DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

•1.The
  pressure drop ẟp in a pipe of diameter D and length l depends on mass
density ρ and viscosity µ of the flowing fluid, mean velocity of flow v and average
height k of roughness projections on the pipe surface. Obtain a dimensionless
expression for p. Hence show that = where is the head loss due to friction (= ), w is
specific weight of the fluid and f is coefficient of friction.

2. Show by method of dimensional analysis that the resistance R to the motion of a

sphere of diameter D moving with uniform velocity v through a fluid having density
ρ and viscosity µ may be expressed as R=(ρ) ø() also show that the above
expression reduces to R=kµVD when the motion is through viscous fluid at low
velocity where k is a dimensionless constant.
 Fluid Mechanics

•3.  Find the viscosity in poise of a liquid through with a steel ball of diameter 1mm
falls, with a uniform velocity of 20 mm/s .The specific gravity of the liquid is 0.91
and that of steel is 7.8. Given that k=3

4. The equation for specific speed for a turbine is given by = by ¶-theorem and
using variables such as power p, speed N, head H, diameter D of the turbine, density
ρ of the fluid and acceleration due to gravity g, deduce the above expression for .
 Fluid Mechanics

•5.  Water at 15°C flows at 4 m/s in a 150 mm pipe. At what velocity must oil at 30C
flow in a 75 mm pipe for the two flows to be dynamically similar? Take kinematic
viscosity for water at 15°C as 1.145x /s and that for oil at 30°C as 3.0x /s.
Answer: 20.96 /s

6.A model with length scale ratio, model to prototype, equal to x, of a Mach 2
supersonic aircraft is tested in a wind tunnel, wherein air is maintained at
atmospheric temperature and a pressure of y times atmospheric pressure.
Determine the speed of the model in the tunnel. Given that the velocity of sound in
atmospheric air = z.
Answer =
 Fluid Mechanics

•7.  A solid sphere of diameter 100 mm moves in water at 5m/s . It experiences a

drag of magnitude 19.62 N .What would be the velocity of 5m diameter sphere
moving in air in order to ensure similarity? What will be the drag experienced by
it ? State which law governs the similarity. Take =1000kg/;=1.2kg/;kinematic
viscosity of air = 13kinematic viscosity of water.
Answer: = 872 N
8. A 1:10 scale model of a submarine moving far below the surface of water is
tested in a water tunnel. If the speed of the prototype is 8 m/s, determine the
corresponding velocity of water in tunnel. Also determine the ratio of the drag for
the model and prototype.=1000kg/; =1027kg/ ; =1.151267x
Answer: 71.365 m/s,0.775
 Fluid Mechanics

9. An overflow structure 550m long is designed to pass a flow of 4400 m3/s. A 1:20
model of the cross-section of the structure is built in a laboratory channel 0.5m
wide. Calculate the corresponding flow rate for model if the action of the viscosity
and surface tension may be neglected. When the model is tested at this flow rate the
pressure at the point on the model is observed to be 50 mm of mercury vacuum,
how should this be interpreted.
Answer: 0.0447 m3/s

10. In 1 in 40 model of a spillway, the velocity and discharge are 2m/s 2.5m3/s.
Find the corresponding velocity and discharge in the prototype.
Answer:12.65m/s,25298.2 m3/s.