Section I: Internal flow

L A M IN AR FLO W B E T W EE N P A R AL L EL P LA T E S
1. An oil (𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.05 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) flows through a clearance of 10 𝑚𝑚 between two fixed parallel

plates. (i) Determine the maximum flow rate per unit width (perpendicular to plane of flow) for the flow

to remain laminar considering critical 𝑅𝑒 = 2300. (ii) If the flow rate per unit width is 60% of the flow

obtained in part (i), determine the pressure drop in a length of 1 𝑚.

2. An oil (𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.12 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) flows through a clearance ℎ between two fixed parallel plates.

The flow rate per unit width (perpendicular to plane of flow) is 0.1 𝑚3 /𝑠. (i) Verify whether the flow is

laminar or not considering critical 𝑅𝑒 = 2300. (ii) If the viscous force experienced by either plate per unit

width (perpendicular to plane of flow) in 2 𝑚 length is 360 𝑁, what is the clearance ℎ?

3. An oil (𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.08 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) flows through a clearance of 10 𝑚𝑚 between two fixed parallel

plates. The Reynolds number of flow is 600. What would be the deflection of a differential mercury

manometer connected between two sections 0.6 𝑚 apart?

4. An oil (𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.1 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) flows (laminar) through a clearance of 12 𝑚𝑚 between two parallel

plates, one fixed and other moving at a constant velocity of 0.75 𝑚/𝑠. Determine the shear stress at

centreline for (i) zero pressure gradient (ii) negative pressure gradient of 500 𝑃𝑎/𝑚 (iii) positive pressure

gradient of 500 𝑃𝑎/𝑚.

5. For laminar couette flow between two parallel plates (clearance ℎ), one fixed and other moving at a

constant velocity of 𝑈, (i) determine the pressure gradient that would cause the centreline velocity same

as the velocity of moving plate. (ii) Determine the maximum velocity and its location from stationary

plate.

L A M IN AR FLO W T HR O U GH C Y LI N DR IC AL P I P E
6. A fully developed laminar flow in a 0.1 𝑚 diameter pipe is such that the velocity measured at 0.012 𝑚

away from the pipe wall is 0.8 𝑚/𝑠. Determine the flowrate.

7. An oil (𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜈 = 0.0002 𝑚2 ⁄𝑠) flows through a pipe as shown in adjacent figure. Assuming

fully developed laminar flow, determine flow rate. Verify that the flow is indeed laminar.
8. The pitot tube, having mercury (𝜌 = 13600 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 ) as manometric fluid, is connected to location 𝑟 =

𝑅/2 in a pipe where 𝑅 = 3 𝑐𝑚 is the pipe radius. The pipe carries a laminar fully developed flow of an oil

(𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.12 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠). The deflection of mercury in pitot tube is found as 12.5 𝑚𝑚. Take 𝑔 =

10 𝑚/𝑠 2 . Determine the centreline velocity of the flow.

9. Oil (kinematic viscosity 𝜈) is being discharged by a pipe from a storage tank open to the atmosphere

as shown in figure. Constant oil height 4𝐻 is maintained in oil tank. Neglecting minor losses and

assuming laminar flow, determine 𝐻 in terms of 𝜈 and pipe diameter 𝑑 if the flow velocity in pipe is

only 10% of the ideal flow velocity.

10. An oil (𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.20 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) flows steadily down a vertical 0.05 𝑚 diameter pipe and exits

as a free jet from the lower end. Determine the maximum pressure allowed in the pipe at a location

10 𝑚 above the pipe exit if the flow is to be laminar.

11. A 60 𝑚𝑚 diameter pipe contains glycerien (𝜌 = 1264 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 1.49 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) flowing at 3.38 𝑚3 /ℎ𝑟 as

shown in figure. (i) Whether the flow is laminar, turbulent or transition? (ii) Whether the flow is from

A to B or from B to A? (iii) Neglecting minor losses, determine the pipe length between A and B. Take

1 𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 101325 𝑃𝑎. The pressure readings shown are absolute pressure values.
12. An oil (𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.03 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) flows steadily down a vertical 10 𝑚𝑚 diameter pipe and exits

as a free jet from the lower end. The flow velocity is 1 𝑚/𝑠. There is a tiny hole in the pipe 3 𝑚 above the

exit. Will oil leak out of the pipe through the hole, or will air get sucked into the pipe through the hole?

