MOHD FADZIZUL BIN ZAKARIA

2009422894
EMD5M6A

DISCUSSION

In this experiment, we want to measure the drag coefficient, CD over a range of velocities
in the test section for hemispherical (open end facing flow and open end facing downstream).
Drag means the forces that oppose the relative motions of an object. The drag acts in the opposite
direction with the moving fluid. Drag coefficient is the ratio of the drag on a body moving
through air to the product of the velocity and the surface area of the body. We can find the drag
coefficient by using this formula:

FD
CD=

1 V 2 D 2
2

Where;
FD

= drag force

= density fluid
V

= speed of the object relative to the fluid,

= reference area

CD

= drag coefficient

From the result that we got, we can see that the value of drag coefficient is increasing for
both conditions as long as we increase the velocity. The largest value of drag coefficient for body
base surface facing upstream test is 1.4157 while the lowest value is 0.9507. For body base
surface facing downstream test, the largest value of drag coefficient is 0.4681 and the lowest
value is 0.4205. Based on the plotted graph, it is shown clearly that the drag coefficient for
upstream is larger than downstream. This situation occurs due to the pressure and friction. In this
case, the large friction that involve in upstream condition making the CD become larger than

MOHD FADZIZUL BIN ZAKARIA

2009422894
EMD5M6A
downstream. Besides that, drag coefficient also depends on the Reynolds Number, Re. As we can
see on the results table, the drag coefficient will increase when the Reynolds Number is
increase. The larger velocity that we used will make the flow become turbulent.
From the book, Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications by Yunus A. Cengel,
John M. Cimbala,; 1st edition in SI units, McGraw-Hill, 2006 at page 574, it was stated that the
value of drag coefficient CD for hemisphere upstream is 1.2 while for the downstream condition,
the value of CD is 0.4. If we compare this value with the largest CD for both conditions that we get
from this experiment, the result shows that the different is not too high. For upstream condition,
the largest value of CD that we get from the experiment is 1.4157 and for downstream the value is
0.4681.

CONCLUSION

After competing this experiment, we are gain more understanding about the important of
drag in our daily life. Besides that, we also can know the use of drag coefficient in our fluids
dynamic study and also its applications. Moreover, we also know about the relation between
Reynolds Number and drag coefficient. The drag coefficient is depends on the Reynolds
Number. It will increase when the Re is increase. Other than that, we also know where is the drag
coefficient is higher whether at upstream condition or downstream condition. So, by achieving
the objective of this experiment that is to measure the drag coefficient CD, over a range of
velocities in the test section for hemispherical (open end facing flow and open end facing
downstream), we can conclude by saying that this experiment is successfully conducted.