1

ESO204: End-Semester Exam

Max Point=85, Duration-3 hours

Important points to Note:

I. Anyone found using unfair means (including talking to the neighbours) will be
given “F” as per the course policy.
II. Start the solution for each problem from a new page of the answer sheet.
III. All symbols used are consistent with those used in the lectures and tutorials.

1. (10 points)Briefly explain the following using the concepts discussed in the
class:
(a). Continuum Hypothesis.
(b). Why does boundary layer usually not separate for a high Reynolds’
number flow over a flat plate?
(c). For an inviscid flow, how does the irrotational flow assumption helps to
simplify the equations?
(d). Potential lines are orthogonal to the streamlines.
(e). In the mathematical expression for the Fourier’s law of heat conduction,
what is the significance of the negative sign?
2. (10 points) Using a polynomial velocity profile within a boundary layer,
suggested by K. Pohlhausen in 1921, as
u y y3
= 2 − 2 3. (1)
U∞ δ δ
Starting from the momentum and mass balance around the boundary layer
and using this velocity profile, determine the expressions for boundary-layer
thickness δ(x) and skin friction coefficient Cf (x) for flow over a flat plate in
terms of the local Reynolds number. U∞ is the free steam velocity, x is
pointed along the flow, y is normal to the plate, and x = 0 is at the front edge
of the plate.
3. (10 points) No-slip boundary condition can be violated sometimes at the
fluid-solid interface leading to “slip” at the boundary. For flow inside a
cylindrical tube of radius r = R the slipping is taken into account by the
following expression at the wall of the tube,
β
uz (r = R) = − τrz (r = R); (2)
µ
where β is a positive constant, µ is the constant viscosity and τrz (r = R) is the
shear stress at the wall of the tube.
(a) (2 points) What can you say about the physical meaning of β from the
expression given above?
 2

(b) (6 points) If the volumetric flow rate is given as Q, derive the velocity
profile for a fully-developed flow under steady-state.
(c) (2 points) What is the condition on β (a nonzero, positive constant) for
which this “slipping” phenomena can be ignored?
4. (10-points) An infinitely wide and long flat plate at y = 0 and initially at rest
is in contact with a Newtonian fluid. The fluid is also at rest and occupies the
space y > 0. At time t = 0 the plate is suddenly set in motion in the
x-direction at a velocity U , and that plate velocity is maintained indefinitely.
The objective is to determine the fluid velocity as a function of time and
position caused by the sudden start of the plate’s motion. For the observation
time-scale we are interested in, the far away fluid layers (y → ∞) are always at
rest. Also,only the x-component of the fluid is non-zero and pressure gradient
is zero along the x-direction. It is given that the kinematic viscosity is ν = µ/ρ
where µ and ρ are the fluids viscosity and density, respectively. Ignore gravity.
(a) (2-points) Show that the equation governing the fluid motion is similar to
the 1-D transient heat conduction problem. Also, write the appropriate
initial and boundary conditions for the fluid motion.
(b) (3-points) Show that by appropriately scaling the problem with the length
scale (4νt)1/2 the equation can be converted into an ODE. Show that the
initial condition and boundary conditions can be converted into the
required boundary conditions for this re-scaled problem.
(c) (3-points) Solve the ODE to find the velocity profile.
(d) (2-points) Find the force per unit area required to pull the plate as a
function of time.
5. (10-points) A tornado may be modeled as the circulating flow with vr = vz = 0
and vθ (r) such that

vθ (r) = ωr, r≤R

ωR2
vθ (r) = r>R (3)
r
Determine whether this flow pattern is irrotational in either the inner or outer
region. Using the r-momentum equation, determine the pressure distribution
p(r) in the tornado, assuming p = p∞ as r → ∞. Find the location and
magnitude of the lowest pressure.
6. (5 points) After a number years of use, it is noted that to obtain a given
flowrate, the head loss is increased to 1.6 times its value for originally smooth
pipe. If the Reynolds number is 106 , determine the approximate relative
roughness of the old pipe.
7. (10-points) A completely closed spherical container (spherical shell) of metal
has an exothermic reaction going on inside which causes the inner surface
(radius R1 ) of the spherical shell to be at temperature T1 . The shell is of
 3

thickness d1 . The outer surface of the shell is kept at a constant temperature

T2 . The thermal conductivity of the metal is km .
(a) (3-points) Starting from the Fourier’s law of heat conduction for
steady-state conductive heat transfer, develop a differential energy
equation for temperature inside the shell as a function of radial coordinate
r. Also write the appropriate boundary conditions.
(b) (2-points) Solve the equation derived above to find the temperature profile
within the shell.
(c) (5-points) Now consider the situation, where the shell is covered by an
insulation of thickness d2 and thermal conductivity of ks . The outer
temperature of the spherical shell is not known but instead the heat
transfer coefficient at the insulation’s outer surface is given as h and the
ambient temperature is T∞ . What is the expression of d2 related to other
parameters in this problem such that a further increase in the insulation
thickness from this d2 leads to a decrease in the heat loss from the shell.
8. (10 points) Two very thin rods of identical size and shape are both supported
between two sources at 120 o C and surrounded by air at 40 o C. One rod is
known to have thermal conductivity of 30 W/m-K and its steady-state
mid-point temperature is 60 o C.
(a) (5 points) Show the relevant governing differential equation and the
corresponding boundary conditions to find the temperature profile in the
rod.
(b) (5 points) If the steady-state mid point temperature of the other rod is 90
o
C, what is its thermal conductivity?

Figure for problem-8.

9. (10 points) Two solid sheets of thickness 2 cm each are desired to be bonded
together. This is done by using a very thin layer of a thermoplastic material
which fuses and forms a good bond at 120 o C. The two sheets, initially at a
temperature of 40 o C, are inserted in a press with the thermoplastic layer in
between.
(a) (3 points) Write the governing equations and relevant boundary conditions
to find the temperature profile in this system.
(b) (7 points) If the bonding process gets completed exactly in 4 minutes, at
what temperature the platens of the press were maintained in this
duration? The thermal diffusivity of the sheets is 2 × 10−6 m2 /s.
Moody’s chart.
4