CV3503 Wind Tunnel Lab Instruction

MEASURING PRESSURE AND FORCE ON A CYLINDER IN WIND TUNNEL

PURPOSE
 To consolidate the understanding of physical modelling theory by carrying out experiments and
estimating the force on a cable of a suspension bridge using the experimental data .

THEORY

The pressure distribution around the circumference of a cylinder in steady flow reveals the location of the
separation point, and can be integrated to provide a measurement of the force on the cylinder in the flow
direction (the drag).

The pressure p at a point on the surface of the cylinder is usually expressed in dimensionless form as
pressure coefficient Cp:

p s − p0
Cp =
2 V
1 2

where ps is the pressure on the cylinder surface, p0 is the reference pressure and ρ is the density of the fluid
(air) . The velocity V at the point of p0 is assumed to be the incident flow velocity (free-stream velocity).

In order to determine the velocity of the incident flow, a Pitot-static tube is installed in front of the cylinder.
One end is pointing towards the direction of the incoming flow, the other end is connected to the manometer.
The reading from tapping 35 on the manometer corresponds to the pressure p35 and that from tapping 36 is
for p36 (see the figure below)

At the upstream stagnation point (the point at the front of the cylinder, at 0o incidence to the incoming
flow) Cp must be 1. Taking p36 as the reference pressure , Cp = 1 at the stagnation point at the front of the
cylinder can be used to determine the wind speed,

𝑝𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑝36
1=
𝜌𝑉 2 /2
It should be aware that there is blockade effect caused by forcing the airflow to pass through a restricted
area between wind tunnel walls in a wind tunnel. Due to this, the real velocity approaching to the cylinder
is larger than that if it is put into an open space. Nevertheless, this effect will be ignored here. Doing so
will not influence the main aim of this exercise.

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If the pressure at a point with angular position θ from the upstream stagnation point is p(θ) then the drag
force (D) per unity length on the cylinder is:

D = 2 p s ( )R cos d

0

where R is the cylinder's radius.

THE EXPERIMENTS

Apparatus

Wind tunnel T2: 1.12m×0.81m working section with a Pitot-Static tube, as indicated above;

Multi-tube manometer: the inclination of the manometer 𝜑 is in degree, measured from horizontal
direction to the panel of the manometer.

Circular cylinder: 150mm diameter with pressure tappings at 150 intervals from 0 to 1800 and two other
tappings at -300 and 2100 and with two sand strips; Pressure tappings, connected to an inclined multi-tube
manometer containing methylated spirit (𝜌 = 830kg/m3), distribute on the surface of the cylinder as shown
below, where the figures refer to the pressure tapping number on the manometer.

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THINGS TO DO DURING PERFORMING EXPERIMENTS

1. Note down the inclination of the manometer.

2. Set a smaller wind speed by turning a button on control equipment, instructed by the demonstrator.

3. With tapping 1 facing the oncoming flow, adjust the angular position of the cylinder until tappings 3 and
15 show the same steady pressure.
4. Record all the pressure tapping readings.
5. Repeat the above step with a larger speed, instructed by the demonstrator.
6. Repeat both sets of measurements with the cylinder rotated through 180o, i.e., tapping 13 facing upstream
and ensuring similar pressures at tappings 11 and 14.

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ANALYSIS AFTER EXPERIMENTS
For each experiment:
1. Determine the flow speed from the fact that the pressure coefficient at the upstream stagnation point is
unity. Take ρ = 1.23 kg/m3 for air.

2. Work out the Reynolds number (Re = 2R V /v). The kinematic viscosity of air is 1.48 x 10-5 m2/s. The
radius of the cylinder, R, is 75 mm.

3. Evaluate the drag by numerical integration,

𝜋 12
𝜋 (𝑛 − 1)𝜋 𝑛𝜋
𝐷 = 2 ∫ 𝑝𝑠 (𝜃)𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑑𝜃 ≈ 𝑅 ∑ {𝑝𝑠 (𝜃𝑛 )cos⁡[ ] + 𝑝𝑠 (𝜃𝑛+1 )cos⁡( )}
0 12 12 12
𝑛=1

where 𝑝𝑛 is the pressure measured at Tapping n.

4. Calculate the drag coefficient Cd.

5. Based on the results of your experiments, estimate the force on the cable (A-B), constructed using thin
wires, of a suspension bridge subjected to a wind of 8.6 m/s in the direction normal to the plane formed
by the cable and the tower, as shown in the following figure. It is assumed that the cable is straight between
A and B and that the force on unity length of the cable is the same along the cable. The diameter of the
cable is 300 mm. The density and kinematics viscosity are taken as the same as in the wind tunnel.

260m

490m

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SUBMIT

You are required to submit:

1. The results of the drag coefficients Cd for all cases given in a table as below

Velocity Re Cd
Tapping 1
Tapping 1
Tapping 13
Tapping 13

Notes: details about how to calculating them are not required. The results from the same group of students are
expected to same.

(5 Marks)

2. The details of showing that the corresponding dimensionless drag force (𝐶𝑑 ) per unit length on the
cylinder can be written as

𝐶𝑑 = 𝑓(𝑅𝑒 )
(10 Marks)

3. The details of estimating the force on the cable of the suspension bridge. You shall justify the selection
of the data from either Tapping 1 or Tapping 13 for estimating the force.

(25 marks)

4. The original data sheet signed by the demonstrator (up to 50% mark reduction if no data sheet or
inconsistent data sheet with the results in the table is submitted).
5. Maximum 4 pages excluding the attached data sheet (up to 25% mark reduction for exceeding the page
limit)

MARKS

Marks will be given for the completeness of all the documents, the accuracy of your results, the clarity and
completeness of the table and explanations required.

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 Original Data Sheet
(This sheet must be signed by the demonstrator and submitted together with your report)

Student Name (written in upper case): Date:

Inclination of the manometer:

Tapping 2 facing wind Tapping 14 facing wind

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Signature: (Demonstrator) Date:

Please scan and submit the data sheet signed by the demonstrator when submitting the lab
report.