DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENVIRONMENTAL & GEOMATIC ENGINEERING

FLUID MECHANICS II
STEADY FLOW MOMENTUM EXPERIMENT
OBJECTIVES
To apply the momentum principle with reasonable assumptions to predict the horizontal displacement due to force applied to a vane deflector pendulum by a vertical jet. To measure
the displacement of the pendulum for different flow rates experimentally and compare with
theoretical predictions. To apply experimental results to predict power of a water wheel.
APPARATUS

h0

1
m

2
Figure 1 Schematic of the apporatus
A cylindrical tank has an orifice of diameter d. A tube connected to the base of the tank is
used to monitor the head of water in the tank (Figure 1). The emerging jet is directed to the
vane deflector, supported by four suspension wires, where the jet changes direction and causes
a horizontal displacement of the deflector. The displacement is measured using an ultrasonic
distance sensor which produces voltage signal proportional to distance from an object. A calibration chart relating voltage readings with distance will be provided during the experiment.
The water is finally collected in a calibrated tank.
1

Figure 2 Velocity vectors

Figure 3 Displacement

THEORY

Mean fluid velocities at inlet and outlet V 1 and V 2 have horizontal components u1 = 0 and u2 =
V2 cos(), and vertical components v1 = V1 and v2 = V2 sin(), where V1,2 are absolute
values of the corresponding velocity vectors (Figure 2) Applying the momentum principle in
the horizontal and vertical directions to the control volume ABCD we obtain the following

expressions for the components of force F acting on the vane deflector:

X = Rx = Q (u2 u1 ) = Q V2 cos();
Y = Ry = Q (v2 v1 ) = Q (V2 sin() V1 ),
where Rx and Ry are the horizontal and vertical components of the reaction on fluid from the
vane, is fluid density and Q is volumetric flow rate. For a small angle the value of sin() is
also small, and cos() 1. Then we can write:
X = Q V2 ;

Y = Q V1 .

(1)

Neglecting viscous effects, we can apply Bernoulli equation

V 2
+ P + g y = const
2
along the streamline 012 (figure 1) where P = P0 . This gives the following equation relating
the velocity V2 with the head h0 :
p
V2 = 2 g (h0 + l).
Viscous losses can be accounted for by an empirical velocity coefficient Cv . Hence rewrite the
previous equation as
p
V2 = Cv 2 g (h0 + l).
(2)
Substituting (2) to the first equation in (1) we obtain:
p
X = Cv Q 2 g (h0 + l).
For a given orifice the volumetric flow rate Q is a function of the water head h0 . From your first
year fluids course you know that discharge from an orifice can be calculated as
p
Q = CD A 2 g h0 ,
(3)
2

where A = d2 /4 is the orifice area and an empirical discharge coefficient CD accounts for orifice
energy losses and change of jet diameter. Finally, the relation between the head in the tank and
the horizontal force applied to the pendulum is
p
X = 2 CD Cv A g h0 (h0 + l).
(4)

For the pendulum in equilibrium under the action of force F (Figure 3) we have
X = T sin();

Y + T cos() = m g,

where T is sum of tensions in the suspension wires, m is the mass of the pendulum and g is the
gravitational acceleration. For small values of the angle sin() x/L and cos() 1. Also,
the vertical component of the hydraulic force Y is much smaller than the weight of the pendulum
m g. Therefore, we can take T m g, and to write the relation between the horizontal force
component X and the displacement x as:
x
.
(5)
L
Equation (5) gives us the way of estimating the force X from measurements of the pendulum
X = mg

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Turn the inlet valve of the cylindrical orifice tank fully open. Wait for the depth h0 to
stabilize by monitoring the manometer tube.
Note: Keep the pendulum away from the jet until flow stabilises.
2. After the depth has stabilized, close the outlet valve on the calibrated collection tank.
Record the times t taken to collect 10, 20 and 30 liters of water. During each of the
three time periods record the depth h0 and voltage reading of the ultrasonic distance
sensor. Using the provided calibration chart convert this reading to the measurement of
the position x of the vane deflector pendulum. Take average of the three values for each
of the measured quantities (t, h0 and x).
3. Repeat measurements for 3 different levels of water in tank, adjusted by altering the inlet
flow rate. Allow the water level to stabilise before starting to take readings. For the
smallest value of h0 the water level should be just above the top of the diffuser.
4. Close the inlet valve and wait until the orifice tank is empty (h0 = 0). Measure the position
of the deflector at equilibrium x0 .
DATA ANALYSIS
1. Use the six measured data points to plot the graph of X = m g x/L against h0 where
x = x x0 . Plot the theoretical line given by equation (4) with CD = Cv = 1 on the
same graph. What assumptions justify CD and Cv being 1? Compare experimental results
with theoretical predictions under these assumptions and discuss reasons for differences.

2. Use the measured data points to plot the graph of Q against A 2 g h0 . Use this graph to
find the value of CD which provides the best fit of your experimental data to the theoretical
relation (3).
3. Use the measured data points to plot the graph of
X = m g x/L against

2 CD A g

p
h0 (h0 + l) .

Use this graph to find the value of Cv which provides the best fit of your experimental
data to the theoretical relation (4).
3

4. Repeat step 1 with the estimated values of the coefficients CD and Cv . Make another
comparison between the theoretical and experimental results. Is there any change in
agreement compare to step 1? Discuss reasons for remaining differences between the
theory and experiment. Discuss importance of empirical coefficients.
READING
Massey,B.S. Mechanics of Fluids, 8th edition, Taylor & Francis, 2006.
Chapter 4: The Momentum Equation