FLUID KINEMATICS

SOLVED PROBLEMS
 Solved Problems
1
The velocity in a flow field is given by,
𝑢=3 𝑚 𝑠 𝑣=6 𝑚 𝑠
Determine the equation of the streamline passing through the origin and the one
passing through a point (2 m, 3 m).

Solution
The equation of a streamline is given by,

𝑑𝑦 𝑣
= = tan 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 𝑢
 𝑑𝑦 6
Hence, = =2
𝑑𝑥 3

𝑑𝑦 = 2𝑑𝑥

Integrating both sides,

𝑑𝑦 = 2𝑑𝑥

y = 2x + C

For a streamline passing through (2, 3),

3=2(2)+C

C = -1

y = 2x - 1
2 Two components of velocity in an incompressible fluid flow are given by
𝑢 = 𝑥3 − 𝑦3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣 = 𝑧3 − 𝑦3
Determine the third component, assuming that the origin is a stagnation
point.

Solution:

From the given velocity components,

𝜕𝑢 2 𝜕𝑣
= 3𝑥 and = −3𝑦 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

From the continuity equation,

𝜕𝑤
= −3𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 3 = 3(𝑦 2 − 𝑥 2 )
𝜕𝑧
Integrating w.r.t.z,
𝑤= 3(𝑦 2 − 𝑥 2 )𝑧 + 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
Employing the condition w = 0 at (0, 0, 0); f(x, y) = 0
Hence,
𝑤= 3(𝑦 2 − 𝑥 2 )𝑧
3 Given the velocity field,
𝑈 = 5𝑥 3 𝑖 − 15𝑥 2 𝑦𝑗
Obtain the equation of the streamlines.
Solution: The equation of a streamline is given by
𝑑𝑦 𝑣
= = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃
𝑑𝑥 𝑢

The slope of a streamline at a point in xy plane equals the ratio of

velocity v and u at that point.
For the case in question,

𝑑𝑦 −15𝑥 2 𝑦 −3𝑦
= =
𝑑𝑥 5𝑥 3 𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
= −3
𝑦 𝑥
Integrating both sides
ln 𝑦 = −3ln 𝑥 + C
lny + 3Inx = C
yx 3 = C

Hence the curves defined by yx 3 = 𝐶1 , 𝐶2 , 𝐶3 …………e.t.c constitute the

streamlines in the flow for the first quadrant as shown in Figure below.
4
A fire engine pump develops a head of 50m. The pump draws water from a sump A
(see Figure below) through a 120mm diameter pipe in which there is a loss of energy
4𝑢12
per unit weight due to friction ℎ1 = 2𝑔 varying with the mean velocity 𝑢1 in the
pipe, and discharges it through a 50 mm nozzle at C, 25m above the pump, at the
end of a 80 mm diameter delivery pipe in which there is a loss of energy per unit
10𝑢22
weight ℎ2 = 2𝑔. Calculate:

(a) The velocity of the jet issuing from the nozzle at C.

(b) The Pressure in the suction pipe at the inlet to the pump at B.
Pipe velocity, 𝑢1
Pipe diameter, 𝑑1 = 120mm
𝑢12
Delivery pipe loss = 4 2𝑔
Solution:
(a) The velocity of the jet issuing from the nozzle at C is obtained by applying Bernoulli’s equation
between two points, A and C.
Hence,
Total energy Total energy Loss in Energy per unit Loss in
per unit = per unit + inlet - weight supplied + discharge (1)
weight at A weight at C pipe by pump pipe

𝑃𝐴 𝑢12
Total energy Per unit weight at A = + + 𝑧1 = 0,
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

𝑃𝐶 𝑢32
Total energy Per unit weight at C = + + 𝑧3 ,
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

𝑃𝐶 = 𝐴𝑡𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 0

𝑧3 = 25 + 2 = 27m
 𝑢32 𝑢32
Total energy Per unit weight at C = 0 + + 27 = + 27 m
2𝑔 2𝑔
𝑢12
Loss in inlet pipe = ℎ1 = 4 2𝑔

Energy per unit weight supplied by the pump = 50 m

𝑢22
Loss in delivery pipe, ℎ2 = 10 2𝑔

Substituting in Eq(1),

𝑢32 𝑢12 𝑢22

0= + 27 + 4 2𝑔 − 50 + 10 2𝑔 ,
2𝑔

𝑢32 +10𝑢22 + 4𝑢12 = 2𝑔 × 23 (2)

