AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

UNIT 1

BASIC MEASUREMENTS
IN
FLUID MECHANICS

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

PART A
1. What are the fundamental qualities to be measured in fluid flow experiments?
Pressure, temperature, velocity and density.

2. What is the main group of pressure measuring devices?

Manometers and pressure transducers

3. What are the objectives of Experimental aerodynamics? (Nov/Dec 2017)

Experimental aerodynamics can have the following objectives:
–To measure the forces exerted by the air on moving bodies
–To measure the forces exerted by wind on static bodies
–To help develop or validate aerodynamic theories
–To help design moving or static bodies so as to optimize their aerodynamic efficiency

4. What are the properties of fluid?

1. Density
2. Viscosity
3. Temperature
4. Pressure
5. Specific Volume
6. Specific Weight
7. Specific Gravity

5. Define fluid.
A substance that has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure; a gas or (especially) a
liquid.
Fluid is a substance that continually deforms (flows) under an applied shear stress. Fluids are a
subset of the phases of matter and include liquids, gases, plasmas and, to some extent, plastic solids.

6. What is density?
Density is the mass per unit volume of a fluid. In other words, it is the ratio between mass (m) and
volume (V) of a fluid.
Density is denoted by the symbol ‘ρ’.
Its unit is kg/m3.
7. Define temperature
It is the property that determines the degree of hotness or coldness or the level of heat intensity of a
fluid. Temperature is measured by using temperature scales.
There are 3 commonly used temperature scales.
They are
1. Celsius (or centigrade) scale
2. Fahrenheit scale
3. Kelvin scale (or absolute temperature scale)

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8. What is pressure?
Pressure of a fluid is the force per unit area of the fluid. In other words, it is the ratio of force on a
fluid to the area of the fluid held perpendicular to the direction of the force.
Pressure is denoted by the letter ‘P’. Its unit is N/m2

9. What is meant by viscosity?

The property which characterizes the resistance that a fluid offers to applied shear force is termed as
viscosity

10. Explain specific heat of a medium.

The specific heat is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a
medium by one degree.

11. Which are the factors affecting the surface tension of a fluid?
i. The nature of the fluid
ii. The nature of the substance with which it is in contact at the surface.
iii. The temperature and pressure.

12. What are the two methods of fluid analysis?

i. Lagrangian method
ii. Eulerian method.

13. Explain the pathline.

Pathline may be defined as a line in the flow field describing the trajectory of a given fluid particle.

14. Explain the term streak line.

Streak line may be defined as the instantaneous locus of all the fluid elements that have passed the
point of injection at some earlier time.

15. Explain streamlines.

Streamlines are imaginary lines in a fluid flow drawn in such a manner that the flow velocity is
always tangential to it.

16. Explain the term simple vortex.

A simple or free vortex is a flow in which the fluid elements simply move along concentric circles,
without spinning about their own axis.
17. Explain the lower critical Reynolds number.
The lower critical Reynolds number is that Reynolds number below which the entire flow is laminar.

18. Explain the streamlines and bluff bodies.

Lowe drag shapes are called streamlined bodies and high drag shapes are termed bluff bodies.

19. Explain the term shear drag.

Drag due to the friction between the body surface and the fluid is known as shear drag.

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20. What is meant by Fanno flow?

Fanno flow is an adiabatic flow with no external work.

21. Define specific volume

 Specific volume is the volume of a fluid (V) occupied per unit mass (m).
 It is the reciprocal of density.
 Specific volume is denoted by the symbol ‘v’.
 Its unit is m3/kg.

22. Define specific weight.

 Specific weight is the weight possessed by unit volume of a fluid.
 It is denoted by ‘w’.
 Its unit is N/m3.
 Specific weight varies from place to place due to the change of acceleration due to gravity (g).

23. Define specific gravity.

Specific gravity is the ratio of specific weight of the given fluid to the specific weight of standard
fluid. It is denoted by the letter ‘S’.

It has no unit.

Specific gravity may also be defined as the ratio between density of the given fluid to the density
of standard fluid.

24. Define the principle of dimensional homogeneity

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

The principle is basic for the correctness of any equation. It states ‘‘ If an equation truly expresses a
proper relationship between variables in a physical phenomenon, then each of the additive terms will
have the same dimensions or these should be dimensionally homogeneous.’’

