Running Head: WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 1

Wind Tunnel Laboratory Report: Flow Behaviors of Flows over Cylinder and Flat Plate.

Student Name

Institutional Affiliation

Date
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 2

Abstract

A good understanding of flow properties over a cylindrical object as well as flat plate is

crucial in engineers undertaking aerodynamics in their careers. Two laboratory experiments were

done to illustrate these scenarios. The raw data collected in experiment one enabled students to

calculate various properties of the flow over cylinder like pressure drag, pressure coefficient, drag

coefficient, Reynolds number and velocity. Results of the pressure coefficient were plotted

against respective Reynolds number their significance explained. Also, the drag coefficient

results were compared with the theoretical values to establish accuracy of the tests. In experiment

two, two locations from one end side of the plate were used to obtain up to 15 power level

readings of the boundary layer from each tube at a medium speed of the air. This flow produced

different Reynolds numbers which enabled the flow to transit from laminar flow to turbulent

flow. Pitot tube readings were used to calculate velocity which was used to calculate Reynolds

number . The velocity profile of the boundary layers was found to be close to that of established

theoretical experiment. The small differences in the calculated parameters with the theore3tical

values were ignored in order to achieve the main objectives of this report.

Objectives

Test 1: Flow past a cylindrical object

To measure flow characteristics of a cylindrical body which are pressure coefficient,

pressure drag, drag coefficient with their respective Reynolds number and compare them with the

published ideal values for frictionless flow.

Test 2: Fluid flow past a flat sheet of metal

To measure thickness of fluid layers and their speeds profile.

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 3

Introduction

In experiment one, flow over cylinder was demonstrated using wind tunnel as was

observed in the laboratory. The same wind tunnel was used to demonstrate the flow past a flat

sheet of metal. Test one was about investigating the coefficients of pressure and drag respectively

with their respective Reynolds number of an external flow. Under this experiment the

characteristics of the flow were obtained from the pressure readings. In experiment two, a pitot-

tube which is static was placed inside the wind tunnel to measure speed experienced in the two

regions along the flat plate. Under this arrangement, it was easy to get the profile of speed and

therefore simple to measure the thickness of the fluid patterns. Both the drag coefficient and

velocity profile of boundary layer are important techniques in comprehending the external flows

of fluids.

Theory

When fluid is flowing freely in which layers are parallel to each without any disruption

among the layers then the flow is called laminar flow whereas turbulent flow occur whenever

there is a disruption of the layers resulting into disorganized pattern of the layers which is caused

by the eddies of different size during the flow (Teimourian,Hacisevki,&Bahrami,2017). In the

structure of frictionless flow growth of boundary layer patterns and development in velocity

profiles from the initial static point to final point at which the flow is turbulent is caused by the

changes in pressure gradients at various points throughout the flow. Figure 1 show how the flow

develops up to separation stage. In laminar flow the pressure gradients have negative values

whereas the pressure gradients in turbulent flow have negative values. Boundary layer concept

came to life due to Ludwig Brandt which filled the gap that existed between theoretical

arguments and practical facts. This concept allowed researchers to obtain the solutions of
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 4

problems caused by viscous flow. Earlier on releasers relied on Naiver-Stokes equation to solve

the flow field problems (Rathakrishnan, (2016). Instrumentation, measurements, and

experiments in fluids. Flow throw pipe is either laminar or turbulent. For flow to transit from

laminar to a turbulent flow in boundary layer there must a Reynolds number that causes this

change of flow to occur. The following are factors that influence the transition of boundary layer;

roughness of the body surface, gradient of pressure, heat transfers, forces acting on the body and

existence of disruption in pattern of the layers. In real life situations, boundary layers in many

flows develop with time over a flat plate resulting in boundary layer velocity profiles.

Method

Apparatus

Wind tunnel equipment, manometer, micro-pitot static tube, tubes, cylindrical object and

flat sheet of metal.

Procedure

Test 1:

Use the wind equipment containing underground passage to locate valves that controls

pressure inside the cylindrical body and inner surfaces of the tube. Turn the fan knob clockwise

to permit a steady flow. Do this for fan number two.

