Ardhi University

School of Environmental Engineering

End of Semester Examination

Programme: Advanced Diploma

Subject: EI 254 FLUID MECHANICS I
Class:
Time allowed: 3Hours
Date: February 2012

Instructions:
1. This paper consists of FIVE questions
2. Attempt any ALL questions
3. This paper carries 100 marks
4. Each question carries equal marks
4. Start a question on fresh page

This paper consist of THREE printed pages

Question 1
Mention four (4) characteristics features of open channel flow.
Explain two (2) characteristics of each of the following types of flow in open channel flows:
(i) Uniform flow
(ii) Steady state flow
(iii)Non Uniform flow
(iv)Unsteady flow (20 marks)

Question 2
(a) Briefly explain the following terms
(i) Hydraulic radius
(ii) Wetted Perimeter

(b) The crossection of the flow in a river during a flood was as shown below. Assuming the roughness
coefficient for side channels and main channel to be 0.04 and 0.03 respectively. Estimate the
discharge ‘Q’ of the river. Use bed slope So = 0.01.
(20 Marks)

2m side side
main 1

1
3m
30o 30o

2m 2m

Question 3
(a) Briefly explain the following terms as used in pipe flow analysis
(i) Minor loss
(ii) Major loss
(b) An existing pipeline 2km long and 200 mm in diameter joins two reservoirs (Figure 1) with a
head difference of 30m. The pipeline was originally designed to carry a flow of 200 litres/s,
however, over the years the roughness of the pipe has gradually increased so that the flow has
now reduced by 25%. What are the values of f (i) when the pipe was first installed and (ii)
now? Note neglect the minor losses (20 Marks)
 30m

Figure 1
Question 4
(a) Starting from first principles derive the Direct Step Method for calculating the distances (∆x) in

non uniform flows i.e. where E1 and E2 are the specific energy for sections (1) and

(2) respectively, So is the bed slope and Sf is the friction slope.

(b) The water depth of a gradually varying flow with discharge per unit width q = 1.6 m2/s and bed
slope So = 0.00027 in a wide rectangular channel (n = 0.015) is 0.43 m right behind a hump and
0.58 m at a location further downstream. What would be the distance between the two locations?
Hint: use one step direct step method. (20 marks)

Question 5
(a) Write down the expression for the total Head Loss for
(i) Pipe in series [ a.] as shown in below and
(ii) Pipes in parallel [b.] as shown in the figure below

a. b.

(b) Write down the expression for the total head loss for the following flow network. Note consider
both major and minor head losses

A
B

(20 Marks)