LAB REPORT ON

FLOW OVER A CIRCULAR CYLINDER

Submitted by

Sayantan Chaudhuri

Roll No.-19301004
M.tech (1ST year),
Group-3

Aerospace Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Mumbai, 400 076

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Contents
List of abbreviations and symbols: .............................................................................................................. 3
Objective of the Experiment: ....................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction:................................................................................................................................................. 3
Experimental Procedure: ............................................................................................................................. 4
Formulae Used: ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Results and Discussions: .............................................................................................................................. 5
Conclusion: ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Error Analysis:............................................................................................................................................... 7
References: ................................................................................................................................................... 7

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List of abbreviations and symbols:
 ϴ: Angular positions on cylinder surface in clockwise direction
 Cp: Coefficient of pressure
 Cd,Pressure: Pressure Drag coefficient
 Cd,total: Total drag coefficient
 Cd,skin friction: Skin friction drag coefficient
 U: Local velocity on the surface of the cylinder
 U∞: Free stream velocity
 Re: Reynold’s number
 Re(cr): Critical Reynold’s number

Objective of the Experiment:

 To find the Cp vs ϴ characteristics for a given flow over the cylinder.
 To find the velocity profile characteristics at different stream wise positions past the cylinder.
 To find the Cd,Pressure , Cd,total , Cd,skin friction.

Introduction:
Ideal Flow model:

Steady, Incompressible, irrotational flow past a cylinder without lift generation can be created by adding
a uniform flow in +ve x direction to a doublet at the origin. The pressure coefficient distribution can
predicted from the potential flow theory, given by the expression 𝐶𝑝 = 1 − 4𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 , where, ϴ is
measured from the back of the cylinder. This inviscid pressure distribution is unrealistic in many ways, as
it implies zero drag over the cylinder, which is not possible in real case.

Drag Estimation:

In real life scenario, there will be some drag due to wake region form behind the cylinder (pressure drag)
and skin friction (skin friction drag). The pressure drag can be calculated from the measured pressure
2𝜋
distribution over the cylinder surface using the following equation: 𝑑 = ∫0 𝑝𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃
1 2𝜋
Therefore the pressure drag coefficient:𝐶𝑑,𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 2 ∫0 𝐶𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃

The total drag can be estimated by using wake measurement survey, where we have to calculate the
change in momentum behind the wake region, to get total drag.
2 𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑈(𝑦) 𝑈(𝑦)
𝐶𝑑,𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = ∫ [1 − ]𝑑𝑦
𝐷 𝑦𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑈∞ 𝑈∞

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 Figure 1: Velocity profile in wake region

𝑈∞ 𝐷
Also, the flow pattern and the drag on a cylinder are functions of the Reynolds number,𝑅𝑒 = 𝜈
where, D= diameter of the cylinder, U∞= undisturbed free stream velocity.

Experimental Procedure:
The wind tunnel we used for this experiment was suction type open loop closed section low speed wind
tunnel. In the test section there was a cylinder of diameter 32mm which can be rotated manually. On
the cylinder surface there was a tap which is used to measure the surface pressure. So, we set it to zero
degree so that, when the flow starts, this point should be hit first by the flow (i.e. stagnation point).After
setting it, we started the wind tunnel and create a suitable pressure difference by changing the rpm of
fan, placed at the end of the diffuser so that to get the uniform flow of 18m/s speed. We used digital
manometer where one port was connected to the cylinder directly, and from another port we were
taking the atmospheric pressure, and from the difference of the two we got dynamic pressure and thus
velocity on the surface. Then we took the readings by an interval of 3 degrees. The angular position is
measured with the help of a protractor.

The velocity profiles at the wake were taken with the help of pitot probe and static probe at a stream
wise positions 5d, 10d, 15d

Formulae Used:
𝑃−𝑃
Coefficient of pressure: 𝐶𝑝 = 0.5𝜌𝑉∞2

1 2𝜋 1
Pressure drag coefficient: 𝐶𝑑,𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 2 ∫0 𝐶𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃 = 2 ∑2𝜋
0 𝐶𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃∆𝜃

2∆𝑃
Velocity (in the wake region): 𝑈(𝑦) = √ 𝜌
where, ∆p= P0 -P∞

2 𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑈(𝑦) 𝑈(𝑦)

Total drag coefficient: 𝐶𝑑,𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐷 ∫𝑦𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑈∞
[1 −
𝑈∞
]𝑑𝑦

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Results and Discussions:
In the table 1 the ambient conditions are given:

P (Pa) T (K) ρ (Kg/m3) Dynamic Re

Viscosity(kg m-1 s-1)
Day 1 100059 300 1.621 0.00001845 36280
Day 2 100610 300 1.168 0.00001845 36480
Table 1:Ambient Properties

The variation in Cp distribution is given in following curve:

Cp vs ϴ
1.5
1
0.5
0
-0.5 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Cp

-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
-3.5 cp experimental
ϴ
cp theoritical

Figure 2: Cp distribution plots

From, this curve we can say that, at which point the fluid flow hit first is the stagnation point. Here the
Cp value will be maximum which is equal to 1, then along upper and lower surface from this point the
surface pressure decrease as the flow accelerates up to a certain point then due to adverse pressure
gradient flow separates in the remaining rear section of the cylinder surface and it cannot reach the
desired pressure value up to the rear stagnation point as it should be for the potential flow over the
cylinder.

Also, we observe that in the separate flow region the pressure value remains almost constant and we
from that the flow separates at 81 degree angular position and it remains almost up to 270 degree.

From this Cp distribution we calculated the pressure drag coefficient Cd,Pressure = 0.573177604

In table 2, variation of total drag and skin friction drag has been given, at different stream wise locations

Locations Cd,total Cd,skin friction

5d 0.958 0.3848
10d 1.103 0.5299
15d 1.163 0.5898
Table 2: Drag measurement table

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We can observe that the Cd,total value almost remains constant along the three stations.

The wake has been shown in the following figure:

wake profile at different locations

1.2

0.8
u/Umax

0.6 x=5d
x=10d
0.4
x=15d
0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
y/ymax

Figure 3: Velocity profile in wake region along three different stations

From the above mentioned curve, we can say as we move along stream wise direction in the wake
region the velocity profile get thicker and the minimum velocity value increase, and we can explain this
phenomenon due to viscous dissipation.

Comparing the Cp plot with the literature:

Figure 4: Cp Distribution plot from literature

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We must see only the graph for the subcritical Reynolds number, for the laminar flow. This experiment
was done with Reynolds number 1.86 x 105. Here we’re seeing that the theoretical data is very much
fitting with the experimental data.

Conclusion:
 From the stagnation point, the Cp value decrease along both upper and lower surface and then
due to adverse pressure gradient the flow separates and Cp values remains constant in the
separated region of the flow on the cylinder surface
 From the wake measurement survey we can conclude that the total drag remains constant
along all stream wise stations as, the momentum loss becomes constant along all these
locations

Error Analysis:
 While changing the rpm of the suction fan of the wind tunnel, it becomes very difficult to
change the rpm manually to get the desired pressure difference in the wind tunnel section. It
could be the reason that we are not getting the accurate results
 In 1st wake measurement readings (x/d=5) there was some error in the manometer readings,
because of that there was some error in Cd,total value.
 There may be some human error while conducting the experiment, this depends upon the
psychological and mental condition of the data collector.

References:
 Introduction to aerodynamics, J D Anderson
 NPTEL course on fluid mechanics
 http://www.dept.aoe.vt.edu/~aborgolt/aoe3054/manual/expt3/index.html