AME 30331-01 (Fall 13) Fluid Mechanics Midterm 1 October 7, 2013

11:35 AM 12:25 PM




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Format:
- This exam consists of two problems (10 points each + 2 bonus points in problem 2).

Rules:
- The exam is open book, open notes.
- All assumptions must be justified to get the maximum number of points for each question.
- Clearly indicate the final answer/result by underlining it or drawing a box around it.
- Place your name/ndID in the top, right-hand corner of each page.
- Use only black/blue ink.

Honor code:
As a member of the Notre Dame community, I will not participate in or tolerate academic dishonesty.



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Problem 1 Problem 2 Total






Comments:






















AME 30331-01 (Fall 13) Fluid Mechanics Midterm 1 October 7, 2013
11:35 AM 12:25 PM

PROBLEM 1 (10 pts)
A rectangular gate (height: h , width normal to the page: 1) blocks
the end of a freshwater channel. The gate is located at a depth h
below the free surface.
a) (2 pts) The water density varies with depth as:
0
( ) 1
2
z
z
h

| |
= +
|
\ .
.
Derive an expression for the gage pressure distribution ( ) p z in
the channel.

The pressure distribution can be obtained from the equation of
fluid statics along the vertical direction:
dp
g
dz
=
(note the positive sign of the term on the right-hand side due to the downward orientation of the z-axis).
Using the density distribution given in the problem:

0 0
1 1
2 2
dp z z
g dp g dz
dz h h

| | | |
= + = +
| |
\ . \ .

Integration yields:
2
0
( )
4
z
p z g z C
h

| |
= + +
|
\ .
, where C is a constant of integration.
At the free-surface, the gage pressure is equal to zero (since the absolute pressure is atmospheric):
( 0) 0 0 p z C = = = . Therefore, the gage pressure distribution is:

2
0
( )
4
z
p z g z
h

| |
= +
|
\ .



b) (4 pts) What is the resultant hydrostatic force exerted by the water on the gate?

At a depth z , the water exerts a force dF on a surface element dA of the gate. By definition, the
magnitude of that force is:
( ) dF p z dA = .

Here, the surface element is a rectangle of height dz and width (normal
to the page) equal to 1. Therefore:
2
0
4
z
dF g z dz
h

| |
= +
|
\ .


The resultant hydrostatic force is obtained by integrating dF over the
entire gate surface:


AME 30331-01 (Fall 13) Fluid Mechanics Midterm 1 October 7, 2013
11:35 AM 12:25 PM

2
2 2 3 2 3 2 3
2
2
0 0 0 0
4 8 3 7
4 2 12 2 12 2 12 2 12
h
h
z h
h
z z z h h h h
F g z dz g g gh
h h h h

=
| | ( | |
| |
= + = + = + = +
| | | (
\ .
\ . \ .
}


Therefore:

2
0
25
12
gh
F

=


c) (4 pts) Determine the coordinate
c
z of the center of pressure (to simplify the integrations, consider
to calculate all moments with respect to point O).

At depth z , the pressure force dF generates a moment dM about
point O:
2
0
4
z
d zdF gz z dz
h

| |
= = +
|
\ .
M

The resultant moment exerted on the gate about point O is:

2
2 3 3 4 3 4 3 4
2 2
2
0 0 0 0
8 16
4 4 3 16 3 16 3 16
h
h h
z h z h
h
z z z z h h h h
g z z dz g z dz g g
h h h h h

= =
| | | | ( | |
= + = + = + = +
| | | (
\ . \ . \ .
} }
M

Therefore:
3
0
157
48
gh
= M
This moment can also be expressed as:
2
0
25
12
c c
gh
z F z

= = M
Equating those 2 expressions yields:
2 3
0 0
25 157
12 48
c
gh gh
z

=
Therefore:
157
100
c
h
z =



AME 30331-01 (Fall 13) Fluid Mechanics Midterm 1 October 7, 2013
11:35 AM 12:25 PM

PROBLEM 2 (10 pts + 2 bonus pts)
The aerodynamic performance of a semi-trailer truck of width b is tested in a wind tunnel (see Figure
below). The wind tunnel is four times larger than the truck width ( 4 H b = ). Since the problem is two-
dimensional, all dimensions normal to the page will be assumed equal to 1.

The wind tunnel is operated to generate a steady flow of air (constant density ) with a uniform
velocity U at the entrance. The presence of the truck in the air flow generates a wake downstream,
characterized by low flow velocity. As a result, the velocity profile at the exit section of the wind tunnel
can be modeled as a non-uniform profile with magnitude varying between U o behind the wake and
1.2U outside the wake (see Figure below).

a) (3 pts) Using a control volume approach, determine the velocity measured at the exit section of the
wind tunnel, behind the wake (i.e., determine the coefficient o ). State all your assumptions and
describe all the steps of the calculation.
Hint: you might want to split the control surface at the outlet into 2 sections, each characterized by a
uniform velocity profile.

