FALL 2014

MHA/KA/ME/MMY

MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ME 305 FLUID MECHANICS I
HOMEWORK 1
SOLUTIONS
1. The space between two very long parallel plates separated by a distance of h is filled
with a fluid. The fluid is heated in such a way that its viscosity decreases linearly
from 0 at the lower surface to 0/2 at the upper surface. The upper plate moves
steadily at a velocity U0 relative to the lower one and the pressure everywhere is
constant. Determine the velocity profile and the shear stress distribution. (Ans.
U0 y U
ln 1 , 0 0 )
ln 2 2h 2h ln 2

U0

h
y

Problem 1

Solution:

First lets determine the fluid viscosity profile by assuming a linear variation within the gap:
= +
at y=0 = 0 = 0
at y=h = 0 /2 = 0 /2

Therefore, = 0 (1 2)

By taking infinitesimal fluid element in the gap and writing the force equilibrium on it, the
equations reduces to:

1

=0

Substituting shear stress definition = into above equation:

( ) = 0

We can also substitute fluid viscosity profile determined before into above equation:

(0 (1 ) ) = 0
2
We can take 0 in front of the equation above since it has a constant value:

0 ((1 ) ) = 0
2
In order for the above equation to be satisfied inside of differentiation must be a constant,
say C:

(1 ) =
2
2
=
2
By separating variables and taking the integral of both sides:
2
=
2
= 2(2 ) + where M is another constant
Now we can apply boundary conditions to determine the constants C and M:
at y=0 = 0 = 2(2) + = 0 = 2(2)
2 0
at y=h = 0 2() + 2(2) = 0 2( ) = 0 = 22

Then, substituting C expression into M expression:

0 ln(2)
= 2(2) = 2 (2) = 0
22 2
Now, we can substitute C and M into velocity profile:
0 ln(2) 0 2
= 2(2 ) + = 2 22 (2 ) + 0 = 2 ln( )
2 2

= ( )

2 2 0 0
= = =
2 2 22 (2 )2
Now we can find shear stress distribution as:

2
 2 0
= = 0 ( )
2 (2 )2
By simplifying we obtain shear stress distribution:

=

2. Two flat plates are oriented parallel above a fixed lower plate as shown in the figure.
The top plate, located a distance b above the fixed plate, is pulled along with speed
V. The other thin plate is located a distance cb, where 0 < c < 1, above the fixed plate.
This plate moves with speed V1, which is determined by the viscous shear forces
imposed on it by the fluids on its top and bottom. The fluid on the top is twice as
viscous as that on the bottom. Plot the ratio V1/V as a function of c for 0 < c < 1.

2
b
V1

cb
b

Problem 2

Solution:

For the constant speed, 1 , of the middle plate the net force on the plate is zero.
Hence, for middle plate = where =
Thus, the shear stresses on the top and bottom of the plate must be equal.

= where =

For the bottom fluid : = 1


For the top fluid : = 1


Now, using shear stress definition: 2 1 = 1

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Above relation can be written as 2 21 = 1 1

2 = ( + 1)1 = +

1
Noting that, for =0, =0

1 2
= 0.5 , =3

1
=1, =1

1
Finally, for 0<c<1, versus c plot becomes as follows:

3. Two Newtonian fluids, which do not mix, flow between two stationary flat plates
under the influence of a pressure gradient. The lower half is filled with liquid 1, while
the upper half is filled with liquid 2. The gap between the plates is 2 m. The velocity
profiles in the lower and upper halves are given as
u1 4 Ay 2.5 y 2 1 y 0

u2 B Cy 10y 2 0 y 1
where A, B and C are constants.
a) What are the two interface conditions? Determine the values of the
constants A, B and C.

