HYDRAULICS

Lecture 6. Unsteady Flow

Learning Objectives. 2. For variable cross-sectional
After this lesson, students should be able to
1. Differentiate steady and unsteady fluid flow. area, As.
2. Derive the fomulas for unsteady flow of fluid out of an
orifice. Let: As = f(h)
3. Use the derived equations in solving different cases of
orifice-related problems on unsteady flow.
3. For constant As.

Required Knowledge in:

𝟐𝑨𝒔
1. Related Rates (Differential Calculus)
𝒕= [√𝒉𝟏 − √𝒉𝟐 ]
2. Continuity Equation
𝑪𝒅 𝑨𝒐 √𝟐𝒈
3. Geometry 4. For submerged orifice.
USTEADY FLOW – flow velocity and area of flow
varies with time. 𝟐𝑨𝑩
𝒕= [√∆𝒉𝟏 − √∆𝒉𝟐 ]
(𝑨 + 𝑩)𝑪𝒅 𝑨𝒐 √𝟐𝒈
Time to discharge liquid on a
vessel through an orifice. EXAMPLES.
1. A circular tank of diameter 4 m contains water up to a
height of 5 m. The tank is provided with an orifice of
diameter 0.50 m at the bottom. Find the time taken by
water
a. To fall from 5 m to 2 m
b. For completely emptying the tank
Take Cd = 0.60
Ans. 39.58 sec , 107.7 sec

2. A circular tank of diameter 1.25 m contains water up to a

height of 5 m. An orifice of 50 mm diameter if provided at
Where: its bottom. If cd= 0.62, find the height of water above the
orifice after 1.5 minutes.
• As = cross sectional area of liquid Ans. 4.154 m
surface or vessel
3. A hemispherical tank of diameter 4 m contains water up to
• h1 = initial head producing the a height of 1.5 m. An orifice of diameter 50 mm is provided
at the bottom. Find the time required by water
flow
a. To fall from 1.5 m to 1.0 m
• h2 = final head producing the b. For completely emptying the tank.
Take Cd = 0.60
flow Ans. 921.40 sec , 2286.33 sec
• Ao = area of the orifice
4. Two vertical cylindrical tanks, one 5 m in diameter and the
other 8 m have a common orifice having a cross sectional
1. General shaped vessel with an area of 0.004 m2 with Cd = 0.60 located at the bottom
portion. When the orifice is closed, the water surface in the
orifice at the bottom. smaller tank is 10 m higher than that in the bigger tank.
a. Determine the discharge in the tube immediately
after it is opened.
𝒉𝟐 b. Determine the time for the water surface in each tank
𝟏 to be at the same level.
𝒕=− ∫ 𝑨𝒔 (𝒉−𝟏/𝟐 ) 𝒅𝒉 c. Determine the time to discharge 30 m3 of water from
𝑪𝒅 𝑨𝒐 √𝟐𝒈 𝒉𝟏 the smaller tank to the bigger tank.
Ans. 0.0036 m3/s , 8400 sec, 946 sec

Hydraulics Leselle C. Quitaneg