DRAG FORCE

IN FLOW OVER
A BODY

1.0 CONTENT
BIL
1

CONTENT
TITLE

PAGE
1

CONTENT

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE

INTRODUCTION

5-6

THEORY

7-8

APPARATUS

9-10

PROCEDURE

11

DATA TABULATION

12

10

RESULT ANALYSIS

13-20

11

DISCUSSION

21-24

12

CONCLUSION

25-28

13

REFERENCE

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2.0 ABSTRACT

This experiment to study the drag coefficient over range of velocity in the
test section for hemispherical. The drag coefficient value is depending on the Reynolds
number that has to be calculated. By plotting the graph drag coefficient against velocity
represent the characteristic drag coefficient for hemisphere and by calculating the drag
force and the average value was compared with the theoretical value to get the percentage
error.

3.0 OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this experiment are:

2.1 To measure the drag coefficient
over a range of velocities in the test section for
hemispherical (open end facing flow and open end facing downstream).

4.0 INTRODUCTION
Drag is also known as aerodynamic force that opposes an objects motion through the air. It
happen as the solid body must be in contact with the fluid. If there is no fluid existence, no drag will
occur. Drag is generated by the difference in velocity between the solid object and the fluid. It makes
no difference whether the object moves through a static fluid or whether the fluid moves past a
static solid object.
In fluid dynamics, drag or sometimes called as fluid resistance is the force that resists the
movement of a solid object through a fluid whether in a form of liquid or gas. The most familiar form
of drag is made up of friction forces, which act parallel to the object's surface, plus pressure forces,
which act in a direction perpendicular to the object's surface.

Figure 1 - Sphere in Stokes Flow

An object moving through a gas or liquid experiences a force in direction opposite to its
motion. Terminal velocity is achieved when the drag force is equal in magnitude but opposite in
direction to the force propelling the object. Figure shown is a sphere in Stokes flow, at very low
Reynolds number
.

For a solid object moving through a fluid, the drag is the component of the net aerodynamic
or hydrodynamic force acting in the direction of the movement. The component perpendicular to
this direction is considered lift. Therefore drag acts to oppose the motion of the object, and in a
powered vehicle it is overcome by thrust. Drag is a force and is therefore a vector quantity having
both a magnitude and a direction. Drag acts in a direction that is opposite to the motion of the
aircraft.
For this experiment, we will study on movement of a body through a fluid medium such air
or water will give rise to resultant force acting on the body due to the effect of the pressure and
shear stress acting on the surface of the body. The resultant force can be divided into horizontal and
vertical components which are termed drag and lift forces respectively. These forces are described
schematically in figure below.

Figure 2 - Flow over a Cylinder

5.0 THEORY

When a fluid flows around a stationary cylinder or when a cylinder moves through a
stationary fluid, the fluid exerts a force on the cylinder called drag force. The sources of this drag
are: (a) friction between the fluid and the surface of the cylinder, and (b) a non-uniform pressure
distribution.
The cylinder in the fluid stream presents a certain area perpendicular to the direction of fluid
motion. This is called the platform area of the cylinder (length x width (diameter) the fluid moves
toward and is deflected around the cylinder, some of its momentum is transferred to the cylinder in
the form of pressure on the projected area facing the flow.
If the flow follows the contour of the cylinder, the pressure on the side facing the flow is
balanced by the pressure on the reverse side in which case the pressure drag is very small or zero.
(See Figure 1). This condition is described by potential theory where the fluid is ideal and is realized
in real fluids at very low Reynolds numbers. At high Reynolds numbers, the flow does not follow the
contour of the cylinder, i.e., the boundary layer grows more rapidly for an adverse pressure gradient
and if the pressure gradient is large enough, separation may occur, and turbulent eddies form in the
wake of the cylinder. In this case the pressure on the reverse side fails to recover (see Figure 2)
leading to an unbalanced pressure distribution and pressure drag. Ordinarily, it is not practical to
separate the viscous and pressure drag forces, and indeed, it is usually their sum in which we are
interested. Therefore, the usual practice is to characterize their combined effects with two
dimensionless parameters, the drag coefficient:

Cd =

And the Reynolds number,

Where FD is the drag force, V is the free stream velocity, AP is the platform area, and D is the cord
length of the shape (cylinder).

Figure 3 - Ideal fluid flow around a cylinder

Figure 4 - Real fluid flow around a cylinder

The drag coefficient may be determined experimentally in two ways. The most obvious method is to
measure the drag force (FD) and the velocity (V) directly and then calculate C d from equation 1. The
second method to determine drag force is to use the Moody chart with drag coefficient versus
Reynolds number for known shapes. Using the Moody chart in combination with the strain
measured in the experiment, the drag force can be found. The fluid velocity can be calculated from
the pressure recorded on the DAQ and the use of Bernoulli's equation.

6.0 APPARATUS

Figure 1: Rod, Hollow Hemispherical (rear and front)

Figure 2: Wind Tunnel

Figure 3: Balance Arm

10

7.0 PROCEDURE

1. The diameter of the hemisphere was measured

2. The rod was fit into the balance arm.
3. The balance arm was put to a balance start.
4. The blower fan was switched on and the flow was set to the velocity of 8m/s.
5. The arm was once again balanced and the reading was taken.
6. The velocity was increased by 2m/s until 20m/s, the arm balanced and the reading is
again taken.
7. The hemisphere body was fit into the balance arm with the open end facing the flow.
8. Step 3 until 6 was repeated.
9. The hemisphere body was fit into the balance arm with the end of the open end
facing the downstream.
10. Step 3 until 6 was repeated.

11

8.0 RESULT

12

9.0 DATA ANALYSIS

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Reading at velocity (8 m/s)

1. Air density in lab

2. Reynolds number

1.23
V=8
D = 0.065 m
= 1.849 x

= 34592.00

13

3. Net Drag Force, FD

Net Drag Force, FD = Drag Force Rigid Rod Drag Force

= 0.19 0.01
= 0.18 N
4. Projected area of hemisphere

5. Drag Coefficient, CD ( upstream)

A= 3.318
V=8
1.23
FD = 0.18 N

14

6. Drag Coefficient, CD (downstream)

7. Net Drag Coefficient, CD

Net Drag Coefficient, CD = Drag Coefficient, CD (upstream)
(downstream)

Drag Coefficient, CD

= 1.378
= 0.459

8. Percentage of error of CD for open end facing downstream

CD theory = 0.4

CD exp = 0.578 (average)

Percentage error, %

15

9. Percentage of error of CD for open end facing upstream

CD theory = 1.2

CD exp = 1.457 (average)

Percentage error, %

16

17

18

19

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10.0 DISCUSSION

Abdul Aziz Bin Bahari (2013630114)

21

Abdul Rahman Bin Mohamed Affandi (2013245276)

22

Fareez Bin Mohamad Nasir (2013869104)

23

Mohd Asyraf Bin Abdullah (20132286666)

24

11.0 CONCLUSION

Abdul Aziz Bin Bahari (2013630114)

25

Abdul Rahman Bin Mohamed Affandi (2013245276)

26

Fareez Bin Mohamad Nasir (2013869104)

27

Mohd Asyraf Bin Abdullah (20132286666)

28

12.0 REFERENCE

REFERENCES

INTERNET

1. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-absolute-kinematic-viscosity-d_601.html
2. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/laminar-transitional-turbulent-flow-d_577.html
3. http://www.efunda.com/formulae/fluids/calc_reynolds.cfm
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_of_air
5. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/liquids-densities-d_743.html

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