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 b) Find the viscosity, 2, of liquid 2, if the viscosity of liquid 1 is
1 = 4x10-3 Pa s
c) Determine the location where the shear stress is zero.
d) Determine the magnitude and direction of shear stresses applied by the
liquids on the lower and upper plates.
(Ans. a) 1.5, 4, 6, b) 1x10-3 Pa s, c) 0.3 m, d) 26x10-3 Pa, 14x10-3 Pa)

y Liquid 2
u2 1m
2 and 2
Interface x

u1 Liquid 1
1m
1 and 1

Problem 3

Solution:

a)
The two interface conditions at y=0 are: = (velocities are the same)
= (shear stresses are the same)
The boundary conditions should be applied to find the constants:
For = 1 1 = 0 0 = 4 2.5(1)
For =0 1 = 2 4=
For =1 2 = 0 0 = + (1) 10(1)
Solving simultaneously results:
A=1.5 B=4 C=6
b)
Shear stresses at y=0 should be the same

1 ( 1 ) = 2 ( 2 ) at y=0

It was found in Section-a that 1 = 4 + 1.5 2.5 and 2 = 4 + 6 10

1 2
Hence,
= 1.5 and
= 6 at y=0

1 = 42

5

= = 1x10-3 Pa.s

c)

To have zero shear stress =0

1
= 1.5 5 y=0.3 m this result is out of the domain of 1

2
= 6 20 y=0.3 m this result is acceptable

Thus, the shear stress is zero at y=0.3 m

d)
Finding the shear stresses on lower and upper plates:
For the lower plate y=-1 and unit normal vector is =< 0,1 >
= 1 ( 1 ) = 4x103 [< 0,1 >< 0,6.5 >] = (in +x direction)
For the upper plate y=1 and unit normal vector is =< 0, 1 >
= 2 ( 2 ) = 1x103 [< 0, 1 >< 0, 14 >] = (in +x direction)

4. A piston having a diameter of 13.92 cm and a length of 24.13 cm slides downward

with a velocity V through a vertical pipe. The downward motion is restricted by an
oil film between the piston and the pipe wall. The film thickness is 0.005 cm and the
cylinder weights 0.23 kg. Estimate V if the oil viscosity is 0.766 N.s/m2. Assume the
velocity distribution in the gap is linear. (Ans. 6.98x10-4 m/s)

Solution:

Given: Piston diameter, d= 0.1392 m

Piston length, l=0.2413 m

Oil film thickness is the difference between the pipe diameter and the piston
diameter. Therefore in our shear stress calculations we need to divide the film thickness by
two.

Lets call the oil thickness as t=0.000025 m

Cylinder weight, m=0.23 kg

Therefore, shearing force is = = (0.23) (9.81 2
) = 2.2563

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 2.2563
Shear stress, = = = (0.1392 )(0.2413 ) = 21.382 /2

Since piston slides downward, the velocity of the fluid at the pipe wall will be zero and at
the piston surface velocity of the fluid will be same with that of the piston, namely V.
Assuming a linear velocity distribution in the gap as:

= +

Note that y=0 corresponds to the pipe wall and y=0.000025 m to the piston surface.

at y=0u=0 = 0

at y=0.000025 m u=V b=V/0.000025=40000V

Then velocity profile becomes: = 40000

Using the shear stress definition: =

21.382 = (0.766 . /2 )(40000)
2

= . /

5. A new computer drive is proposed to have a disc, as shown in the figure. The disc is
to rotate at 10,000 rpm, and the reader head is to be positioned 0.012 mm above the
surface of the disc. Estimate the shearing force on the reader head as result of the air
between the disc and the head. The viscosity of air is 1.8x10-5 Pa.s. (Ans. 1.542x10-
3 N)

Stationary reader head 5 mm dia.