Note the cylinder attached inside the air flow. Record readings on the manometer of the

wind speed. The readings of the Pressure tapings will be used in the calculation’s analysis stage

by students not this speed recorded at this stage. Write down all readings displayed by the

pressure gauge for all spouts. Redo these steps for the number five fan .
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 5

Test 2:

Install the plate inside the tunnel containing a micro-pitot static tube which enables

measurement of the speeds at various positions from its edge. The inactive valve is linked to

pressure gauge connected conduit 15 while fixed valve is connected to manometer bank attached

to conduit 16. Profile of speeds at location x=70mm from one end of the flat metal object will

be obtained. Use fan 5 for this operation.

1. Use the knob to push the flat metal up to 70mm point from one end side of the metal

body.

2. Permit a uniform flow to grow after turning on the machine to fan number 5. Note down

the estimated horizontal velocity in pressure gauge .Do not use this speed in calculation

analysis.

3. Use the micrometer to ensure the tube just touches the plate and note down reading on

meter at this position. 0.35mm is the conduit radius

4. Write down in a table the values displayed on manometers 15 and 16

5. Use micrometer to elevate the duct by one millimeter and note the pressure readings.

6. Stop raising the tube when the micrometer reading is 15mm and record the readings

attained

7. Get two more velocity profiles in size 5 and x=100m. Zero height for each experiment

must be carefully obtained.

Evaluation of the Results

Test 1
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Under this test, the drag force striking the cylindrical object was obtained through

calculations of the following fluid flow parameters.

Information for test 1

1. Operating room temperature in the laboratory was c

Air density = 1.21kg/ , Air Kinematic viscosity =1.5 x /s, Force of gravity,

ɡ= 10 N/

2. Water used is at a room temperature of c

Water density ==998kg/ , Kinematic viscosity of water = /s

3. Radius of cylinder is 25mm

Readings from Pressure Gauge

Table 1: Values of pressure

Station Angle Power Level 2 Power level 5

θ (mm) (mm)

1 0 474 473

2 15 475 477

3 30 476 480

4 45 481 495

5 60 482 498

6 75 482 498

7 90 482 498
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 7

8 105 482 498

9 120 482 498

10 135 482.5 500

11 150 482.5 500

12 165 482.5 500

13 180 482.5 500

Ambient 473 470

Static 479 488

Calculations

Calculations for the velocity and Reynolds number

Calculation for pressure gauge

From equation =Δ ɡ= ( - ) ɡ= (0.473-0.482) x998x10=-89.82

Table 2: Pressure gauge values

Results step 1 stage 2 (mm) Stage 5(mm)

-9.98 -29.94

-59.88 -179.64

Calculation for velocity

From equations = + , hence-9.98=-59.88+ x1.21x , = 9.0818m/s

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 8

Table 3: speed values

Result step 2 Stage 2(mm) Stage 5(mm)

(m/s) 9.0818 16.313593

Calculation for Reynolds numbers

From equation = , = = 30272.6667

Table 4: Reynolds numbers values

Result step 3 Power level 2(mm) Power level 5(mm)

30272.6667 54378.6433

The flows are laminar flows because values of Reynolds numbers are less than 5x as

shown in the above results.

Calculations of Pressure coefficient and a Graph

From equations = and P=

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 9

Table 5: Coefficients of pressure with Reynolds number

Station Angle stage 2 stage 5 stage 2 stage 5

1 0 1 0.708386 30272.6667 52434

2 15 0.9886 1 27232.667 44901.67

3 30 0.8031 0.9999 23450 38292.33

4 45 -1 -1 19146 35819.23

5 60 -1 -1 23449 42812

6 75 -1 -1 23449 42812

7 90 -1 -1 23449 42812

8 105 -1 -1 23449 42812

9 120 -1 -1 23449 42812

10 135 -0.9999 -0.9999 25328 46898.33

11 150 -0.9999 -0.9999 25328 46898.33

12 165 -0.9999 -0.9999 25328 46898.33

13 180 -0.9999 -0.9999 25328 46898.33

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 10

Pressure Coefficient
1.5

1
Pressure Coefficient

0.5

0
power level 2 cp1
0 50 100 150 200
-0.5

-1

-1.5
Angles

Figure 1: Behavior of coefficients of pressure

Calculation of Drag Coefficients

Out of the 13 tubes available only tubes number 1 and 13 would not be calculated twice

hence sum of the drag force:

