ASSIGNMENT 1

(Properties and Classification of Fluid)

1. One litre of Crude oil weighs 9.6 N. Calculate its specific weight, density and specific gravity.
[Ans : 9600 n/m3, 978.6 kg/m3, 0.978]
2. The velocity distribution for flow over a flat plate is given by u = 3y/2 –y3/2, where u is the point
velocity in m/s at a distance y m. above the plate. Determine the shear stress at y = 9 cm. Assume
dynamic viscosity as 8 poise. [Ans : 0.839 N/m2]
3. An oil of specific gravity 0.9 has viscosity of 0.28 stokes at 38oC. What will be the viscosity in
centipoises. [Ans : 25.2 cp]
4. Consider the flow of a fluid with viscosity  though a circular pipe. The velocity profile (See Fig 1.1)
in the pipe is given as, u(r) = umax(1 - rn/Rn), where umax is maximum flow velocity, which occurs at
the centerline; r is the radial distance from the centerline; and u(r) is the flow velocity at any
position r. Develop a relation for the drag force exerted on the pipe wall by the fluid in the flow
direction per unit length of the pipe. [Ans : F/L = 2πnumax]

Figure 1.1
5. The belt in Fig. 1.2 moves at a steady velocity V and skims the top of a tank of oil of viscosity , as
shown. Assuming a linear velocity profile in the oil, develop a simple formula for the required belt-
drive power P as a function of (h, L, V, b, ). What belt-drive power P, in watts, is required if the belt
moves at 2.5 m/s over SAE 30W oil at 20oC with L = 2m, b = 60 cm, and h = 3 cm.
[Ans : P = µV2bL/h = 73W]

Figure 1.2
6. A thin plate is separated from two fixed plate by very viscous liquids 1 and 2 respectively as in
figure 1.3 the plates spacing h1 and h2 are unequal as shown. The contact area between the centre
plate and each fluid is A. (a) Assuming a linear velocity distribution in each fluid, derive the force F
required to pull the plate at velocity V, (b) What shall be the relation between the two viscosities 1
and 2 if there exists an equal drag on the two sides of the plate.

𝛍𝟏 𝛍𝟐 𝒉𝟏
[Ans : (a) 𝐅 = + 𝐕𝐀 (b) 𝝁𝟏 = 𝝁 ]
𝐡𝟏 𝐡𝟐 𝒉𝟐 𝟐
 Figure 1.3

7. The device in Fig 1.4 is called a cone-plate viscometer. The angle of the cone is very small so that
sin  , and the gap is filled with the test liquid. The torque M to rotate the cone at the rate  is
measured. Assuming a linear velocity profile in the liquid fluid film derive an expression for fluid
viscocity  as a function of (M, R, , ). [Ans :  = 3M/2πR3]

Figure 1.4
8. A thin 20-cm X 20-cm flat plate is pulled at 1 m/s horizontally through a 3.6-mm-thick oil layer
sandwiched between two plates, one stationary and the other moving at a constant velocity of 0.3
m/s, as shown in the Fig 1.5a. The dynamic viscosity of oil is 27 centipoise. Assuming the velocity in
each oil layer to vary linearly, (a) plot the velocity profile and find the location where the oil velocity
is zero and (b) determine the force that needs to be applied on the plate to maintain this motion.
[Hint & Ans : (a) Figure 1.5b ya = 0.60 mm (b) F = Fshear,upper + Fshear,lower = 1.62 N]

Figure 1.5a Figure 1.5b

9. The clutch system shown in the Fig 1.6 is used to transmit torque through a 3-mm-thick oil film with
 = 3.8 poise between two identical 30-cm-diameter disks. When the driving shaft rotates at a speed
of 1450 rpm, the driven shaft is observed to rotate at 1398 rpm. Assuming a linear velocity profile
for the oil film, determine the transmitted torque. [Ans : 0.55 Nm]
 Figure 1.6
10. The viscosity of a fluid is to be measured by a viscometer constructed of two 75-cm-long concentric
cylinders (Figure 1.7). The inner diameter of the outer cylinder is 15 cm, and the gap between the
two cylinders is 0.12 cm. The outer cylinder is rotated at 250 rpm, and the torque is measured to be
0.8 N-m. Determine the viscosity of the fluid. [Ans : 23.1 centipoise]

Figure 1.7
11. A 50-cm X 30-cm X 20-cm block weighing 150 N (Figure 1.8) is to be moved at a constant velocity of
0.8 m/s on an inclined surface with a friction coefficient of 0.27. (a) Determine the force F that
needs to be applied in the horizontal direction. (b) If a 0.4-mm-thick oil film with a dynamic viscosity
of 0.012 Pas is applied between the block and inclined surface, determine the percent reduction in
the required force.
[Ans & Hint : (a) 𝐅𝟏 = 𝐅𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝐨 + 𝐅𝐍𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝐨 = 105.5 N
(b) 𝐅𝟐 = 𝐅𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝐨 + 𝐅𝐍𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝐨 = 𝟓𝟕. 𝟐 𝐍; %-ge reduction = 45.8%]

Figure 1.8