THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING

DMX4203 – APPLIED FLUID DYNAMICS I
ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/2021
ASSIGNMENT 02

GUIDELINES for Answering DMX-4203 TMA#02

(1) Answer all questions & never attempt to copy from any source.
(2) Write your registration number clearly on your answer script.
(3) Submit your assignment in a clean & neat in PDF format to the drop box.
(4) Last date of submission – 12th September 2021
(5) NO LATE SUBMISSION will be accepted.

Q1).
a) Explain the importance of dimensional analysis in engineering.
b) State the Buckingham pi theorem.
c) When small particles of diameter d are transported by a moving fluid having a
velocity V they settle to the ground at some distance L after starting from a
height h. The variation in L with various factors is to be studied with a model
having a length scale of 1/10, assume that

L  f ( h , d ,V ,  ,  )

Where γ is the particle specific weight and μ is the fluid viscosity. The same
fluid is to be used in both the model and the prototype. The relationship
between the particle specific weight γ, in the model and the prototype is given
by,
 model
 9 prototype

a) If V=20kmph, at what velocity should the model tests be run?

b) During a certain model test it was found that Lmodel = 0.5m. What
would be the predicted L for this test?
Q2).

a) Derive an equation for the head loss in circular pipes due to friction.
b) Figure Q2, shows a section of a pipe transporting water from one location to another.
The discharge at the end B is found to be 0.05m3s-1. Find the,
i) Velocities VA and VB.
ii) Power input required at point A in order to maintain the flow, if the
losses from A to B are equivalent to 1.5m Head.

Figure Q2

Q3).
a) Write down 3 examples for open channel flow.
b) Derive the hydraulic - geometry relationship of the most economical section under
fluid flow of a rectangular channel.
c) An irrigation canal of trapezoidal cross section is to carry 20m3/s when built on a
slope of 0.56m/km. If the sides are at an angle of 450 and the bottom is wide,
determine the width of a water line at the free surface. (n= 0.03)
Q4).
a) Define the following terms in relation to the concept of boundary layer,
I. Displacement thickness
II. Momentum thickness
III. Energy thickness

b) The velocity profile of the boundary layer on a flat plate is given by,

u  y m
  
U  

Determine the displacement thickness, momentum thickness in terms of the

nominal boundary layer thickness .