= 2( ∑ )+ +

= ,

= xA

= ɡΔH

A=2 ) = 2 ) = x0.05=0.00652631
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 11

Table 6:Values of pressure drag

position Rad point 2 point 5

1 0.000 -0.1302 -0.1954

2 0.2618 -0.18874 -0.44043

3 0.5235 -0.16923 -0.5641

4 0.7854 -0.36844 -0.15139

5 1.0472 -0.58554 -0.91185

6 1.309 -0.15172 -0.47201

7 1.5708 0.00000 0.0000

8 1.8326 0.15172 0.47202

9 2.0944 0.2931 0.91193

10 2.3562 0.43753 1.3767

11 2.618 0.53586 1.6922

12 2.8797 0.59766 1.88735

13 3.1415 0.61876 1.954

(total) 1.03896 5.5591

Calculations of drag coefficients

= Dx ρ

= = =1.59544 for
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 12

Table 7: Drag coefficients values

station Power level 2 Power level 5

4 -5.744 3.9878 -10.746 6.0965

9 -7.0347 2.6587 -12.844 4.267

12 -7.598 2.2791 -14.07 3.556

A Sketch of expected flow path

The sketch above illustrates a friction-less laminar flow past a cylindrical object. The fluid

waves striking the object form a uniform pattern. It is different from the flow undertaken in the

laboratory due to existence of friction, eddy currents caused by air penetrating the wind tunnel

equipment.

Test 2:

Information for test 2

1. Operating room temperature in the laboratory was c

Air density = 1.21kg/ , Air Kinematic viscosity, r =1.5 x /s, Force of gravity,

ɡ= 10 N/
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 13

2. Water used is at a room temperature of c

Density of water ==998kg/ , Kinematic viscosity of water = /s

3. Pitot-tube radius is 35mm

Data from pressure gauge

Table 8:Results values from test 2

Location 2 Location 5

x-= 70mm Tube 15 Tube 16 ΔH X=100 Tube 15 Tube 16 ΔH

0.132 488 498 10 0.130 480 498 18

1 488 498 10 1 488 498 10

2 488 498 10 2 487 498 11

3 488 498 10 3 486 498 12

4 488 498 10 4 485 498 13

5 485 498 13 5 484 498 14

6 483 498 15 6 483 498 15

7 482 498 16 7 483 498 15

8 481 498 17 8 482 498 16

9 480 498 18 9 481 498 17

10 479 498 19 10 480 498 18

11 478 498 20 11 479 498 19

12 478 498 20 12 478 498 20

13 478 498 20 13 477.5 498 20.5

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 14

`14 477.5 498 20.5

15 477.5 498 20.5

Calculations

Calculations of speed

= + , - = whereby ɡΔH= - , U=√

Table 9:Velocity analysis of the experiment

Y(mm) Tube -15 Um/s Y(mm) Tube -16 m/s

0.132 12.843624 0.130 17.2315

1 12.843624 1 12.843624

2 12.843624 2 13.4705

3 12.843624 3 14.0694

4 12.843624 4 14.64398

5 14.64398 5 15.1967

6 15.7301 6 15.7301

7 16.2460 7 15.7301

8 16.7460 8 16.2460

9 17.2315 9 16.7460

10 17.7037 10 17.2315

11 18.1636 11 17.7037

12 18.1636 12 18.1636
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 15

13 18.1636 13 18.38927

From above results average values = 15.5 m/s and =15.96m/s

Boundary thickness with Reynolds numbers

= , = =72333.33 and = 170240 both are laminar flows <

= - Initial micrometer value + .34, =7mm =7.21mm

Table 10: Velocity of the flow with boundary thickness

Y(mm) m/s δ(mm)

2 12.844 59 938.67 2.218

6 15.73 73 406.67 6.218

9 17.704 82 618.67 9.218

13 18.164 84 765 13.218

Velocity profile measurements

Table 11: Ratios thickness with speed ratios

Y(mm) Point 2 Point 5

2 0.9017 0.7555 0.9017 0.7924

6 0.965 0.9253 0.965 0.9253

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 16

9 0.976 1.0136 0.976 0.9851

13 0.9835 1.0684 0.9835 1.9817

velocity profile
0.9
0.8
Yactual/thicknessT

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4 power leves
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
U/free stream velocity

