FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT: Mechanical Engineering

QUALIFICATION(S): Diploma

SEMESTER/YEAR: 1 2 X Year
ASSESSMENT TYPE:
E.G. MID-TERM TEST Mid-year test

SUBJECT NAME: ANNEXURE(S): PAGES: TIME:

Fluid Mechanics Year 2 1 3 2 Hours

SUBJECT CODE: DATE: MARKS 14h00-

FDM260S 8 June 55 -
16h00

EXAMINER:
V. Cain
MODERATOR
(INTERNAL): S. Saal

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
 Write legibly.
 Cell phones are not allowed on your table and may not be used as a calculator.
 No programmable calculators/smart watches (devices) should be in possession of any student and
or used during assessments and where applicable.
 Only pens with permanent ink may be used when answering questions. Pencils may be used in
instances where diagrams and or sketches are required.
 Copying is a serious offence
QUESTION 1

State whether the following comments are True or False

a) The unit for power using dimensional analysis is kg.m/s. (1)

b) Kinematic viscosity is the ratio of the absolute viscosity of a substance to its relative density. (1)

c) Bulk modulus is the ratio of the change in unit pressure to the corresponding volumetric strain. (1)

d) Absolute pressure = Atmospheric pressure – Gauge pressure (1)

e) The Poise is the c.g.s unit for kinematic viscosity. (1)

f) The density of mercury is very low making it a practical choice for barometers. (1)

g) Dynamic viscosity does not change with a change in temperature. (1)

h) 1 litre = 1 dm3 (1)

i) The pressure distribution diagram method is an alternate method to find the resultant force and centre of
pressure for any shape. (1)

j) A pig is a sanitary projectile that forces the remaining product from pipes after production cycles.
(1)
[10]
QUESTION 2

a) A saturation diver is at a depth of 150 m. If the atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1.01325 bar and the
sea water has a relative density of 1.025, calculate the gauge pressure on the diver and his equipment.
Also display this answer in absolute pressure. (4)

B) Find the pressure difference between A and B for the manometer shown below. (5)

Continued on next page…

 c) The diameter of the ram and plunger of a hydraulic jack are 300 mm and 25 mm respectively. The lever
has a mechanical advantage of 15 and the stroke of the plunger is 75 mm. Calculate the effort required
for the jack to lift a mass of 1750 kg and the number of strokes required to lift the load 200 mm. (6)

[15]
QUESTION 3

Determine the resultant force and find the centre of pressure on an 8 m wide and 6 m deep sluice gate, when:

a) Oil with a density of 830 kg/m3 is level with the top of the sluice gate and (4)
b) the top of the sluice gate is 2 m below the oil surface (3)

Include neat, fully labelled sketches in your answers . [7]

QUESTION 4

There is a cylindrical buoy that is floating in the sea (density of 1023 kg/m3). This buoy is manufactured from a
material that has an s.g of 0.85 and has dimensions of 0.75 m in diameter and 1.5 m in height. Determine if the
buoy will float with its length axis vertical in the sea. Include a neat, fully labelled sketch in your answer.
[10]

QUESTION 5

Alcohol at 20 °C is loaded into a tanker and transported to a factory. At the factory, the tanker is unloaded and
the alcohol is discharged to a tank which is located underground (see figure below). A pipeline with a friction
factor of 0.0055 (Darcy) is used and it is connected from the tanker to the tank. At the outlet from the tanker a
ball valve (fully opened) is fitted and just before the tank inlet a gate valve (fully opened) is fitted. To connect
the pipeline two pipe couplings and three regular 90 flanged bends are used. The effective length of the total
pipeline system is 1.6 km and the inside diameters of all pipes and fittings is 90 mm. The pressure inside the
tanker is 2.5 kPa and at the tank is 0.6 kPa. Both tanks are sealed. If the initial velocity of flow is 0.4 m/s find:

Level in tanker

Ball Valve
90º Elbow

Coupling
Ground level

Ignore this bend Level in reservoir

90º Elbow
Ball Valve

a) The minor losses in the pipeline (clearly indicate each one) (6)
b) The major losses in the pipeline. (2)
c) The total losses in the pipeline in metres. (1)
d) The initial level of alcohol between the two reservoirs. (3)
e) Include a neat, fully labelled diagram of the above set-up in your answer. (1)
[13]

TOTAL 55