MEC 3451 Fluid Mechanics 2 2014 Problem Set 1

1. As shown in the figure below, the velocity distribution at the entrance to a 3 ft wide channel is uniform with velocity . Further downstream, the velocity profile is given by , where is in ft/s and is in ft. Determine the value of .

2. Flow of a viscous fluid over a flat plate surface results in the development of a region of reduced velocity adjacent to the wetted surface as depicted in the figure below. This region of reduced flow is called a boundary layer. At the leading edge of the plate, the velocity profile may be considered uniformly distributed with a value of . All along the outer edge of the boundary layer, the fluid velocity component parallel to the plate surface is also . If the direction velocity profile at section (2) is ( )

develop an expression for the volume flowrate through the edge of the boundary layer from the leading edge to a location downstream at where the boundary layer thickness is .

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MEC 3451 Fluid Mechanics 2 2014

3. Observations at a shallow sandy beach show that even though the waves several hundred yards out from the shore are not parallel to the beach, the waves often break on the beach nearly parallel to the shore as indicated in the figure below. Explain this behavior based on the wave speed .

4. Water flows in a 1.5-m-wide rectangular channel with a flowrate of m3/s and an upstream depth of m as is shown in the figure below. Determine the flow depth and the surface elevation at section (2). What is the flow depth and surface elevation at section (2) if the upstream depth is m?

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MEC 3451 Fluid Mechanics 2 2014

5. Water in a rectangular channel flows into a gradual contraction section as is indicated in the figure below. If the flowrate is m3/s and the upstream depth is m, determine the downstream depth . Sketch the specific energy diagram for the flow and indicate its important characteristics. Note that .

6. Water flows over a bump of height ob the bottom of a wide rectangular channel, as shown in the figure below. If energy losses are negligible, show that the slope of the water surface is given by

where sign (i.e.,

and ) of

are the local velocity and depth of the flow. Comment on the relative to the sign .

7. Water flows in an unfinished concrete channel at a rate of 30 m3/s. What flowrate can be expected if the concrete were finished and the depth remains constant?

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MEC 3451 Fluid Mechanics 2 2014

8. The flowrate in the clay-lined channel ( ) shown in the figure below is to be 8.5 m3/s. To prevent erosion of the sides, the velocity must not exceed 1.5 m/s. For this maximum velocity, determine the width of the bottom, , and the slope, . 9. A 15-m-long aluminum gutter (Manning coefficient ) on a section of a roof is to 3 handle a flowrate of m /s during a heavy rain storm. The cross section of the gutter is shown in the figure below. Determine the vertical distance that this gutter must be pitched (i.e., the difference in elevation between the two ends of the gutter) so that the water does not overflow the gutter. Assume uniform depth channel flow.

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