The control volume is the volume of air contained within the test section of the wind tunnel:

AME 30331-01 (Fall 13) Fluid Mechanics Midterm 1 October 7, 2013
11:35 AM 12:25 PM


Since the question is about a velocity parameter, the equation to be considered is the continuity
equation:
0
CV CS
d V dA
t

c
+ =
c
} }
V
Assumptions:
- Steady flow
- Incompressible flow
- 1 inlet, 2 outlets
- Uniform velocity and density over each inlet/outlet

Reduced continuity equation:
1 1 2 2 3 3
1 2 3
0 V dA V dA V dA + + =
} } }
,
which can be rewritten:
1 1 2 2 3 3
0 AV AV AV + + =

Substituting the velocities and dimensions provided in the problem:

4 3 (1.1 ) ( ) 0 bU b U b U o + + =
Therefore:
0.7 o =


b) (5 pts) The drop in air pressure between the entrance and the exit of the wind tunnel is measured
as
entrance exit
P P P = A . Neglecting the shear stress exerted by the air flow on the walls of the wind
tunnel, determine the drag force,
1
D , exerted by the air flow on the truck. Express your result as a
function of , U , b and P A .

The general form of the linear momentum balance is:

on CV
CV CS
Vd V V dA F
t

c
+ =
c
} }
V

Using the assumptions listed in the previous question and considering only the forces exerted along the
x-direction, this equation reduces to:

1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3
1 2 3

x x x x on CV
V V dA V V dA V V dA F + + =
} } }


Substituting the velocities and dimensions provided in the problem:

( 4 ) (1.1 )(1.1 3 ) (0.7 )(0.7 ) (4 )
x
U U b U U b U Ub P b R + + = A + ,

AME 30331-01 (Fall 13) Fluid Mechanics Midterm 1 October 7, 2013
11:35 AM 12:25 PM

where
x
R is the resultant force exerted by the truck on the CV.

Therefore:
2 2 2 2 2
4 3(1.1 ) (0.7 ) (4 )
x
U b U b U b P b R + + = A +
and
( )
2 2 2
4 3 1.1 0.7 4
x
R U b b P = + + A
The drag force is the force exerted by the air in the CV on the truck:

2
1
4 0.12
x
R b P U b = = A D


c) (2 pts) In order to improve the aerodynamics of the truck, a device called TrailerTail is installed at
the rear of the semi-trailer. The device consists of three panels that deploy to modify the
aerodynamic profile of the truck (see Figure A below). Wind tunnel measurements indicate that
when the device is used, the flow in the wake region is normalized and exhibits a velocity
magnitude much closer to that of the incoming flow (see Figure B below).

The flow configuration with the TrailerTail deployed can be approximated as that depicted below.

AME 30331-01 (Fall 13) Fluid Mechanics Midterm 1 October 7, 2013
11:35 AM 12:25 PM

Assuming that the pressure drop is still
entrance exit
P P P = A , determine the drag force
2
D exerted by the
air on the truck equipped with TrailerTail. Express your result as a function of P A , , b and U and
an integral of the form
2
2
...
b
b
dy

}
(you are not required to evaluate this integral).

Using the same equation as that developed for part b):

1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3
1 2 3

x x x x on CV
V V dA V V dA V V dA F + + =
} } }


Given the new velocity profile at the outlet:
2
2
2
2 2 2
2
2
4 3 (1.2) 4.8 4
b
x
y b
y
bU bU U dy b P R
b

=
| |
+ + = A +
|
\ .
}

Since the drag force is the opposite of
x
R :

2
2
2
2
2 2
2
4 0.32 4.8
b
y b
y
b P bU U dy
b

=
| |
= A
|
\ .
}
D


d) (bonus question: 2 pts) Determine the percent reduction in drag achieved by this technology
when
3
1.2 kg/m = , 2.4 m b = , 29 m/s U = and
4
10 Pa P A = .

Performing the integration in part c):

( ) ( )
2
4 5
2
2 2
2 2
2 4 4
0
0
4 0.32 2 4.8 4 0.32 2 4.8
5
b
b
y
y y
b P bU U dy b P bU U
b b

=
(
= A = A
(

}
D
Therefore:
( )
5 2
2
2 2
2 4
4.8
4 0.32 2 4.8 4 0.32
160 80
b
b P bU U b P bU
b

| |
= A = A +
|
\ .
D
Finally:
2
2
4 0.608 b P bU = A D

The percent reduction in drag is given by:

2 2 2
1 2
2 2
1
4 0.12 4 0.608 0.488
4 0.12 4 0.12
b P U b b P bU bU
b P U b b P U b


A A +
= =
A A
D D
D


Numerically:
1 2
1
1.23%

=
D D
D