Mulungushi University

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
MEE 322 – Assignment 2: Boundary Layer Theory and Drag and Lift

Due Date: 10th May 2024 80 Marks

Question 1 [25 Marks]

Consider a light plane that has a total weight of 11,000 N and a wing area of 39m2 and whose
wings resemble the NACA 23012 aerofoil with no flaps. Determine.
A. The take-off speed at an angle of attack of 58 at sea level [10 Marks]
B. The stall speed. [5 Marks]
C. Commercial airliners normally cruise at relatively high altitudes (30,000 to 35,000 ft).
Discuss how flying at this high altitude (rather than 10,000 ft, for example) can save
fuel costs. [10 Marks] Show mathematically?

Question 2[20 Marks]

An airplane has a mass of 50,000 kg, a wing area of 300 m2, a maximum lift coefficient of
3.2, and a cruising drag coefficient of 0.03 at an altitude of 12,000 m. Determine.
A. The take-off speed at sea level, assuming it is 20% over the stall speed, and [10
Marks]
B. The thrust that the engines must deliver for a cruising speed of 700km/h. [10 Marks]

Question 3[10 Marks]

As shown in the figure below, a spoiler is used on race cars to produce a negative lift, thereby
giving a better tractive force. The lift coefficient for the aerofoil shown is 1.1, and the
coefficient of friction between the wheels and the pavement is 0.6. At a speed of 200mph, by
how much would use of the spoiler increase the maximum tractive force that could be
generated between the wheels and ground? Assume the air speed past the spoiler equals the
car speed and that the aerofoil acts directly over the drive wheels. [10 Marks]

Convert to SI Units
Question 4 [25 Marks]
A. Air moves over a 10m long flat plate. The transition from laminar to turbulent flow
takes place between Reynolds Number 2.5 x 106 and 3.6 x 106. What are the
minimum and maximum distance from the front edge of the flat plate along which one
expects laminar flow in the boundary layer? [10 Marks]

Note: the free stream velocity is 30m/s and Kinematic viscosity is 1.5 x 10-5 m2/s.

B. Water at 15⁰C flows over a flat plate at 1.2m/s. The plate is 0.3m long and 2m wide.
The boundary layer on each surface of the plane is laminar. Assume the velocity
profile is approximated by a linear distribution. Determine the frictional drag force on
the plate. [15 Marks]