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Tutorial 8

The document discusses fluid mechanics concepts using concentric cylinders and parallel disks to analyze unidirectional flow. It covers the Navier-Stokes equations, boundary conditions, and torque calculations for a Couette rheometer setup, as well as the appropriate coordinate systems and equations for a parallel disk setup with an orifice. The document emphasizes the application of these principles in measuring viscosity and fluid flow dynamics.

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kartik10984agrawal
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3 views1 page

Tutorial 8

The document discusses fluid mechanics concepts using concentric cylinders and parallel disks to analyze unidirectional flow. It covers the Navier-Stokes equations, boundary conditions, and torque calculations for a Couette rheometer setup, as well as the appropriate coordinate systems and equations for a parallel disk setup with an orifice. The document emphasizes the application of these principles in measuring viscosity and fluid flow dynamics.

Uploaded by

kartik10984agrawal
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Tutorial 8 - CLL110B

1. Consider the concentric cylinder setup shown below. The outer cylinder is rotating at a
constant angular velocity Ω. Assuming a unidirectional flow with 𝑣𝑟 = 𝑣𝑧 = 0:
a) Write down all the components of the fluid momentum balance equations for a
constant density and viscosity fluid – The Navier-Stokes equations.
b) What approximation do you get when the length 𝐿 in 𝑧-direction
is much larger than any other length scale in the problem? That is,
when 𝐿 ≫ 𝑅.
c) Solve for the velocity field 𝑣𝜃 using appropriate boundary
conditions. These are based on the no-slip at both inner and outer
cylinder. However, note that the outer cylinder is moving.
d) Sketch the velocity profile.
e) Obtain the torque 𝑇𝑧 on the inner cylinder. For this you’ll need to
evaluate the negative of the force acting on the inner cylinder and
multiply with the moment arm: 𝜅𝑅. The force is the stress acting on
the inner surface times the area: 2𝜋𝑅𝐿.

Side Note: This device is used commercially to measure viscosity.


It is called as a Couette rheometer. The torque on the inner cylinder
is used to measure the viscosity of the fluid sandwiched between
the two concentric cylinders. In principle, the inner cylinder is
connected to a wire along the center axis (shown by dotted lines in the figure). The
rotation of the inner cylinder then translates to a torsion on the wire, which gives it an
angular deflection. Therefore, by measuring the angular deflection of the wire of a
known torsion constant 𝑘𝑏 gives a torque 𝑇𝑧 = 𝑘𝑏 Δ𝜃 which is related to the viscous
torque you derived above.

2. Consider the parallel disk setup shown below. In the middle of the upper disk, there is an
orifice of radius 𝑟1 that is connected to a tube, from which liquid
is entering the region between the parallel disks. Assuming
only radially outward flow, for a constant density and viscosity
fluid,
a) What coordinate system would be appropriate for
solving this problem?
b) Write down the continuity equation and the Navier-
Stokes equations (all components. What can you deduce from
the 𝜃-component balance?
c) Simplify the 𝑟-component and express in terms of 𝜙 =
𝑟𝑣𝑟 . Which equation have you relied on to make this
simplification? Is 𝜙 a function of 𝑟?
d) Solve for 𝜙 in the limit of Stokes equations. To do so, you
can integrate out the equation you have in 𝑟 first, where the
limits of integration are from 𝑟1 to 𝑟2 .
e) Write down the velocity field you get.
f) Obtain the mass flow rate and draw a sketch of the element across which you are
calculating the mass flow rate along with integral limits.

This is an example of a unidirectional flow where the 𝑣𝑟 is a function of both 𝑟, 𝑧 and yet it
satisfies the incompressible continuity equation. In a Cartesian coordinate system, we would
not have encountered such a scenario.

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