25. Define model.

In the engineering point of view model can be defined as the representation of physical system that
may be used to predict the behavior of the system in the desired aspect.

26. Define prototype.

The system whose behavior is to be predicted by the model is called the prototype.

27. Define Dynamic Similarity.

Similitude requires that PI terms like Reynolds number, Froude number, Weber number etc. be equal
for the model and prototype. These numbers are ratios of inertia, viscous gravity and surface tension
forces. This condition implies that the ratio of forces on fluid elements at corresponding points
(homologous) in the model and prototype should be the same. This requirement is called dynamic
similarity.

28. Define Kinematic Similarity.

When both geometric and dynamic similarities exist, then velocity ratios and acceleration ratios will
be the same throughout the flow field. This will mean that the streamline patterns will be the same in
both cases of model and prototype. This is called kinematic similarly.

29. Define Geometric Similarity

Some of the PI terms involve the ratio of length parameters. All the similar linear dimension of the
model and prototype should have the same ratio. This is called geometric similarity. The ratio is
generally denoted by the scale or scale factor.

30. What are the Non- Dimensional Numbers?

Reynold’s number,
Froude”s number,
Weber’s Number,
Mach number,
Euler’s Number.

31. Define Model Law.

For the dynamic similarities between the model and prototype, the ratios of corresponding force
acting on the corresponding points should be equal. The ratio of the forces of non-dimensional
numbers it means that for the dynamic similarity between model and prototype, the dimensionless
number should be same for model and prototype. The law on which the model are designed for
dynamic similarity are called model laws or similarity laws.

32. Define Reynolds’s model law.

It states that the Reynolds number for the model and prototype must be equal where the viscous force
is predominant in addition to the inertia force.
33. What are the Types of Models?

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

i). Undistorted model.

ii). Distorted model

34. What is undistorted model?

An undistorted model is one which is geometrically similar with its prototype. The condition of
similarities are completely satisfied for such models hence the results obtained from the model test
and easily used to prevent the perform of prototype.

35. What are Geometrical Distortion types?

1. Distortion of dimension- adoption of different scale for vertical and horizontal
2. Distortion of Configuration – Model does not be a resemblance of its Prototype.

36. What is Material Distortion?

Adoption of different material for model and prototype.

37. What is Distortion of Hydraulic Quantizes?

Adoption of different uncontrollable hydraulic quantizes like Velocity, Discharge, Pressure etc., for
the model and prototype.

38. What is Scale Effect?

The behavior of the prototype as predicted by two models with different scale ratio is generally not
the same. Such a difference in the prediction of behavior prototype is known as Scale Effect.

39. What is Distorted Model?

The distorted model is the one geometrically similar with its prototype. In such model, the different
scale ratios for linear dimensions are adopted.

40. Write Mach’s model law with Expression?

Its state that Mach number for the Model and prototype must be same when the elastic forces are
predominant in addition to the inertia force.

41. What is the limitations of Dimensional Analysis?

i. Dimensional Analysis does not give any clue regarding the selection of Variables.
ii. The complete information is not provided by the dimensional analysis.
42. Name the different similarity laws?
i. Reyn olds Similarity law
ii. Froude similarity law
iii. Euler similarity law
iv. Weber similarity law
v. Mach similarity law

43. What is Weber similarity law?

In a fluid system, where surface tension effects predominate in addition to inertia force, the dynamic
similarity is obtained by equating the weber number for the model and its prototype, which is known
as weber model law.
44. What is impact pressure? (April/ May 2017)

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

Impact pressure (dynamic pressure) is the difference between total pressure (also known as pitot
pressure or stagnation pressure) and static pressure.
Impact pressure is the difference between stagnation pressure and static pressure in compressible
flows, including compressible flows above 0.3 Mach.