Figure 2:Velocity profile of the flow

Discussion

Test 1:

Comparison of values of coefficient with established values

From the figure below of a theoretical values of pressure coefficients in frictionless

laminar flow, one can observe that the values of pressure coefficients calculated in this report

corresponded well with those of Reynolds numbers as the flow continued to change with time.As

the pressure coefficient reduced with time, the results deviated from the expected flow behaviors
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 17

under investigation. This deviation of the results might have been caused by lack of stability in

the flow.

Comparison of pressure coefficient with established values

Figure 3: Theoretical pressure coefficient for a laminar flow

All the flows encountered in this experiment were laminar flows because Reynolds

numbers were below 500 000 although this was not the expected outcome(Jinet al., 2016)

Comparison of the results achieved with established values

From the evaluation of the calculated coefficients of drag with the theoretical value of drag

coefficients one can see that they are almost the same.

Table 12: Comparison with theoretical values

Parameters Power level 2 Power level 5

(Theoretical) 1.05 1.01

Practical) 0.981550 0.92644

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 18

Since the differences between the two set of values can be neglected the laboratory

exercise was up to the required standards.

Test 2:

Comparison of thickness of fluid layers with theoretical values

This equation =5.0 is used in laminar flow where Reynolds numbers below 500

000 while in unstable flow whose Reynolds numbers are above known critical number the

boundary layer thickness is obtained from this equitation =0.38

From the table below, the calculated values were found to be close to those of laminar

flow in an ideal theoretical case. This was possible since the values of the Reynolds numbers

were less than the critical number. This satisfied the laminar flow conditions.

Table 13: Comparison with established values

flows Thickness (mm) position 2 Thickness(mm) position 2

Laboratory 1.218 1.218

Lamina flow (ideal) 1.3586 1.6810

Turbulent flow (ideal case) 3.5951 4.9929

WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 19

Profile of Velocity

The following equations are used to establish if a boundary layer flow is a laminar or

th
turbulent flow through parabolic and power law.Laminar flow equation, =2Ꞃ-Ꞃ and

Turbulent flow equation, =Ꞃ

Figure 4: Comparison with theoretical data

Pressure coefficients of various flows

From the above theoretical graph, the red line resembles the characteristic behavior of the

plotted velocity profile from the data collected in the laboratory. This confirms to the earlier

confessions that the flows inv over are likely to be laminar flow (Pritchard, Fox, & McDonald,

2010)

Conclusion

The main objectives of this experiment were achieved on its completion. This can be

confirmed by the approximate values of the following parameters respect to the established data

of the parameters: drag coefficients, coefficient of pressure, boundary thickness and the velocity

profile boundary layers. From the laboratory experience students could distinguish various
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 20

characteristics of the external fluid flows and come up with some ideas on how to calculate very

complex problems. For instance, it is easy to find the thickness pf fluid layersjust as one could

measure the manometer length. The deviations of the practical values from the theoretical values

was caused by some unavoidable source s of error like defective equipment and apparatus,

parallax errors, laboratory environment could not be satisfying the set standards in theoretical

experiment in books and so forth. It therefore recommended that these sources of errors should be

avoided or minimized to minimize the differences s between the practical values ad theoretical

values.
WIND TUNNEL LAB REPORT 21

Reference

Jin, Y., Ji, S., Liu, B., & Chamorro, L. P. (2016). On the role of thickness ratio and location of

axis of rotation in the flat plate motions. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 64, 127-137.

Pritchard, P. J., Fox, R. W., & McDonald, A. T. (2010). Introduction to fluid mechanics. John

Wiley & Sons.

Rathakrishnan, E. (2016). Instrumentation, measurements, and experiments in fluids. CRC Press.

Teimourian, A., Hacisevki, H., &Bahrami, A. (2017). Experimental study on flow past two

inclined flat plates in tandem arrangement. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial

Aerodynamics, 169, 1 11.