Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Faculty Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and

Science
Department: Department of Mechanical and Material
Engineering
Unit Code and Name UEME3112 Fluid Mechanics II
Experiment No.: 2
Title of Experiment: FLOW VISUALIZATION
Laboratory Room No. and Name: KB731 Thermofluids Lab
Experiment Duration (hour): 3 hours
Number of Student per Group 5 students

Objectives

1. To depict flow patterns around different immersed bodies.

2. To investigate the influence of different shapes on the drag coefficient and flow
separation.
3. To investigate the influence of sources and sinks on the flow lines.
4. To compare the locations of the separation point in laminar and turbulent flows.
5. To demonstrate basic, plane potential flows using superposition principle.

Introduction

Fluid mechanics is a highly visual subject. The flow pattern can be visualized in a
number of ways. There are three types of line patterns used to visualize flows:
1. Streamline a line everywhere tangent to the velocity vector at a given instant.
2. Pathline actual path traversed by a given fluid particle.
3. Streakline locus of particles which have earlier passed through a prescribed point.
Under the steady condition, all three types of line patterns are identical.
An important distinction in single phase flow is whether the flow is laminar or
turbulent, or whether flow separations or secondary flows exist. This information helps in
modeling specific phenomena because one has an indication of the flow character for a
particular geometry. Analogously, in multiphase flow probably the key toward understanding
the phenomena is the ability to identify the internal geometry of the flow.
The factor that determines which type of flow is the ratio of inertia forces to viscous
forces within the fluid, expressed by the Reynolds number (Re). Typically, viscous stresses
within a fluid tend to stabilize and organize the flow, whereas excessive fluid inertia tends to
disrupt organized flow leading to chaotic turbulent behavior. Hence, streamline flow occurs
when the flow is laminar.
When the flow past a plane surface parallel to it, it will exert a drag force on the surface
as a direct result of viscous action. The resultant frictional force in the downstream direction
is normally referred to as skin friction drag. However, when flow occurs past a surface not
everywhere parallel to the main stream, there is an additional drag force resulting from

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

differences of pressure on the surface. This force is known as form drag (or pressure drag)
since it depends on the shape.
When the flow takes place around a solid body, the boundary layer will be separated
from the surface at some points. Downstream of the separation position of the flow is
significantly disturbed by large-scale eddies, and this region of eddying motion is known as
wake. Due to energy dissipation by highly turbulent motion in the wake, the pressure there is
reduced and the pressure drag on the body is therefore increased. Different shapes of solid
bodies (streamlined or blunt) will result in different degrees of separation and therefore
different pressure drag. Generally, the more blunt the body, the larger the drag coefficient,
and the higher degree the flow separation. The drag coefficient for an ellipse with the
characteristic area either the frontal area, A = bD, or the planform area, A = bl is shown in
Figure 1.

Figure 1. Drag coefficient for an ellipse with the characteristic area.

In short, surface drag is influence by the following factors:

1. Cross sectional area of object (i.e., shape)
2. Smoothness of object
3. Flow characteristic of object
4. Relative velocity of object
A source flows radially outward from a line through the origin perpendicular to the x-y
plan as is shown in Figure 2, while a sink flows radially inward from a line through the origin
perpendicular to the x-y plan.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 Figure 2. The streamline pattern for a source.

The location of flow separation, the width of the wake region behind a circular cylinder
and the pressure distribution on the surface depend on the nature of the boundary layer flow.
In Figure 3, the turbulent boundary layer can flow farther round the cylinder (farther up the
pressure hill) before it separates than can the laminar boundary layer.

Figure 3. The streamline patterns when a flow past a circular cylinder in inviscid, laminar and
turbulent flows (from left to right).

Potential flow is inviscid, incompressible, irrotational flow fields and governed by

Laplaces equation, which is a linear partial differential equation. It therefore follows that the
various basic velocity potentials and stream functions can be combined to form new
velocity potentials and stream functions. Any streamline in an inviscid flow field can be
considered as a solid boundary, since there is no flow through the boundary or the streamline.
So, if we can combine some of the basic velocity potentials or stream functions to yield a
streamline that corresponds to a particular body shape of interest, that combination can be
used to describe in detail the flow around the body. This method is commonly called the
method of superposition.
Two examples of basic, plane potential flows are Rankine half-body (Figure 4) which
is obtained by the addition of a source to a uniform flow, and Rankine oval (Figure 5) which
is obtained by combining a rouce and a sink with a uniform flow.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 Figure 4. The flow around a Rankine half-body.

Figure 5. The flow around a Rankine oval.

Equipment and Materials

The apparatus demonstrates flow visualization by using water flow and colored dye
medium. The size and shape of the unit mounts on top of the basic hydraulic bench. The
experiments can be done with different drag bodies. Dye ink is injected into a flow chamber
via fine nozzles. The chamber is covered with a glass panel which allows the observation of
the flow lines. With eight additional holes, sources and sinks can be simulated. The analogy
to potential field theory can be clearly demonstrated by variation of experiment. The water
flow rate and the amount of ink injected can be adjusted using regular valves.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 A = Water supply inlet port (from basic hydraulic bench)
B = Test specimen
C = Drain port with end plug
D = Adjustable leveling feet
E = Drain port
F = Dye injector
G = Inlet control valve
H = Dye container
I = Drain control valve

Quantity estimation
Item Description *Item category (e.g. per set/group of
student)
Flow Visualization Apparatus E 1
Ink or color dye C 1

*Item category
SP Sample or specimen
C Consumable
CH Chemical
W Labware, glassware, tool, and
components
E Equipment
S Software

Procedures

1. Adjust the adjustable leveling feet (D) such a way that the front part of the apparatus
is slightly higher than the rear part of the apparatus. Connect the water supply inlet
port (A) to the hydraulic bench water supply hose.
2. Connect water hoses from both of the drain ports (E) to the hydraulic bench tank.
Ensure the by-pass valve of the hydraulic bench is fully opened. Ensure the inlet
control valve (G) and drain control valve (I) of the apparatus is fully opened.
3. Fill the dye container (H) with the color dye. Open the valve under the container to
allow the color dye flows to the dye injector (F).
4. Slowly regulate the by-pass valve of the hydraulic bench until there is water supply
coming out from the inlet control valve (G). (Reminder: Low water flow rate is
required to carry out the experiment). Ensure the dye is injected out from the dye
injector.
5. Place the desired test specimen (B) on the flat surface of the apparatus. Adjust the
control valve (G, I) for desired water flow pattern.
6. Place the dye injector to the water source area. Regulate the valve below the dye
container to control the dye concentration. Capture the flow pattern using a camera
or hand phone camera.
7. Repeat the experiment with different test specimen. Compare the flow pattern for
different type of test specimen.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 8. For sinking effect experiment, remove one of the drain port end plug (C).

Results and discussions

1. Compare ONE of your results with that found in the literature.
2. Discuss the influence of different shaped bodies on the drag coefficient and flow
separation. Also, discuss the influence of sources and sinks on the flow.
3. Compare the separation point in a laminar and turbulent flows over the cylinder or
aerofoil. Explain which case is more resistant to flow separation.
4. Show (by taking pictures) and discuss the results of two basic, plane potential flows
(Rankine half-body and Rankine oval) using superposition principle.
5. What have you learned from this experiment? Try relating your findings with your
surroundings.

Laboratory Report
1. Coordinate with your group members to avoid presenting the same sample for
Question 1.
2. Your report should include: Objective, Introduction, Apparatus, Procedures, Results
and Discussion, and Conclusions and Recommendations.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016