UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA

MELAKA

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
III

FORMAL REPORT:

BIL: NAME: MATRIX NO:

CLASS SESSION:
1. MUHAMMAD RUSYDAN BIN RAMLI B041710181 SECTION 4

LAB GROUP:
J

REPORT
SUBMISSION
DATE:
19 MAC 2020

SEMESTER/SESSION: SEM 2 / SESSION 2019-2020

EXPERIMENT TITLE: Drag Measurement on Cylindrical Bodies

LECTURER : DR SHUKRI BIN ZAKARIA

LECTURER REMARKS EVALUATION

Objectives

Introduction & Theory

Procedure and Apparatus

Data and Result

 Analysis and Discussion

Conclusions

References

TOTAL

Tittle :
Drag Measurement on Cylindrical Bodies
Objective:

i. To determine the drag coefficient of a circular cylinder using direct weighing and pressure distribution
method.
ii. To determine the pressure coefficient and drag coefficient experimentally and analytically.

Theory :

Fluid dynamic drag is the force resisting the motion of a body through a fluid, or, equivalently, the force of
a moving fluid on a stationary body. It is necessary to know the drag force in order to calculate for the
thrust required for an airplane to fly, the power required to propel a ship at the desired speed, or the
support necessary to keep a building upright on a windy day. In this experiment we will determine the drag
on a circular cylinder using three different methods, any of which may be used for drag measurement on
other bodies under similar flow conditions. To measure the drag of the circular cylinder, there’s 2 methods
that can be used that is:

I. Direct Weighing
II. Pressure Distribution Method

Figure 1 A section of oval cylinder

The figure shows the section of an oval cylinder. Motion of the cylinder through stationary fluids produce
action on its surface, which give rise to a resultant force. At any point on the surface, the effect of fluid
may be resolved into two components that is:
 Pressure normal to the surface
  Shear stress along the surface

We can get the equation of dynamic pressure by:

P₀ – p₀ = ½ρU²

Where P is the total pressure and p is static pressure

The combine effect of pressure and shear stress give rise to resultant force acting on the cylinder. This
resultant force can be resolved into the components acting at any origin C as in figure 1. These component
are:
 Component in U direction, called the drag force of intensity D per unit length of cylinder
 Component normal to the U direction, called lift force of intensity L per unit length of cylinder
 Moment about the origin, called pitching moment of intensity M per unit length of cylinder.

All the these component may be expressed by the drag coefficient:

As for the drag coefficient in pressure distribution method, the drag coefficient can be calculated using the
equation

And for the direct weighing load, the drag coefficient can be calculated by:
Apparatus and material

Figure 2 : Diagram of AF10 Airflow Bench and AF12 Drag Measurement Apparatus.

The apparatus that we used in both method (direct weighing and pressure distribution) is by using the
AF10 airflow bench and AF12 Drag measurement apparatus.
Procedure:

A) For direct weighing:

1. Weighing arm was fixed to balance the position by adjust the adjustable counter balance.
2. Adjustable counter balance was then being clamped as the weighing arm in balanced position and switch
on the mechine.
3. Adjusted the wind speed to maximum.
4. Next, load was being added to the scale pan and adjusted the wind speed until the weighing arm was
stable. Drag force reading was then taken.
5. The manometer reading been taken and recorded in the data table.
6. Step 4 to 5 was being repeated by decreasing the load amount by 5g for each experiment for seven
times.

B) For pressure distribution method:

1. The circular cylinder being fixed with the protrector mounted in place.
2. Switch on the machine.
3. Protractor being set to 0 degree. The manometer reading was taken and recorded in data table.
4. Step 3 being repeated by setting the protractor by adding 20 degree interval until 180 degree.

Data and result:

Diameter of cilynder, d = 12.5 mm

Length of cylinder, L = 48 mm

1mmH2O = 0.0981 mbar

1 gmf = 981 dyn = 9.81 × 10−3 N

Table 1 Drag Force Measurement by Direct Weghing

Initial reading:
ΔH = 110 mm
Δh = 110 mm

Drag Force  Ho Po  ho po Po – po = ½U2

(gmf) (mm) (N/m2) (mm) (N/m2) (N/m2)
32 60 602.22 14 147.32 454.9
27 50 530.36 12 121.55 408.81
22 40 415.33 10 105.67 309.66
17 30 331.44 8 71.43 260.01
12 20 211.05 6 50.30 160.75
7 10 140.22 4 30.14 110.08
2 0 21.24 0 0 21.24

Table 2 : Pressure Distribution around a Cylinder

h p p  po
 (mm) (N/m2) p - po cp = 1 cp Cos 
(Deg.) (N/m2) U 2
2
(N/m2)
0 0
54 550.32 568.98 1 1
200 50 520.21 451.26 0.79 0.7426
400 10 30.31 0 0 0
600 -40 -431.81 -451.26 -0.79 -0.3950
800 -52 -540.55 -529.74 -0.93 -0.1615
1000 -54 -550.32 -490.5 -0.86 -0.1493
1200 -54 -550.32 -490.5 -0.86 0.43
1400 -54 -550.32 -490.5 -0.86 0.6588
 1600 -54 -550.32 -490.5 -0.86 0.8081
1800 -54 -550.32 -490.5 -0.86 0.86

Sample calculation

Force:
F = drag force x 9.81 x 10^-3
= 32 x 9.81x10^-3
= 0.31392 N

Cp:
C p = p−p₀½𝜌𝑈²
C p = 568.98½𝜌𝑈298
C p= 1

Pressure:
P=ρgh

= (1000)(9.81)(54x10^-3)

= 529.74 N

Discussion
 Graph of drag force vs. dynamic pressure

The graph above shows the drag force vs. dynamic pressure graph, where drag force is almost directly
proportional to the dynamic pressure. From the graph, the highest force is 32gmf that result the 454.9
N/m² while the lowest force is 2 gmf which resulted the dynamic pressure to be 21.24 N/m².

Cp vs. Angle
1.5

0.5

0
0 50 100 150 200
-0.5

-1

-1.5

Base on the graphs above, the flow of pressure coefficient getting slower when the angular rotation
is bigger. Hence, the bigger the angle of rotation, the lower the flow of pressure.