45. An open-circuit subsonic wind tunnel of test-section 1.2 m × 0.9 m is run by a 110 kW
motor. If the test-section speed is 90 m/s, calculate the energy ratio of the tunnel. Also, find the
total loss in the tunnel in terms of test-section kinetic energy. Take the air density as the
standard sea-level value. (April/ May 2017)

46. What is flow visualization?

Most fluids (air, water, etc.) are transparent, thus their flow patterns are invisible to us.
Flow visualization is used to make flow patterns visible so that we can visually acquire qualitative
and quantitative flow information

47. What are the three important concepts for visualizing or describing flow field?
(Nov/Dec 2017)
There are three important concepts for visualizing or describing flow fields.
They are
1. Concept of pathline
2. Concept of streakline
3. Concept of streamline

PART B

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

1. Explain in detail the basic measurement system.

Explain the main components of measuring system. (Nov/Dec 2017)
Refer page No.3 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”, CRC
Press, London, 2007
2. What are the various properties of fluid and explain all in detail mentioning its units and
dimensions.
Refer page No.9-19 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007
3. What is the need and objective of experimental studies also mention the various types of
measurements.
Refer page No.1,2 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

4. What are the performance terms associated with measurement systems?

Refer page No.5 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”, CRC
Press, London, 2007
5. Explain about analogous methods of measurement.
Refer page No.2, 229 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007
6. Explain about flow visulation method of measurement
Refer page No.2, 179 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

7. Describe the graphical description of Fluid motion with sketches. (Nov/Dec 2017)
Refer page No.21, Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

8. Determine the minimum possible diffuser contraction ratio and the power required for a two-
stage compressor to run a closed circuit supersonic tunnel at M = 2.2. The efficiency of the
compressor is 85 percent, p01 = 4 atm, T0 = 330 K, and ATS = 0.04m2. (April/May 2017)
Refer page No.103, Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

9. A continuous wind tunnel operates at Mach 2.5 at the test-section with static conditions
corresponding to 10,000 m altitude. The test-section is 150 mm × 150 mm in cross section, with a
supersonic diffuser downstream of the test section. Determine the power requirements of the
compressor during start-up and during steady-state operation. Assume the compressor inlet
temperature to be the same as the test-section stagnation temperature. (April/May 2017)

Refer page No.106, Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,

CRC Press, London, 2007

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

UNIT 2

CHARECTERISTICS
OF
MEASUREMENTS
PART A
1. Explain high speed wind tunnels?

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High speed wind tunnels are those, with test section speed more than 650 kmph.

2. What are the advantages of blow down wind tunnels?

i. They are simplest among the high speed tunnel types
ii. Most Economical to build
iii. Running time of considerable duration can be achieved.

3. What are the disadvantages of the blow down wind tunnels?

i. Charging time to running time ratio will be very high
ii. Starting load is high.

4. What are the advantages of Induction type tunnels?

i. Stagnation pressure and stagnation temperature are constants.
ii. Starting and shut down operations are simple.

5. What are the disadvantages of Induction type wind tunnels?

i. Vaccum tank size required is very large
ii. Reynolds number is very low.

6. What are the advantages of continuous supersonic wind tunnels?

i. Only a small capacity drier is required.
ii. Better control over the Reynolds number is possible.

7. What are the disadvantages of continuous supersonic wind tunnels?

i. Power required is very high
ii. Requires large size cooler.

8. What are the losses in supersonic tunnels?

i. Frictional losses
ii. Expansion losses
iii. Losses in cooling system
iv. Losses in guide vanes.

9. What is the need for second throat in supersonic wind tunnels?

The second throat is used to provide isentropic deceleration and highly efficient pressure recovery
after the test section.

10. What is the pressure and temperature range in the hypersonic wind tunnels?
The pressure range of hypersonic wind tunnels are 10 to 100 atmosphere and stagnation temperatures
are 223K to 2273K.

11. Explain why heated and dry air is used in hypersonic wind tunnels.
Use of dry and heated air is necessary for hypersonic operation to avoid condensation effects and
liquefaction during expansion to the high Mach numbers and corresponding low temperatures.
12. Explain surging in wind tunnels.

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It is a low frequency vibration in velocity that may run as high as five percentage of the dynamic
pressure.

13. What are the disadvantages of the surging?

i. Surging makes the validity of assigning a Reynolds number to the test doubtful.
ii. It usually makes the dynamic testing impossible.

14. Give the examples for high speed wind tunnels.

Hotshot tunnels, Plasma jets, shock tubes, shock tunnels and light gas guns.

15. What is hot shot tunnels?

Hotshot tunnels are devices meant for the generation of high speed flows with high temperatures and
pressures for a short duration.

16. Explain plasma Arc tunnels.

Plasma arc tunnels are devices capable of generating high speed flows with very high temperature.

17. What is shock tubes?

The shock tubes is a device to produce high speed flow with high temperatures by traversing normal
shock waves that are generated by these rupture of a diaphragm which separates a high pressure gas
form a low pressure gas.