13. Figure shows an oil tank discharging oil (𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 0.1 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) through a pipe of

20 𝑚𝑚 diameter. Constant oil height is maintained in oil tank. (i) Determine the ideal exit velocity at

section 2 (ii) Considering laminar flow through pipe and neglecting minor losses, determine the exit

velocity at section 2. Verify that the flow is indeed laminar.

P I P E F L O W ( H E AD L O S S ES )
14. Consider flow of an oil ( 𝜌 = 800 𝑘𝑔/𝑚 ) through a pipe of 250 𝑚𝑚 diameter at 5.1147 𝑚/𝑠. A differential
3

mercury manometer connected between two sections 2 𝑚 apart shows a deflection of 2 𝑐𝑚. If the pipe is

hydrodynamically smooth, estimate the viscosity of the oil assuming turbulent flow. Verify that the

flow is indeed turbulent. Take 𝑔 = 10 𝑚/𝑠 2 .

15. A 100 𝑚 length of smooth horizontal pipe is attached to a large open reservoir. A pump is attached

to the end of the pipe to pump water ( 𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 1 × 10−3 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) into the reservoir at a volume

flow rate of 0.01 𝑚3 /𝑠. What pressure (gauge) must the pump produce at the pipe to generate this flow

rate? The inside diameter of the smooth pipe is 75 𝑚𝑚.

16. A large reservoir has water ( 𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 1 × 10−3 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) maintained at 10 𝑚 as shown in

figure. Galvanized Iron pipe takes water continuously out of reservoir at 10 𝑚/𝑠. What is the gauge

pressure of air to maintain the required flow in pipe?

17. As shown in figure, water flows from one tank to another tank through a small pipe whose length

to diameter ratio is 𝑛. Take head loss coefficient at the entrance (the type of entrance of the pipe shown

in the figure is known as re-entrance) as 0.8 and the head loss coefficient at the exit to be 1. Pipe has

friction factor as 0.02. If major loss through the pipe is to be 10% of the minor losses, determine the value

of 𝑛

18. Water flowing in a pipe of 500 𝑚𝑚 dia suddenly passes into a pipe of 750 𝑚𝑚 dia. Determine the loss

of head if the initial velocity was 2 𝑚/𝑠.

19. Consider two pipes connected in series as shown in figure. Total head at 𝐴 and 𝐵 is ℎ𝐴 and ℎ𝐵

respectively. Neglecting minor losses, express frictional head loss in pipe segment 1 and 2 in terms of

ℎ𝐴 , ℎ𝐵 , 𝑓1 and 𝑓2 .
20. Consider two equally long pipes connected in parallel as shown in figure. Neglecting minor losses,

express discharge through pipe 1 and 2 in terms of total discharge 𝑄, 𝑓1 and 𝑓2 .

T UR BU L E N T FL O W T H R OU G H C Y LIN DR IC A L P IP E
21. In a fully developed turbulent flow through a pipe, the ratio of average velocity to friction velocity is

10√2. Determine the ratio of maximum velocity to average velocity.

22. Express laminar sublayer thickness in terms of 𝑅𝑒 and friction factor 𝑓.

23. The flow in a pipe of 100 𝑚𝑚 dia with Reynolds number value of 105 is found to have a friction

factor 𝑓 = 0.032. If average roughness height is 0.4 𝑚𝑚, determine whether the pipe can be classified as

hydrodynamically smooth or hydrodynamically rough.

24. A rough horizontal pipe 1 𝑘𝑚 long experiences a pressure drop of 50 𝑘𝑃𝑎 of water flowing through it.

The pipe diameter is 200 𝑚𝑚. If the flow velocity is 1 𝑚/𝑠, determine the average roughness height of pipe’s

surface.

