FLUID MECHANICS-II

OPEN ENDED LAB-I

Hamza Shazib| 2015-civ-72 | Section (B)

Civil Engineering Department, UET Lahore

 Summary
Pipe flow, a branch of hydraulics and fluid mechanics, is a type of liquid
flow within a closed conduit (conduit in the sense of a means of containment).
Although the theory of fluid flow is reasonably well understood, theoretical
solutions are obtained only for a few simple cases such as fully developed laminar
flow in a circular pipe. Therefore, we must rely on experimental results and
empirical relations for most fluid flow problems rather than closed-form
analytical solutions. The aim of this open-ended lab is to experimentally verify
the theoretically derived velocity profile equations for both laminar and
turbulent flow. For this purpose, Wind tunnel and CFD Analysis techniques are
used. The experimental results are found to be complying with literature studied
in class.

Literature review and developed methodology along with comprehensive

comparison results are also included for better understanding.

HAMZA SHAZIB
INTRODUCTION:
Liquid or gas flow through pipes or ducts is commonly used in heating
and cooling applications and fluid distribution networks. The fluid in such
applications is usually forced to flow by a fan or pump through a flow section.
The behavior of pipe flow is governed mainly by the effects of viscosity and
gravity relative to the inertial forces of the flow. Depending on the effect of
viscosity relative to inertia, as represented by the Reynolds number, the flow can
be either laminar or turbulent.

A careful inspection of flow in a pipe reveals that the fluid flow is

streamlined at low velocities but turns chaotic as the velocity is increased above
a critical value. The flow regime in the first case is said to be laminar,
characterized by smooth streamlines and highly ordered motion, and turbulent
in the second case, where it is characterized by velocity fluctuations and highly
disordered motion. The transition from laminar to turbulent flow does not occur
suddenly; rather, it occurs over some region in which the flow fluctuates between
laminar and turbulent flows before it becomes fully turbulent. Most flows
encountered in practice are turbulent. Laminar flow is encountered when highly
viscous fluids such as oils flow in small pipes or narrow passages.

LITERATURE REVIEW:
When a fluid is flowing through a closed channel such as a pipe or
between two flat plates, either of two types of flow may occur depending on the
velocity and viscosity of the fluid: laminar flow or turbulent flow. Laminar flow
tends to occur at lower velocities, below a threshold at which it becomes
turbulent. Turbulent flow is a less orderly flow regime that is characterized by
eddies or small packets of fluid particles, which result in lateral mixing. In non-
scientific terms, laminar flow is smooth, while turbulent flow is rough.

1. Laminar flow
In fluid dynamics, laminar flow (or streamline flow) occurs when a fluid flows
in parallel layers, with no disruption between the layers. At low velocities, the
fluid tends to flow without lateral mixing, and adjacent layers slide past one
another like playing cards. There are no cross-currents perpendicular to the
direction of flow, nor eddies or swirls of fluids. In laminar flow, the motion of the
particles of the fluid is very orderly with particles close to a solid surface moving
in straight lines parallel to that surface.

For theoretical velocity profile,

1 − 𝑟2
𝑢 = 𝑣𝑐 ( )
𝑟𝑜2

HAMZA SHAZIB
 2. Turbulent flow
Most flows encountered in engineering practice are turbulent, and thus it is
important to understand how turbulence affects wall shear stress. However,
turbulent flow is a complex mechanism dominated by fluctuations, and despite
tremendous amounts of work done in this area by researchers, the theory of
turbulent flow remains largely undeveloped. Therefore, we must rely on
experiments and the empirical or semi-empirical correlations developed for
various situations. Turbulent flow is characterized by random and rapid
fluctuations of swirling regions of fluid, called eddies, throughout the flow. These
fluctuations provide an additional mechanism for momentum and energy
transfer. In laminar flow, fluid particles flow in an orderly manner along path
lines, and momentum and energy are transferred across streamlines by
molecular diffusion. In turbulent flow, the swirling eddies transport mass,
momentum, and energy to other regions of flow much more rapidly than
molecular diffusion, greatly enhancing mass, momentum, and heat transfer.

