FLUID MECHANICS

FLOW PAST IMMERSED BODIES

Introduction:

When a fluid is flowing over s stationary body, a force is exerted by the fluid on the
body. Similarly, when a body is moving in a stationary fluid, a force is exerted by the fluid on
the body. Also when the body and fluid both are moving at different velocities, a force is
exerted by the fluid on the body.

Ex:- 1) Flow of air over buildings,

2) Flow of water over bridges,
3) Submarines, ships aeroplanes, and automobiles moving through water or air.

Drag: The component of the total force in the direction of motion is called drag. This
component is denoted by FD. Thus drag is the force exerted by the fluid in the direction of
motion.

Lift: The component of the total force in the direction perpendicular to the direction of
motion is known as Lift. This is denoted by FL. Thus lift is the force exerted by the fluid in
the direction perpendicular to the direction of motion. Lift force occurs only when the axis of
the body is inclined to the direction of fluid flow. If the axis of the body is parallel to the
direction of fluid flow, lift force is zero. In that case only drag force acts.

Expressions for Drag and Lift:

Fig.(a) Fig.(b)

Fig. Shows a body held stationary in a stream of real fluid moving at a uniform velocity U.

On an element of area dA on the surface of the body, let P and τ represent the static
pressure and shear stress, and let θ be the inclination of the tangent to the element with the
direction of flow. The component of the force, due to P and τ along the direction of motion is
known as Drag force FD, while the component perpendicular to the direction of motion is
known as lift force, FL. Considering the fig. (b) We can write,

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A A
FD = ∫ P . dA . sinθ + ∫ τ . dA . cosθ
0 0

A A
FD = ∫ τ . dA . sinθ - ∫ P . dA . cosθ
0 0

Where represents the integration over the entire body surface.

A

- The term ∫ P . dA . cosθ is called pressure drag.

0
A

- The term ∫ τ . dA . sinθ is called friction drag or skin drag or shear drag.
0

The contribution of shear stresses to the left may be neglected since shear stresses are
small as compared to the pressure and act in direction roughly perpendicular to FL. For a body
moving through a fluid of mass density ρ, at a uniform velocity U, the mathematical
expression for the calculation of the drag and the lift may also be written as follows:

ρU 2
F D = CD A
2

ρU 2
F L = CL A
2

Where CD – Coefficient of drag; CL - Coefficient of lift; ρ – Density of fluid.

 For calculating the drag force (FD), usually the area A is taken as the area projected on the
plane perpendicular to the relative motion of the fluid.
 For calculating the lift force (FL), the area A is taken as the projected area of the body on a
plane at right angles to the direction of lift force.
 In the case of airfoil, the projection is conventionally taken on the plane of the chord, i.e.,
the area of the wing itself, independent of its inclination to the direction of flow.
Area (A) = Span (l) X mean chord (c)

Examples of immersed bodies having drag &/or lift forces:

i. A tall chimney exposed to wind.

ii. Flow of water past a bridge pier.
iii. Flow of fluids past blades in fans, blowers, compressors, turbines etc.
iv. Motion of aeroplanes, submarines etc.

Examples of bodies where both drag and lift forces are produced:

i. Propeller blades
ii. Aerofoils
iii. Hydro files

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iv. Rotating cylindrical bodies

v. Kites etc.

Following points are worth noting:

1. In contrast to drag, the lift forces may exist even in ideal fluids by the presence of
circulation.
2. Real fluids also require vortices or circulation around the body for producing lift.
3. In motion of aerofoils with finite spans, there is another kind of drag force associated with
the lift force called the induced drag.

1. A truck having a projected area of 6.5m2 travelling at 70 Km/h has a total

resistance of 2000N of this 20% is due to rolling friction and 10% due to surface
friction. The rest is due to drag. Make calculations for the coefficients of drag.
Take ρ = 1.22 Kg/m3 for air.

Soln.: Given data: Projected area, A = 6.5m2.

70 X 1000
Speed of the truck U = 70 Km/h = = 19.44 m/s. Density of air ρ = 1.22 Kg/m3
60 X 60

20
Total resistance = 2000N, Resistance due to rolling friction = X 2000 = 400N.
100

Resistance due to surface friction = 2000 – 400 – 200 = 1400N.

ρU 2
Coefficient of drag, CD: Now, FD = CD A
2

1.22 X (19.44)2
1400 = CD X 6.5 X
2

CD = 0.934

2. Find the difference in drag force exerted on a flat plate of size 2m X 2m when the
plate is moving at a speed of 4m/s normal to its plane in i) water ii) air of density
1.24 Kg/m3. Coefficient of drag is given as 1.15.

Soln.: Given data: Area of plate = A = 2 X 2 = 4 m2.

Velocity of plate U = 4 m/s; Coefficient of drag CD = 1.15

i) Drag force when the plate is moving in water:

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ρU 2 42
W.K.T. F D = CD A = 1.15 X 4 X 1000 = 36800N
2 2

ii) Drag force when the plate is moving in air:

ρU 2 42
W.K.T. F D = CD A = 1.15 X 4 X 1.24 = 45.6N
2 2

∴ Difference in drag force = 36800 – 45.6 = 36754.4N

∴ Difference in drag force = i – ii = 36800 – 45.6 = 36754.4 N

Difference in drag force = 36754.4 N

3. Calculate the diameter of s parachute to be used for dropping an object of mass

100Kg so that the maximum terminal velocity of dropping is 5m/s. The drag
coefficient for the parachute, which may be treated as hemispherical is 1.3. The
density of air is 1.216 Kg/m3.

Soln.: Given data: Mass of object M = 100Kg; Weight of object W = 100 X 9.81 = 981KN;
Drag force FD = 981N; Velocity of object U = 5m/s; Drag coefficient CD = 1.3;
π
Density of air ρ = 1.216 Kg/m3. ∴ Projected area A = D2 m2
4
2
ρU
W. K. T. FD = CD A
2

π 2 1.216 X 5 2
981 = 1.3 X D X
4 2

D = 7.95 m

4. A kite 0.8m X 0.8m weighing 3.924N assumes an angle of 12° to the horizontal.
The string attached to the kite makes an angle of 45° to the horizontal. The pull on
the string is 24.525N when the wind is flowing at a speed of 30Km/h. Find the
corresponding coefficient of drag and lift. Density of air is given as 1.25 Kg/m3.

Soln.; Given data: Projected area of kite A = 0.8 X 0.8 = 0.64m2;

Weight of kite W = 3.924N; Angle made by kite with horizontal θ1= 12°

Angle made by string with horizontal θ2 = 45°; Pull on string P = 24.525N;

30 X 1000
Speed of wind U = 30 Km/h = = 8.33 m/s; Density of air ρ = 1.25 Kg/m3.
60 X 60

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Drag force FD = Force exerted by wind in the direction of motion (i.e., in the X – direction)

= Component of pull, P along X – X

= Pcos 45° = 24.525 cos 45° = 17.34N.

And lift force, FL

= Force exerted by wind on the kite
perpendicular to the direction of
motion(i.e., along Y – direction)
= Component of P in vertically downward
direction + Weight of kite (W)
= P sin 45° + W = 24.525 sin 45° + 3.924
= 21.624N

i) Drag coefficient (CD):

ρU 2
W. K. T. F D = CD A
2

2 X FD 2 X 17.34
CD = =
A ρU 2
0.64 X 1.25 X (8.33)2

CD = 0.624

ii) Lift Coefficient (CL):

ρU 2
F L = CL A
2

2 X FL 2 X 21.264
CL = 2 = 2
A ρU 0.64 X 1.25 X (8.33)

CL = 0.765

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