Fluid Dynamics Problem Solving
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Baysa CamadFluid Dynamics Problem Solving
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Baysa CamadExample 1
The drag coefficient of a car at the design conditions of
1 atm, 25°C, and 90 km/h is to be determined
experimentally in a large wind tunnel in a full-scale test.
The height and width of the car are 1.40 m and 1.65 m,
respectively. If the horizontal force acting on the car is
measured to be 300 N, determine the total drag coefficient
of this car.
Solution of Example 1:
The density of air at 1atm and 25°C is ρ=1.164kg/m3.
ρV 2
The drag force acting on a body is given by FD = CD A 2
2 FD
The drag coefficient is given by CD =
AρV 2
Note A is the frontal area A = 1.40 ×1.65m2
and 1 m s = 3.6 km h . Then
2 FD 2 × 350
CD = = = 0.42
AρV 2 (1.40 ×1.65 ) ×1.164 × ( 90 3.6 )2
Example 2
A 5-ft-diameter spherical tank completely submerged in
freshwater is being towed by a ship at 12 ft/s. Assuming
turbulent flow, determine the required towing power.
Solution of Example 2:
The density of water: 62.4lbm/ft3.
Drag coefficient for a sphere:
CD = 0.2 for turbulent flow
CD = 0.5 for laminar flow
π D2
The frontal area of a sphere is A = 4
Then the drag force acting on the spherical tank is
ρV 2 ⎛ π × 52 ⎞⎛ 62.4 ×122 ⎞⎛ 1lbf ⎞
FD = CD A = ( 0.2 ) ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟⎜ 2 ⎟
= 548lbf
2 ⎝ 4 ⎠⎝ 2 ⎠⎝ 32.2lbm ⋅ ft s ⎠
Note the power is force times velocity, so the power
needed to overcome this drag during towing is
⎛ 1kW ⎞
WTowing = W Drag = FDV = ( 548 )(12 ) ⎜ ⎟ = 8.92kW = 12.0hp
⎝ 737.56lbf ⋅ ft s ⎠
Example 3
A flat plate is oriented parallel to a 15m s air flow at 20o C
and atmospheric pressure. The plate is 1.0m long in the
flow direction and 0.5m wide. On one side of the plate, the
boundary layer is tripped at leading edge (turbulent flow
on that side). Find the total drag force on the plate.
Solution of Example 3:
Properties of air at 1atm and 15°C:
ν = 1.5 ×10−5 m 2 s and ρ = 1.2 kg m3
The force due to shear stress is
1
FD = CD ρU 2 BL
2
The Reynolds number based on the plate length is
UL 15 × 1
Re L = = = 10 6
ν 1.5 × 10 −5
The average shear stress coefficient on the tripped side of
the plate is
0.074
CD = = 0.0047
(10 ) 6 15
On the untripped side of the plate:
0.523 1520
CD = − = 0.0028
ln 2 ( 0.06 × 10 6 ) 10
6
The totaol force is
⎛1 ⎞
Fx = ( 0.0047 + 0.0028 ) × ⎜ × 1.2 × 152 ⎟ × (1.0 × 0.5 ) = 0.506 N
⎝2 ⎠
Example 4
A 2.4-in-diameter smooth ball rotating at 500 rpm is
dropped in a water stream at 60°F flowing at 4 ft/s.
Determine the lift and the drag force acting on the ball
when it is first dropped in the water.
Solution of Example 4:
Properties of water at 60°F:
µ = 7.536 ×10−4 lbm ft ⋅ s and ρ = 62.36lbm ft 3
The drag and lift forces can be determined from
ρV 2 ρV 2
FD = CD A and FL = CL A
2 2
Where A = π D 4 is the frontal area and D = 2.4 12 = 0.2 ft
2
The Reynolds number and angular velocity of the ball are
ρVD ( 62.36 )( 4 )( 0.2 )
Re = = = 6.62 × 10 4
µ 7.536 × 10 −4
⎛ 2π rad ⎞ ⎛ 1min ⎞
ω = ( 500 rev min ) ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟ = 52.4 rad s and
⎝ 1rev ⎠ ⎝ 60 s ⎠
ω D ( 52.4 )( 0.2 )
= = 1.31rad
2V 2 ( 4)
From Fig. 11-53, C D = 0.56 and C L = 0.35
