Shubham Maurya

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695547, India

I.

Results and Discussion

1. Variation of wall static pressure distribution (Fig.1,2)and wall co-efficient of pressure along the flow
direction and perpendicular to the flow direction for given unit Re were plotted (Fig. 3,4). As air
emerges out of the bend, there is radial gradient of velocity due to centripetal acceleration (flow has
to turn). Thus, pressure and Cp increase with radius.

Figure 1. Static pressure distribution on wall along flow direction (indicated by ports) for varying unit Re

2. The Cp variation with radius was theoretically found by free vortex flow assumption. The experimentally obtained Cp was compared with theoretical results and plotted against radius. (Fig. 5)
The experimental results resemble free vortex flow. However, the Cp at the extremes differ by 0.2.
This is caused by boundary layer effect which leads to vortex tilting. The stream-wise component of
vorticity downstream of flow causes secondary flow and the velocity profile and hence pressure distribution changes. As we had assumed inviscid irrotational flow for theoretical calculations of velocity
distribution along radius, the experimental and theoretical results will certainly differ.
3. A schematic representation of Cp variation on wall is illustrated in (Fig. 6). The Cp is negative on
the inner circular surface, and positive on the outer circle. This is because velocity is decreasing with
radius, and hence pressure increases with radius.
4. Negative Cp on inner circular surface (Fig. 6) is the leading cause of cavitation in various pipes and
ducts. Thus, knowledge of Cp is important in designing of water pipes so that pressure decrease is
kept above vaporisation pressure of water.
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Figure 2. Static pressure distribution on wall along radial direction (indicated by ports 21(outermost) and
25(innermost)) for different unit Re

Figure 3. Cp distribution on wall along flow direction (indicated by ports) for varying unit Re

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Figure 4. Cp distribution on wall with radius (indicated by ports) for varying unit Re

Figure 5. Cp distribution on wall at different radii (from r=150 mm to r=200 mm)

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Figure 6. Schematic Cp distribution on wall

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II.

Conclusion

The distribution of pressure over the curved walls of a 90 bend of rectangular duct section has been
established by pressure plotting. The pressure coefficient is negative and almost constant round the inner
wall, and positive and almost constant round the outer wall. Across the 45 cross-section the pressure
distribution may be predicted with reasonable accuracy by assuming free-vortex velocity distribution over
the section.
The part of duct where it transitions from straight line to circular bend, the pressure increases with radius.
But, at curved boundary of the surfaces, no slip condition exists and boundary layer effects dominate in the
region close to boundary. On the bottom surface, within the boundary layer, vorticity vector points in the
plane of surface perpendicular to flow and as flow progresses to the outlet, it tilts and includes a stream-wise
component also. This stream-wise component is manifested as circulation often referred as secondary flow
in ducts and pipes. Similar is the case with vorticity vector near upper wall surface, albeit the direction of
circulation is opposite (Fig.7).

Figure 7. Secondary flow in rectangular duct

We can use the apparatus as flow meter by taking the cross-sectional area at straight section at inlet
and multiplying it with velocity across the cross-section. Note that, velocity across inlet cross section can
be approximated as uniform as there are no secondary flow.
Discharge rate (Q) at 900 rpm =A.v = 0.05 0.1 22.60 = 0.113m3 /s

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