18. Explain shock tunnels.

Shock tunnels are wind tunnels that operate at Mach numbers of the order25 or higher for time
intervals up to a few milliseconds by using air heated and compressed in a shock tube.

19. What is Gun tunnels?

The gun tunnels are similar to the shock tunnels in operation. It has a high pressure driver section and
a low pressure driven section with a diaphragm separating the two.

20. What are the advantages of the Ludwig Tube tunnel?

i. No regulation of pressure and temperature during the run is necessary.
ii. It is suitable for transient heat transfer tests.

21. What are the disadvantages of open circuit wind tunnels?

i. More energy to run
ii. Tunnel is noisy
iii. It Cause environmental problems and limits on hours of operation.

22. What are the advantages of closed circuit wind tunnels?

i. Less Energy is required.
ii. Less noise when operating

23. What is variable density tunnels?

In this type of tunnels, we can use different density working fluids for tunnel operations.
24. Explain Propulsion Tunnels?

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

These types of tunnels are used for testing aircraft engines, either reciprocating or jet; requires
simulation of both flight velocity and the variation of atmospheric pressure and temperature.

25. What is smoke tunnels?

Smoke tunnels are used primarily for flow visualization. Smoke tunnels used for research rather than
demonstration purposes tend to have large contraction ratios.

26. Explain automobile tunnels?

These types of tunnels are used for test aerodynamic parameters that affects an automobiles
performance and stability.

27. What are the factors concerning selection and mounting of strain gauges in wind tunnels?
i. Adequate strain must be provided in the measuring elements under the design loads
ii. Match gauges for gauge factors and resistance.

28. How the internal strain gauge are balances are calibrated?
Internal sting balances are generally calibrated outside the tunnel.
The Calibrations use a calibration rig upon which the balance is mounted.

29. What are the purposes of Calibration?

i. To proof load the balance
ii. To determine calibration slopes for air component
iii. To determine component sensitivity.

30. What is the principle of pyrometers?

When temperature of the metal increases, it emits different colours.

31. What is wind tunnel balances?

Wind tunnel balance is a device to measure the actual force and moments acting on a model placed in
the test section stream.

32. What are the classifications of wind tunnel balances?

i. Wire type balance
ii. Strut type balance
iii. Yoke type balance

33. What is wire type wind tunnel balances?

In wire type wind tunnel balances only wires are used to support the model. All the load components
are transmitted to the measuring device by these wires.

34. What is the classification of strut type wind tunnel balances?

i. Yoke type
iii. Platform type
iv. Pyramid type

35. What are the advantages of strut type balances?

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i. The strut being rigid, their deflection can be kept at a very small value.
ii. Weight of the support structure can be kept very low.

36. What is pyramid type wind tunnel balances?

In pyramid type balances, the model mounting is about one point connecting the model to the
platform by four arms.

37. What are the types of strain gauge wind tunnel balances?
i. Internal strain gauge wind tunnel balance
ii. Semi-Internal strain gauge wind tunnel balance
iii. External strain gauge wind tunnel balance.

38. What is strain gauge wind tunnel balances?

Balances with strain gauges as the load sensing element are termed strain gauge wind tunnel balances.

39. What are the two basic types of wind tunnels?

i. Open Circuit wind tunnels
ii. Closed circuit wind tunnels

40. What are the advantages of Open circuit tunnels?

i. Construction cost is less
ii. There is no purging problem

41. State the classification of high speed wind tunnel. (Nov/Dec 2017)
Based on the test-section Mach number M range, the high-speed tunnels are classified as follows.
• 0.8 < M < 1.2 Transonic tunnel
• 1.2 < M < 5 Supersonic tunnel
• M > 5 Hypersonic tunnel

42. What is horizontal buoyancy? (Nov/Dec 2017)

The variation of static pressure along the test-section produces a drag force known as horizontal
buoyancy.
It is usually small in a closed test-section, and is negligible in open jets.

43. List the power losses in wind tunnel. (April/May 2017)

The total power loss in a wind tunnel may be split into the following components.
• Losses in cylindrical parts
• Losses in guide vanes at the corner (in closed circuit tunnels)
• Losses in diffuser
• Losses in contraction cone
• Losses in honeycomb, screens, and so on
• Losses in test-section (jet losses in case of open jet)
• Losses in exit in case of open circuit tunnel
PART B

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1. Explain the steps involved in the estimation of flow angularity and turbulence factor in detail.
or
Explain how will you estimate the flow angularity and turbulence factor?