Section II: External flow

L A M IN AR FLO W O V ER F L A T P L AT E
𝑦 3
25. Using appropriate boundary conditions, find constants 𝑎 & 𝑏 for velocity profile = 𝑎( )+𝑏( ) .
𝑢 𝑦
𝑈∞ 𝛿 𝛿

𝑦 3 𝑦 4
26. Determine the momentum thickness 𝜃, in terms of 𝛿, for velocity profile = 2( ) − 2( ) + ( ) .
𝑢 𝑦
𝑈∞ 𝛿 𝛿 𝛿

𝑦 3 𝑦 4
27. Determine boundary layer thickness 𝛿, in terms of 𝑥 & 𝑅𝑒𝑥 , for velocity profile = 2( ) − 2( ) +( ) .
𝑢 𝑦
𝑈∞ 𝛿 𝛿 𝛿

𝑦 3 𝑦 4
28. Determine the skin friction coefficient 𝐶𝑓 , in terms of 𝑅𝑒𝑥 , for velocity profile = 2( ) − 2( ) +( ) .
𝑢 𝑦
𝑈∞ 𝛿 𝛿 𝛿

Also determine integrated drag coefficient 𝐶𝐷 over a length 𝐿 from leading edge of the plate.

29. Determine the momentum thickness 𝜃, in terms of 𝛿, for velocity profile

𝑢 𝜋 𝑦
= sin ( ( )).
𝑈∞ 2 𝛿

30. Determine the boundary layer thickness 𝛿, in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑅𝑒𝑥 , for velocity profile
𝑢 𝜋 𝑦
= sin ( ( )).
𝑈∞ 2 𝛿

31. Determine the skin friction coefficient 𝐶𝑓 , in terms of 𝑅𝑒𝑥 , for velocity profile = sin ( ( )). Also
𝑢 𝜋 𝑦
𝑈∞ 2 𝛿

determine integrated drag coefficient 𝐶𝐷 over a length 𝐿 from leading edge of the plate.
 D R AG AN D L I FT
32. A drag chute is used to slowdown a car with a mass 1800 𝑘𝑔 travelling at 60 𝑚/𝑠. The value of

coefficient of drag for the car is 0.32 and frontal area is 1.1 𝑚2 . The chute is of 1.8 𝑚 diameter and drag

coefficient is 1.2. Density of air = 1.2 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 . Determine the speed after 50 𝑠. Also determine the time for

the speed to reach 20 𝑚/𝑠?

33. A parachute is moving down; the mass of the chute and the jumper is 120 𝑘𝑔. Determine the

minimum diameter of the chute for the parachute to move down with a terminal velocity of 6 𝑚/𝑠.

Density of air = 1.23 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 . Drag coefficient for parachute = 1.2. Neglect the effect of buoyancy.

[Terminal velocity means constant velocity i.e. zero acceleration]

34. A fishnet consists of 1 𝑚𝑚 diameter strings overlapped and knotted to form 1 𝑐𝑚 by 1 𝑐𝑚 squares. Take

𝜌 = 1025 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 and 𝜇 = 0.00107 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠 and drag coefficient as 1.0. Estimate the drag of 1 𝑚2 of such a

net when towed normal to its plane at 3 𝑚/𝑠 in seawater. Neglect buoyancy.

35. A 40 𝑚𝑚 diameter, table tennis ball is released from the bottom of a swimming pool. If it reaches the

surface with velocity 1 𝑚/𝑠, estimate the mass of the ball. Assume it has reached its terminal velocity

and drag coefficient 𝐶𝐷 = 0.2.

36. A small grain of sand, diameter 𝐷 = 0.10 𝑚𝑚 and specific gravity 2.3 settles to the bottom of a lake

after having been stirred up by a passing boat. Determine the velocity with which it settles down

assuming terminal velocity of fall. For water, take 𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 and 𝜇 = 1.12 × 10−3 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠. Verify that

𝑅𝑒 < 1.

37. A ball of diameter 0.5 𝑐𝑚 is dropped in a deep glycerine (𝜌 = 1260 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , 𝜇 = 1.4 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠) tank such that

the ball attains a terminal velocity of 11.11 𝑐𝑚/𝑠. Verify that the flow is creeping. Estimate the density

of ball material in 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 .