From continuity of flow equation,

𝜋 𝑑 2
𝑢 = 𝜋 𝑑2𝑢 = 𝜋 𝑑2𝑢
4 1 1 4 2 2 4 3 3
 2 2
𝑑3 50 25
𝑢1 = 𝑢3 = 𝑢3 = 𝑢3 ,
𝑑1 120 144

𝑑3 2 50 2 25
𝑢2 = 𝑢3 = 𝑢3 = 𝑢 ,
𝑑2 80 64 3

Substituting the terms in eq (2),

𝑢32 1 + 10 25
64
2 +4 25
144
2 = 2𝑔 × 23
2.646 𝑢32 = 2𝑔 × 23
𝑢3 = 13.058 m𝑠 −1
b) The pressure in the suction pipe at the pump inlet, 𝑝𝐵 , is obtained by applying the
Bernoulli’s equation to point A and B.

Total energy Total energy Loss in

per unit = per unit + inlet
weight at A weight at B pipe

𝑃𝐵 𝑢12 𝑢12
0 = 𝜌𝑔 + 2𝑔 + 𝑧2 + 4 2𝑔

𝑃𝐵 𝑢12
𝜌𝑔 = − 𝑧2 − 5 2𝑔 ,
𝑧2 = 2m,
25
𝑢1 = 𝑢3 = 326.45 144 = 2.267 m𝑠 −1
144
𝑃𝐵 2.2672
𝜌𝑔 = −(2 + 5 = − 2 + 1.3097 = −3.31 m,
2𝑔
𝑃𝐵 = −1000 × 9.81 × 3.32 = −32468 Nm−2
= 32.468 KNm−2 below atmospheric pressure
5 The velocity of an incompressible fluid in a pipeline must be halved by
providing a diverging piece only one diameter long. Determine the cone
angle of the piece.

Solution:
Applying the continuity equation
Between section 1 and 2, assuming that
the flow is uniform at the respective section;
𝜌1 𝐴1 𝑈1 = 𝜌2 𝐴2 𝑈2 = 𝑚
For incompressible flow, 𝜌1 = 𝜌2
Given that,

𝑈1
𝑈2 =
2

𝐴2 = 2𝐴1
𝑑2 = 2𝑑1
2𝑑1 − 𝑑1 /2
Cone angle = 𝛼= 2𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 23.5𝑜
𝑑1
6 A garden hose attached with a nozzle is used to fill a 10-gal bucket. The
inner diameter of the hose is 2 cm, and it reduces to 0.8 cm at the nozzle
exit (see Fig). If it takes 50secs to fill the bucket with water, determine; (a)
the volume and mass flow rates of water through the hose and (b) the
average velocity of water at the nozzle exit.
Hint: 1 𝑔𝑎𝑙 = 0.003785411𝑚3

Solution:
Assumptions – i. Water is nearly incompressible
ii. The flow through the hose is steady. iii. There’s
no waste of water by splashing.
Volume and Mass flow rate (𝑣 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚)for water are:

V 10 ×0.00378541 𝑚3
𝑣= = = 0.000757082
∆𝑡 50 𝑠
Mass flow rate (𝑣 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚)for water:
𝑚 = 𝜌v = 1000 × 0.000757082 = 0.757 𝑘𝑔/𝑠

b) Cross-sectional area of the nozzle exit is 𝐴𝑒

Knowing that the volume flow rate through the
nozzle is constant, the average velocity of water
at the nozzle exit becomes:

𝑣 0.000757082
U𝑒 = = = 15.06 𝑚/𝑠
A𝑒 𝜋 × 0.004 2

Discussion: Average velocity in the hose when calculated gives 2.4m/s. This
implies that nozzle increases the water velocity by over six times

Note: Nozzles and diffuser are means of increasing/decreasing fluid velocity and
pressure.
7 In a hydroelectric power plant, 100 m3/s of water flows from an elevation of 120 m
to a turbine, where electric power is generated (see the fig). The total irreversible
head loss in the piping system from point 1 to point 2 (excluding the turbine unit) is
determined to be 35 m. If the overall efficiency of turbine generator is 80%, estimate
the electric power output.