Refer Page No: 121,124 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in

Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

2. Define Turbulence Factor? Explain the method of determining the turbulent factor
experimentally.

Refer Page No: 124 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

3. Explain the characteristic features, operation of low speed, transonic wind tunnels.
Refer Page No: 73, 76 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

4. Explain the characteristic features, operation of supersonic tunnels

Refer Page No: 90 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

5. Write notes on the following

(i) power losses in tunnels
(ii) instrumentation of wind tunnels

(i) POWER LOSSES IN TUNNELS

Refer Page No: 70 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

(ii) INSTRUMENTATION OF WIND TUNNELS

Refer Page No: 119 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

6. What are the types of models used for wind tunnel testing? Explain the factors governing the
selection of suitable model.
Or
Classify the various types of wind tunnel balances
Refer Page No: 130 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

7. Explain Balance calibration.

Refer Page No: 140 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

8. A subsonic wind tunnel of square test-section runs at 30 m/s, with pressure 97.325 kPa

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and temperature 22◦C, in the test-section. A turbulence sphere with theoretical surface
finish offering 4 percent blockage experiences critical Reynolds number at this state.
Determine the test-section height.
Refer Page No: 126 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

9. (i) Determine the running time for a Mach 2 blow down wind tunnel with test section
cross section of 300 mm × 300 mm. The storage tank volume is 20 m 3 and the pressure
and temperature of air in the tank are 20 atm and 25◦C, respectively. The tank is
provided with a heat sink material inside. Take the starting pressure ratio required for
Mach 2.0 to be 3.0, the loss in pressure regulating valve (PRV) to be 50 percent and the
polytrophic index n = 1.0.
(ii) Estimate the settling chamber pressure and temperature and the area ratio required
to operate a Mach 2 tunnel under standard sea-level conditions. Assume the flow to be
one-dimensional and the tunnel operating with correct expansion.

i) Refer Page No: 116 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

ii) Refer Page No: 108 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

10. Explain the working principle of continuous supersonic wind tunnels with neat
sketches.
Refer Page No: 93, Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

11. Describe wind tunnel boundary correction procedure for low speed and high speed
wind tunnel with necessary profiles.
Refer Page No: 141, Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in Fluids”,
CRC Press, London, 2007

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UNIT 3

FLOW VISUALIZATION
AND
ANALOGUE METHODS

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PART A
1. What is the general principle of flow visualization?
The general principle for flow visualization is to render the fluid elements visible either by
observing the motion of suitable selected foreign materials added to the flowing fluid or by using
an optical pattern resulting from the variation of the fluid optical properties (such as refractive
index) due to the variation of the properties of the flowing fluid itself.
2. Mention few flow visualization techniques?
i. Smoke flow visualization
ii. Tufts method
iii. Chemical coating
iv. Interferometer
v. Schlieren method
vi. Shadowgraph method

3. What techniques of flow visualization are employed for compressible flows?

i. Interferometer
ii. Schlieren method
iii. Shadowgraph method

4. What are the techniques of flow visualization are employed in low speed flows?
i. Smoke flow visualization - 30 m/s velocities
ii. Tufts method - 40 to 150 m/s
iii. Chemical coating - 40 to 150 m/s

5. What are the techniques of flow visualization are employed in high speed flows?
i. Interferometer -transonic and supersonic Mach numbers
ii. Schlieren method -transonic and supersonic Mach numbers
iii. Shadowgraph method -transonic and supersonic Mach numbers

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6. What are the properties of smoke to undergo smoke visualization technique?

For getting good results, what are the qualities considered for the properties of the smoke?
(April/May 2017)
For good results the smoke should be
i. White
ii. Dense
iii. Nonpoisonous
iv. Non corrosive
v. Not to be influenced by gravity
7. Differentiate Interferometer, Schlieren method and Shadowgraph method.

INTERFEROMETER SCHLIEREN SHADOWGRAPH

The interferometer makes visible the The schileren system gives the The shadowgraph visualizes
optical phase changes resulting from deflection angles of incident the displacement experienced
the relative retardation of the rays. by an incident ray that has
disturbed rays. crossed the high-speed gas
flow.

