American University of Sharjah

Civil Engineering Department

CVE 240 – FLUID MECHANICS

ASSIGNMENT 1

Q.1 A layer of water flows down an inclined fixed surface with the velocity profile as shown in
Figure 1. Determine the magnitude and direction of the shearing stress that the water exerts
on the fixed surface for U=2 m/s and h=0.1 m.
(Answers 4.48x10-2 N/m2)

Q.2) A piston moves in a cylinder with a clearance of 1 mm around the piston, as shown in
Figure 2. The oil viscosity is 0.85 kg/m-s. Determine the force required to move the piston
with a speed of 6.0 m/s.
(Answer 117.76 N)

Q.3) Two layers of fluid be dragged along by the motion of an upper plate as shown in Figure 3.
The bottom plate is stationary. The top fluid puts a shear stress on the upper plate, and the
lower fluid puts a shear stress on the botton plate. Determine the ratio of these two shear.
(Answer 1)

Q.4) When a 2 mm diameter tube is inserted into a liquid in an open tank (Figure 4), the liquid
is observed to rise 10 mm above the free surface of the liquid. The contact angle between
the liquid and the tube is zero, and the specific weight of the liquid 1.2x104 N/m³.
Determine the value of the surface tension for this liquid.
(Answer 0.060N/m)

Q.5) A 25mm diameter shaft is pulled through a cylindrical bearing as shown in Figure 5. The
lubricant that fills the 0.3mm gap between the shaft and bearing is oil having a kinematic
viscosity of 8.0x10−4 m²/s and a specific gravity of 0.91. Determine the force P required to
pull the shaft at a velocity of 3 m/s. Assume the velocity distribution in the gap is linear.

(Answer 286 N)

Bruce R. Munson, Donald F. Young, Theodore H. Okiishi Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics 5th Edition John Wiley & Sons
Fox R. W., McDonald A. T., Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, 6th Edition John Wiley & Sons
Robert L. Mott. Applied Fluid Mechanics, 6th edition, Pearson Higher Education
White F M, Fluid Mechanics, 6th edition Mc Graw Hill
James F. Cruise et. al, Elementary Hydraulics, International Student Edition , Thomson-Nelson
 Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5