For theoretical velocity profile,

𝑦𝑜 − 𝑦 1
𝑢 = 𝑣𝑐 ( )7
𝑦𝑜

3. Renault’s no
The Reynolds number (Re) is an important dimensionless quantity in fluid
mechanics used to help predict flow patterns in different fluid flow situations. At
low Reynolds numbers, flows tend to be dominated by laminar (sheet-like) flow,
while at high Reynolds numbers turbulence results from differences in the fluid's
speed and direction, which may sometimes intersect or even move counter to
the overall direction of the flow (eddy currents). These eddy currents begin to
churn the flow, using up energy in the process, which for liquids increases the
chances of cavitation. The Reynolds number has wide applications, ranging from
liquid flow in a pipe to the passage of air over an aircraft wing. It is used to predict
the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, and is used in the scaling of similar
but different-sized flow situations, such as between an aircraft model in a wind
tunnel and the full size version.

Laminar flow Rn < 2000

Transitional Flow 2000=>Rn <=4000

Turbulent flow Rn > 4000

HAMZA SHAZIB
METHEDOLOGY DEVELOPED:
For collecting experiment data regarding velocity head and to draw
velocity profiles for various fluid flow conditions, following experiment was
developed:

4. Wind tunnel
Wind tunnel available in Fluid Mechanics lab was used. It consists of a wind
turbine attached to a square cross-section test section and a contraction cone.
The air is sucked into contraction cone where the velocity will be increase due to
the shape of the cone due to the pressure difference. The high and constant
velocity air will then enter the test section where the pitot tube assembly
attached to manometer is present for taking measurements. After that the air
will flow into the diffuser where they will be pushed out into room.

As this tube contains fluid, a pressure can be measured; the moving fluid
is brought to rest (stagnates) as there is no outlet to allow flow to continue. This
pressure is the stagnation pressure of the fluid, also known as the total pressure
or (particularly in aviation) the pitot pressure. The measured stagnation pressure
cannot itself be used to determine the fluid flow velocity (airspeed in aviation)
However, Bernoulli's equation states:

Stagnation pressure = static pressure + dynamic pressure

Which can also be written

𝜌 × 𝑢2
𝑃𝑡 = 𝑃𝑠 + ( )
2

2(𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑠 )
𝑢= √
𝜌

If a liquid column manometer is used to measure the pressure difference,

∆𝑃
∆𝐻 =
𝜌𝑚 × 𝑔

Solving that for flow velocity gives

2 × ∆𝐻 × 𝜌𝑚 × 𝑔
𝑢= √
𝜌

Where,

ρm = Density of fluid in manomter

ρ = Density of air

HAMZA SHAZIB
PROCEDURE:
• Inspect the wind tunnel and perform calibration if needed (this was done
by lab staff)
• Measure room temperature.
• Note down the dimensions of test section. In our case it is 30cm x 30cm.
• For velocity measurement, the test section is divided into ten equal parts
i.e. 3cm each.
• Switch on the turbine and adjust the opening to smallest one for laminar
flow.
• Note down the zero correction of graduated scale if required.
• Pitot tube is lowered to corresponding distances ‘y’ from the top with help
of scale attached to assembly.
• Note down the difference in heads of the limbs of manometer attached at
each point i.e. 3cm, 6cm etc. from top.
• Calculate velocity at that point by using above mentioned equation.
• Plot graph and compare results.

