Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
ME-203 Fluid Mechanics
Tutorial -5
1. A 150 m long ocean liner is to be designed to travel at 25 knots(1 knot=1.854 kmph).A
1:30 scale model of the ship is tested in a towing tank using sea water. At what speed
should the model be tested assuming
a) Wave resistance, i.e.,Fr similarity
b) Viscous-resistance similarity
c) Surface tension similarity ?
Which of these three should normally be used? Note that these three similarities cannot
be achieved simultaneously, if the same fluid is used in the model as in the prototype.
2. A mixing tank is to be designed using experimental data on a 1:5 scale model. Efficient
mixing is observed in the model with oil (of =10-3 m2 /s and =850 kg/m3 ) at 2000 rpm.
At what rotational speed would you expect the prototype fluid (of =10-6 m2 /s and
=1000 kg/m3) to mix as efficiently? What will be the ratio of power required in the two
cases? Show that mixing –time scale factor is very large and therefore this method of
scaling –up is not suitable.
3. Human vocal cords vibrate at about 150 Hz when exhaled air from the lungs flows past
them at an average velocity of about 10 m/s. An enlarged 10:1 model of the chords is
constructed and made to oscillate in water. What should be the mean velocity of water
and the frequency of vibration in the model to duplicate the fluid –mechanical behaviour?
4. Biological Similarity: It has been claimed that various organisms and physiological
mechanisms operate similarly and are governed by the same laws. Therefore, various
species may be treated as scaled models of the same machine, and that the various
biological functions must be scaled in a rational manner. Consider, for example, the
metabolic rate in mammals which should depend on rate of heat loss (proportional to
surface area).If all organs of mammals are assumed geometrically similar and made of
o
2
the same material , k Qo = k L where Q represents the rate of oxygen consumption. Show
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that k f = k m ,where f is the breathing frequency and m is the mass of the mammal.
Similarly, if it is argued that the maximum stress level in the muscles is the same
,irrespective of the scale, show that W, the weight –lifting capability of mammals is
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scaled by k w = k m .Confirm this using the following data for the 1979 world weight
lifting championships.
Weight Class,Kg Total weight Lifted,Kg
52 242.5
56 267.5
60 282.5
67.5 332.5
75 345
82.5 370
90 380
100 385
110 410
Super heavy Weight 430
What is the estimated weight of the super heavy weight champion?
5. The Lilliputians and Brobdingnagians of gulliver’s travel differed by a height ratio of
approximately 1:100.Using scaling similar to those of the above problem estimate their
relative masses, frequencies of breathing, velocities of walking, and maximum jumping
heights. Which species would have more difficulty with surface tension of water, with
viscosity of water and with the earth’s gravitational field?