A A

0.012 mm

Rotating disk
Problem 5
Section AA
50 mm

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Solution:

Shear force on head is = , where if the velocity profile in the gap between the disc and
head is linear and uniform across the head, then

= = ,

Where = =(10000 rev/min)(1min/60sec)(2 rad/1rev)(50x10-3 m) = 52.36 m/s

Absolute viscosity of air is given as:
air= 1.8x10-5 Pa.s
52.36 /
Thus, = (1.8x105 Pa. s) 12106 = 78.52 Pa.s

Shearing force then becomes: = (78.52 . ) ( 4 (5103 )2 )

= . N

6. The viscosity of liquids can be measured through the use of a rotating cylinder
viscometer of the type, as shown in the figure. In this device, the outer cylinder is
fixed and the inner cylinder is rotated with an angular velocity, . The torque
required to develop is measured and the viscosity is calculated from these two
measurements.
a) Develop an equation relating , , l, Ro and Ri. Neglect end effects and
assume the velocity distribution in the gap is linear.
b) The following torque-angular velocity data were obtained with a rotating
cylinder viscometer of the type discussed in part (a).

Torque (N.m) 17.8 35.3 53.6 71.5 87.9 106.5

Angular velocity (rad/s) 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

For this viscometer and l = 12.7 cm, Ro = 6.35 cm and Ri = 6.22 cm. Make use of
these data and a standard curve-fitting program to determine the viscosity of the
2 Ri3l
liquid contained in the viscometer. (Ans. , 119.2 N.s/m2)
Ro Ri

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 Fixed
outer
Liquid cylinder

Problem 6

Solution:

a)

The torque due to shearing stress on the inner cylinder is:

= =
where =
2
Then, = 2 = 2 0 = 2 2
Assuming linear velocity distribution in the gap:

9

=


So, =

b)
For the given geometry and viscosity, the torque relation found in (a) can be written as
=
2 3
where m is a constant which is equal to: =

By fitting the given data to the linear equation of the form = , using a standard curve-
fitting program such as Excel, m can be found as 17.607.
Then viscosity of the liquid can be found as:
( ) 17.607(0.0013)
= 3 = = . . /
2 2(0.0622)3 (0.127)

7. A hydraulic coupling, which is shown in the figure, is used to transmit a torque of T

for constant angular speeds 1 and 2. Derive an expression for the torque in terms
of the oil viscosity, , the disc diameter, D, the distance between the discs, h, and the
slip, (1 - 2). Neglect the effect of gravity and assume that the pressure is constant.
(2 1 ) D 4
Oil is of Newtonian type. (Ans. )
32h

Driver Driven

D
2 1
Oil of
viscosity
h

Problem 7

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Solution:

Torque, dT due to the shearing stresses caused by the driver is:

= =
where = 2
(2 1 )
= and for a linear velocity distribution in the gap: =
(2 1 ) 2(2 1 ) 3
Then, = 2 =

2(2 1 ) /2 3
Integrating, = 0

( )
=

8. A soap bubble 0.05 m in diameter contains a pressure of 20.07 Pa in excess of the

atmosphere. Determine the surface tension of the soap film. (Ans. 0.2509 N/m)

Solution:

Soap bubble diameter is d=0.05m, thus radius is r=0.05m/2=0.025m

= 20.07
Assuming soap bubble is sphere approximately, Eqn. 1.22 in Aksels book can be used for
pressure difference between the inner and outer surfaces of the soap bubble.
2
=

Inserting numerical values into the equation, surface tension of the soap film becomes:
( ) (20.07)(0.025)
= = = . /
2 2

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 9. The vertical cylinder of diameter 0.1 m is pulled up from an inviscid liquid. Assume
that the angle of contact is 300 and the surface tension for the liquid in presence of
air is 0.073 N/m. Find the force, F, required to pull the cylinder at a constant velocity
at the instant that it leaves the liquid, if the mass of the cylinder is 0.1 kg. Neglect
buoyant and viscous effects. (Ans. 1.001 N)

Air

0.1 m
Liquid
300

Problem 9

Solution:

In order for the force F to pull the cylinder at a constant velocity at the instant that it leaves
the liquid, the vertical force equilibrium must be satisfied for zero acceleration.
Drawing a free body diagram:
F

W=mg

Force equilibrium is:

= + = + cos(30 )

= (0.1) (9.81 ) + (0.1)(0.073 /) cos(30 )
2
= .

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References
Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics, 6th Ed. by Munson
Notes on Fluid Mechanics Volume I, M.H. Aksel, METU

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