Solution:
The available head, flow rate, head loss and
efficiency of a hydroelectric turbine are given.
The electric power output is to be determined.
The flow is here assumed steady, incompressible,
water levels at the reservoir and the discharge
site remain constant.
The mass flow rate of water through the turbine is,

𝑘𝑔 𝑚3
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑣 = 1000 3 100 = 105 𝑘𝑔/𝑠
𝑚 𝑠

Taking point 2 as reference level, and thus Z2 = 0. Both points 1 and 2 are open to
the atmosphere hence (P1 = P2 = Patm) and the flow velocities are negligible at both
points (V1 = V2 = 0). Then the energy equation for steady, incompressible flow
reduces to:

𝑃1 𝑉12 0 𝑃2 𝑉022 0

+ 𝛼1 + 𝑧1 + ℎ𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝,𝑢 = + 𝛼2 + 𝑧2 + ℎturbine, 𝑒 + ℎ𝐿
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

ℎ𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒,𝑒 = 𝑧1 − ℎ𝐿
Substituting, the extracted turbine head and the corresponding turbine power are:

ℎ𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒,𝑒 = 𝑧1 − ℎ𝐿 = 120 − 35 = 85 m.

Turbine power = W𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒,𝑒 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒,𝑒

= (105 𝑘𝑔 𝑠)(9.81 𝑚 𝑠 2 )(85 m) = 83385000W

= 83,385kW

A perfect turbine-generator would generate 83,385kW of electricity from this source.

The electric power generated by the actual unit is,
W𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 = 𝜂𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒−𝑔𝑒𝑛 × W𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒,𝑒 = 0.80 83,385
= 66708000 W
Electric Power generated W𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 = 66.708 MW
8A conical nozzle 2.0 m long converging from 0.2 m to 0.1m diameter linearly is
subjected to an inlet flow varying from 0 to 1m/s in 5 seconds. Determine the total
acceleration at the mid length of the mid length of the nozzle at the mid-time of variation.
Assume uniform flow over each cross section.

Inlet velocity = U1 0 + 1 5 t = 0.2t m/s

2
Velocity at mid-length U = 0.2𝑡 × 0.2 0.15 = 0.36𝑡 𝑚/𝑠
𝜕𝑈
Differentiating velocity with time = 0.36𝑚/𝑠 2
𝜕𝑡
5
At the mid-time of variation, U = 0.36 × = 0.9 𝑚/𝑠
2
Diameter at a distance x from inlet is
𝑑 = 0.2 + 0.12.0
−0.2
𝑥 = 0.2 − 0.05𝑥
Cross sectional area at that section is:
𝜋𝑑 2 𝜋
𝑎= = {0.04 + 0.0025𝑥 2 − 0.02𝑥)
4 4
Since velocity times area remains constant,

Ua = constant
 da dU dU U da
U +a = 0; =−
dx dx dx a dx
Hence
𝑑U 0.9 × 4 𝜋
=− (0.005𝑥 − 0.02)
𝑑𝑥 𝜋 × 0.152 4

At the mid-plane
x=1
dU dU
= 0.6; U = 0.9 × 0.6 = 0.54 𝑚𝑠 −2
dx dx

Total acceleration at the mid-length at the mid-time is therefore,

dU dU
U + = 0.54 + 0.36 = 0.9 𝑚𝑠 −1
dx d𝑡
Solution

9 Air flows steadily through a horizontal nozzle. At the nozzle inlet, the velocity is 6 m/s and the
pressure is 100 KN/m2. If the inlet area is 0.1 m2 and the contraction ratio is 5, assuming the flow of
air as incompressible, determine
(a) the velocity and the pressure at the exit.
(b) the discharge and mass flow rate through the nozzle.

Consider the control volume bounded by a control surface as shown by dotted line in the figure.
Air inlet velocity = U1 = 6 m/s
Air inlet pressure = P1 = 100 KN/m2
Inlet area = A1 = 0.1 m2
Contraction ratio A1/A2 = 5
The area of cross section at exist is
𝐴2 = 𝐴1 = 0.15 0.02 𝑚2
a) Assuming the flow of air as incompressible, the discharge at inlet should
equal the discharge at exit.

v = U1 𝐴1 = U2 𝐴2

U1 A1 6 ×0.1
U2 = = = 𝟑𝟎 𝐦/𝐬
A2 0.02

Pressure at exit P2 can be obtained by applying the Bernoulli equation between

inlet and the exit.
𝑃1 𝑈12 𝑃2 𝑈22
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

Since the axis of the nozzle is horizontal,

z1 = z2
 Rearranging the terms and taking mass density of air as 𝜌 = 1.2 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 ,

ρ
P2 = P1 + U12 − U22
2

1.2 2
P2 = 100000 + 6 − 302 = 𝟗𝟗, 𝟒𝟖𝟏. 𝟔 𝐤𝐍 𝐦𝟐
2
a) The discharge through the nozzle,
𝑣 = U1 A1 = U1 A1
= 6 × 0.1 = 𝟎. 𝟔 𝐦𝟑 𝐬
The mass flow rate,
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑣 = 1.2 × 0.6 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟐 𝒌𝒈 𝒔