CIVL2611 Introductory Fluid Mechanics

CIVL9611 Introductory Fluid Mechanics

Tutorial 2. Fluid Properties and Pressure Variation

(The problems marked with

1.

will be explained at tutorials.)

Pressure is defined as the force per unit area, acting normally (i.e. at right angles) on a
surface. If a force of magnitude 26.5 MN is distributed uniformly over a horizontal
surface with an area of 152 cm2, calculate:
(a) The pressure if the force is directed at right angles towards the surface.
(b) The pressure if the force is directed at an angle of 42o to the vertical.
(c) In case (b), are there any other effects on the surface?

2.

A viscometer is an instrument for measuring the viscosity of a fluid. In its simplest form,
it consists of two concentric cylinders, with the outer cylinder fixed and the inner
cylinder free to rotate. The space between the two cylinders is filled with the fluid in
question, and the torque required to rotate the inner cylinder at a constant speed is
measured. One such device consists of two 20-cm long cylinders, one 15 cm in diameter
and the other 15.2 cm in diameter. A torque of 0.13 Nm is required to rotate the inner
cylinder at 400 rpm. Calculate the viscosity of the fluid contained between the two
cylinders. (Recall that the local velocity at the surface of a rotating body of radius R is
given by v = R , where is the angular velocity in rad/s. Be careful with units.)

3.

We know that the pressure at a depth z (measured in meters) below the surface of a
stationary fluid of constant density is given by the differential equation
dp
= g
dz

where the origin for z is at the surface. For constant (and g) this can be integrated to
give the pressure at a depth h below the surface as
p = p0 + gh

where p0 is the pressure at the surface. Normally we use (pp0) and call it the gauge
pressure. If the density is not constant, the integral needs to take into account of the
varying density.
(a) A large tank contains two layers of water at different salinity: one layer, of
thickness 1 m, is fresh ( = 998 kg/m3) and the other, of thickness 2 m, is very
salty ( = 1,001 kg/m3). Which of these layers is on top, and why?
(b) What is the gauge pressure at the bottom of the tank?
(c) Diffusion of the salt over a very long time will eventually make the two layers the
same density a volume weighted average density. In this case, what is the
pressure at the bottom of the tank? Are you surprised by your answer?
(d) Instead of waiting for the two layers to become mixed by diffusion, we can
vigorously stir the mixture to mix it and get a uniform density. Stirring will
involve doing some work. Assuming that the transfer of energy to the fluid is

100% efficient, how much work per unit area will be needed to mix the two
fluids?
(Hint: think about the location of the centre of mass in the two layer
configuration and in the mixed configuration.)
4.

Determine the angle of the inclined tube shown below if the pressure at the interface A
is 7-kPa greater than the pressure at point B. The reference density of water is water 20 =
998 kg/m3.

1m

SG = 0.7

Air

A
1m

5.

SG = 1.0

10m

What is the gauge pressure at point A in the following arrangement? The reference
density of water is water 20 = 998 kg/m3.
SG = 0.8
B
A

5 cm

5 cm

Water

7 cm

10 cm
SG =13.6

SG =1.59

Atmosphere