Ahram Canadian University Mechanical Department
Faculty of Engineering MEP102 Fluid Mechanics
Sheet1: Fluid Properties
(1) A thin plate is separated from two fixed plates by very viscous liquids
μ1 and μ2, respectively, as in the figure. The plate spacings h1 and h2 are
unequal, as shown. The contact area is A between the center plate and
each fluid.
(a) Assuming a linear velocity distribution in each fluid, derive the force
F required to pull the plate at velocity V.
(b) Is there a necessary relation between the two viscosities, μ1 and μ2?
(2) A 10 kg block slides down a smooth inclined surface as shown.
Determine the terminal velocity of the block if the 0.1 mm gap between
the block and the surface contains SAE 30 oil at 20 oC (ν=4.5 × 10-4
m2/s, ρ=900 kg/m3). Assume the velocity distribution in the gap is linear
and the area in contact with the oil is 0.1 m2.
(3) A layer of water flows down an inclined fixed surface with the
velocity profile shown in the figure. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the shearing stress that the water exerts on the fixed surface
for U = 2 m/s., h = 0.1 m.
(4) A thin 30-cm × 30-cm flat plate is pulled at 3 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 figure. The dynamic viscosity of the oil is 0.027 Pa.s.
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.
(5) Two flat plates are oriented parallel above a fixed lower plate as
shown in the following figure. The top plate, located a distance b above
the fixed plate, is pulled along with speed V. The other thin plate is
located a distance cb, where 0<𝑐<1, above the fixed plate. This plate
moves with speed V1, which is determined by the viscous shear forces
imposed on it by the fluids on its top and bottom. The fluid on the top is
twice as viscous as that on the bottom. Find the ratio V1/V for c=1/2.
Dr. Ashraf Ibrahim
1
Eng. Muhammad Shaaban
(6) In regions far from the entrance, fluid flow through a circular pipe is
one dimensional, and the velocity profile for laminar flow is given by
𝑟2
𝑢(𝑟) = 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − 𝑅2) where R is the radius of the pipe, r is the radial
distance from the center of the pipe, and umax is the maximum flow
velocity, which occurs at the center. Obtain (a) a relation for the drag
force applied by the fluid on a section of the pipe of length L and (b) the
value of the drag force for water flow at 20°C with R = 0.08 m, L = 30
m, umax = 3 m/s, and μ = 0.0010 kg/m/s.
(7) Two immiscible Newtonian liquids flow steadily between two large
parallel plates under the influence of an applied pressure gradient. The
lower plate is fixed while the upper one is pulled with a constant velocity
of U = 10 m/s. The thickness, h, of each layer of fluid is 0.5 m. The
velocity profile for each layer is given by:
𝑉1 = 6 + 𝑎 𝑦 − 3 𝑦 2 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 0.5
2
𝑉2 = 𝑏 + 𝑐 𝑦 − 9 𝑦 −0.5 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 0
where a, b, and c are constants.
a) Determine the values of constants a, b, and c.
b) Develop an expression for the viscosity ratio, e.g., μ1/μ2.
Determine the forces and their directions exerted by the liquids on both
plates if μ1 = 10-3 Pa.s and each plate has a surface area of 4 m2.
(8) A 25-mm-diameter shaft is pulled through a cylindrical bearing as
shown in the figure. The lubricant that fills the 0.3-mm gap between the
shaft and bearing is an oil having a kinematic viscosity of 8.0×10-4 m2/s.
and a specific gravity of 0.91. Determine the force P required to pull the
shaft at a velocity of 3 m/s. Assume the velocity distribution in the gap
is linear.
(9) Determine the torque required to rotate a 50-mm diameter vertical
cylinder, as shown in the figure, at a constant angular velocity (ω) 30
rad/sec. inside a fixed outer cylinder that has a diameter of 50.2 mm. The
gap between the cylinders is filled with SAE 30 oil at 20℃ (ν =
4.5 × 10−4 m2 /sec. , ρ = 900 kg/m3 ). The length of the inner cylinder
is 200 mm. Neglect bottom effects and assumed the velocity distribution
in the gap is linear.
(10) Oil of viscosity μ fills the gap h, which is very small. Calculate the
torque T required to rotate the cone at constant angular speed ω.
Dr. Ashraf Ibrahim
2
Eng. Muhammad Shaaban
(11) A frustum-shaped body is rotating at a constant angular speed of
200 rad/s in a container filled with SAE 10W oil at 20°C (μ = 0.100
Pa.s), as shown in the figure. If the thickness of the oil film on all sides
is 1.2 mm, determine the power required to maintain this motion. Also
determine the reduction in the required power input when the oil
temperature rises to 80°C (μ = 0.0078 Pa.s)
(12) A disk of radius R rotates at an angular velocity Ω inside a disk-
shaped container filled with oil of viscosity μ, as shown in the figure.
Assuming a linear velocity profile and neglecting shear stress on the
outer disk edges, derive a formula for the viscous torque on the disk.
(13) The device in the figure is called a cone-plate viscometer. The angle
of the cone is very small, so that sin θ ≅ θ, and the gap is filled with the
test liquid. The torque M to rotate the cone at a rate Ω is measured.
Assuming a linear velocity profile in the fluid film, derive an expression
for fluid viscosity μ as a function of (M, R, Ω, θ).
Dr. Ashraf Ibrahim
3
Eng. Muhammad Shaaban