some hydraulic machines. The pressure and
power available at the machines are 3 880 kPa and 200 kW respectively. The frictional loss of
power is 90 kW. Find:
5.1 the necessary diameter of pipe if fdarcy = 0.03 (5)
5.2 the pressure at the pumping end. (2)
5.3 the maximum power at which the machines could be worked for the same pump pressure
(5)
[12]

TOTAL = 66 MARKS 2 HOURS 65 = 100 %