38. Consider flow of a uniform stream past a cylinder such that pressure distribution is symmetric about

middle horizontal line. Assuming a hypothetical pressure distribution 𝑝 = 𝐵(1 + cos 𝜙) for 0 ≤ 𝜙 ≤ and
𝜋
2

𝑝 = 𝐵 for ≤ 𝜙 ≤ 𝜋, determine the total pressure drag on the cylinder.

𝜋
2
 A N S W E R S
1. (𝑖) 0.14375 𝑚 /𝑠/𝑚 (𝑖𝑖) 51.75 𝑘𝑃𝑎/𝑚
3
20. 𝑄1 = (
√𝑓2
) 𝑄, 𝑄2 = (
√32𝑓1
)𝑄
√32𝑓1 +√𝑓2 √32𝑓1 +√𝑓2

2. (𝑖) 𝑅𝑒 = 666.67 𝐿𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 (𝑖𝑖) ℎ = 20 𝑚𝑚 21. 1.266

3. 𝛿 = 27.52 𝑐𝑚 22.
32.81 𝑑
𝑅𝑒√𝑓

4. (𝑖), (𝑖𝑖) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝑖𝑖𝑖) 6.25 𝑃𝑎

23. 𝑁𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ
′
[𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑛 𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡]
24. 2.34 𝑚𝑚
5. (𝑖) −
4𝜇𝑈 3ℎ
(𝑖𝑖) 1.125𝑈 𝑎𝑡
ℎ2 4
25. 𝑎 = , 𝑏 = −
3 1

6. 0.00742 𝑚3 ⁄𝑠
2 2

26.
𝜃
= 0.11746
7. 0.00985153 𝑚 𝑠 , 𝑅𝑒 = 1045.28 ⇒ 𝐿𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟
3⁄ 𝛿

27.
𝛿 5.83
=
8. 2.67 𝑚/𝑠 𝑥 √𝑅𝑒𝑥

28. 𝐶𝑓 =
0.686 1.372
𝑑2
2 , 𝐶𝐷 =
9. 0.05868 ( ) √𝑅𝑒𝑥 √𝑅𝑒𝐿
𝜈
29.
𝜃 2 1
=( − )
10. 137.42 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝛿 𝜋 2

30.
𝛿 4.7953
=
11. (𝑖) 𝑅𝑒 = 16.91 ⇒ 𝐿𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟 𝑥 √𝑅𝑒𝑥

31. 𝐶𝑓 =
0.655 1.31
(𝑖𝑖) 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝐵 ⇢ 𝐴 (𝑖𝑖𝑖) 20 𝑚 , 𝐶𝐷 =
√𝑅𝑒𝑥 √𝑅𝑒𝐿

12. 𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑔𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒
32. (𝑖) 13.62
𝑚
(𝑖𝑖) 29.36 𝑠
𝑠
13. (𝑖) 6.88 𝑚/𝑠
33. 7.51 𝑚
(𝑖𝑖) 0.236 𝑚/𝑠 , 𝑅𝑒 = 37.81 ⇒ 𝐿𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟
34. 920 𝑁
14. 𝑅𝑒 = 11000, 𝜇 = 0.093 𝑘𝑔/𝑚𝑠
35. 20.7 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠
15. 𝑓 = 0.0165, 𝑝𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 = 154.46 𝑘𝑃𝑎
36. 6.32 𝑚𝑚/𝑠
16. 𝑓 = 0.0195, 𝑝𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 = 106.9 𝑘𝑃𝑎
37. 12675
𝑘𝑔

17. 9
𝑚3

38.
𝜋𝐵𝐿𝑅

18. 0.0629 𝑚 2

19. ℎ1 = (
64𝑓1 3𝑓2
) (ℎ𝐴 − ℎ𝐵 ), ℎ2 = ( ) (ℎ𝐴 − ℎ𝐵 )
64𝑓1 +3𝑓2 64𝑓1 +3𝑓2