HAMZA SHAZIB
OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS:

Turbulent flow theoretical data:

Distance from wall Distance from center Velocity

Yo = 150 V=Vc * [(yo-y)/(yo)]1/7

mm mm m/sec
0 150 0.00
25 125 51.33
50 100 56.67
75 75 60.05
100 50 62.57
125 25 64.60
150 0 66.30
175 -25 64.60
200 -50 62.57
225 -75 60.05
250 -100 56.67
275 -125 51.33
300 -150 0.00

velocity profile (Tubulant)

200

150

100

50
Y (mm)

0
0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00
-50

-100

-150

-200
V (m/sec)

HAMZA SHAZIB
Wind tunnel experimental data (turbulent Flow)

Manometric Manometric Head Velocity

y
Reading 1 Reading 2 Difference (Exp)
mm cm cm cm m/s
150 39.4 7.4 0.32 64.68528
125 39.5 7.4 0.321 64.78627
100 39.4 7.3 0.321 64.78627
75 39.5 7 0.325 65.18868
50 39.4 7.2 0.322 64.88711
25 39.4 7.1 0.323 64.98779
0 39.6 7 0.326 65.28889
-25 39.5 7 0.325 65.18868
-50 39.6 7.3 0.323 64.98779
-75 39.7 7.5 0.322 64.88711
-100 39.4 7.2 0.322 64.88711
-125 39.2 12.5 0.267 59.08621
-150 39.2 21.5 0.177 48.10798

umax = 66.3 m/s

200

150

100

50
y (mm)

0
58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

-50

-100

-150
Velocity V (mm/sec)

HAMZA SHAZIB
Laminar flow theoretical data:

Distance from wall Distance from center Velocity

Yo = 150 V=Vc(1-(r^2)/(ro^2))
mm mm m/sec
0 150 0.00
25 125 20.26
50 100 36.83
75 75 49.73
100 50 58.93
125 25 64.46
150 0 66.30
175 -25 64.46
200 -50 58.93
225 -75 49.73
250 -100 36.83
275 -125 20.26
300 -150 0.00

velocity profile th (Laminar)

200

150

100

50
Y (mm)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
-50

-100

-150

-200
Velocity V (m/sec)

HAMZA SHAZIB
 5. Using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Analysis
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the use of applied mathematics,
physics and computational software to visualize how a gas or liquid flows -- as
well as how the gas or liquid affects objects as it flows past. Computational fluid
dynamics is based on the Navier-Stokes equations. These equations describe how
the velocity, pressure, temperature, and density of a moving fluid are related.

In a CFD analysis, the examination of fluid flow in accordance with its

physical properties such as velocity, pressure, temperature, density and viscosity
is conducted. To virtually generate a solution for a physical phenomenon
associated with fluid flow, without compromise on accuracy, those properties
have to be considered simultaneously. A mathematical model of the physical case
and a numerical method are used in a software tool to analyze the fluid flow.

TOOLS USED
• Autodesk® CFD software was used to observe flow through a long pipe.
Pipe was modeled using Autodesk® SimStudio Tools 2016
• Material assigned was smooth Acrylic plastic.
• Fluid was assigned as water at 30o C. Other properties were adjusted
automatically by software.
• For laminar flow, the fluid velocity was set to be 8mm/s, as calculated by
formulae.
• For turbulent flow, v= 100mm/s

HAMZA SHAZIB
 COMMENTS
• As pipe assembly wasn’t available, that’s why wind tunnel was used.
• Laminar flow can’t be developed in wind turbine due to limitations, i.e. opening
setting doesn’t permit velocity low enough for laminar flow.
• The equations derived for circular cross-sections were used while test section
was square. (source of error)
• Velocity at center should be maximum or should increase but due to turbulence,
results weren’t as supposed.
• There is large deviation in experimental and theoretical results possibly due to
unsuitable apparatus used.
• CFD analysis results seems to agree with theoretical velocity profile.

HAMZA SHAZIB
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Helping material from following resources is used:

• Wikipedia.org
• Fluid Mechanics with Engineering Applications Hardcover – Import, 1965
by Robert L. Daugherty (Author), Joseph B. Franzini (Author), A. C.
Ingersoll (Author)
• Autodesk.com for CFD software
• https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/cfd/getting-started

HAMZA SHAZIB