8. Differentiate Interferometer, Schlieren method and Shadowgraph method based on flow

fields.

INTERFEROMETER SCHLIEREN SHADOWGRAPH

The interferometer is an optical The schileren system is used The shadowgraph is best suited
method most suited for qualitative for the detection of small only for flow fields with
determination of the density field of refractive index gradients or rapidly varying density
high –speed flows for the quantitative gradients.
measurement of these gradients

9. When Schileren method is preferred to shadowgraph.

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In phenomena where the refractive index varies relatively slowly, the Schlieren method is to be
preferred to shadowgraph method.

10. What are the advantages of shadow graph method?

Greater simplicity
Wider possible applications
Indicates rapid changes in the index of refraction.
11. What is Hot-wire anemometer and its principle of operation?
The hot wire anemometer is a thermal transducer.
The principle of operation of the hot-wire anemometer is that the heat transfer from a fine filament
that is exposed to a cross flow varies with variation in the flow rate.
12 .What are the modes of operation in hot wire anemometry?
a. Constant current mode
b. Constant temperature mode
13. Explain constant current mode in hot wire anemometry.
In this method the current flow through the hot wire is kept constant and variations in the wire
resistance caused by the fluid flow are measured by monitoring the voltage drop variations across the
filament.
14. Explain constant temperature mode in hot wire anemometry
In this method the hot wire filament is placed in a feedback circuit that tends to maintain hot-wire at a
constant resistance and hence at a constant temperature, and the fluctuations in the cooling of the hot-
wire filament are seen as variations in the current flow through hot-wire.
15. What is compressibility effect?
Compressible flows are those in which both density and temperature changes associated with flow
velocity are significant. This effect of velocity change accompanied by density and temperature
changes is called the compressibility effect.
16. What are the limitations of hot wire anemometry?
i. A nonlinear character of heat transfer with respect to velocity and temperature.
ii. An onset of practical limitations due to the complex nature of the heat transfer between wire
and fluid, in compressible flows.
iii. A limitation set by the resolution power in space, that is, in the direction of the wire, due to its
finite length.
iv. A limitation set by the resolution power in time, in the flow direction, due to the finite time
constant of the hot wire.

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17. What is analogue method of measurement?

In analogue methods, fluid flow problems are solved by setting up another physical system, such as
an electric field, for which the basic governing equations are of the same form with corresponding
boundary conditions as those of the fluid flow.
18. Mention couple of analogous methods?
a. Hele shaw apparatus
b. Electrolytic tank
19. What is Hele Shaw apparatus?
The hele Shaw apparatus produces a flow pattern similar to that of potential flow. In this method the
viscous flow of liquid between two closely spaced plates may be shown to reproduce the streamlines
in the flow of a frictionless inviscid flow.
20. Explain the concept of flow in an electrolytic tank?
The flow pattern around a body immersed in a perfect fluid can be determined by finding the passage
of current through a uniform conductor sheet, except within the boundary corresponding to the body
immersed in the fluid.
21. Explain the theory of Hydraulic Analogy.
The basic governing equations of flow of an incompressible fluid with a free surface, in which the
depth of the flow is small compared to its surface wave length, forms the shallow water theory.
The similarity between the governing equations of motion of a two dimensional isentropic flow of a
perfect gas and two-dimensional shallow water flow forms the analogy
22. What are the factors to suit an experimental set up for a given flow?
a. Nature of motion
i. Steady motion
ii. Unsteady motion
b. Speed regime
i. Subsonic
ii. Transonic
iii. Supersonic
c. Type of result required
i. Flow pattern

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ii. Aerodynamic coefficients

iii. Pressure distribution over the model
23. When are steady and unsteady transonic flows investigated?
Steady and unsteady transonic flows are best investigated by the towed model technique at a Froude
number in the range around unity.
24. The hydraulic analogy is well established for what value of γ?
The hydraulic analogy is well established for a gas value of γ =2.
The influence of the value of γ with reference to the analogy, varies considerably according to the
type of flow.
25. What is the essential feature of Hydraulic analogy?
The essential feature of this analogy is that the Froude number of shallow water flow with a free
surface is equivalent to a gas stream with a Mach number equal to that Froude number.
26. What is Hydraulic jump? (Nov/Dec 2017)
or what is hydraulic shock?
It is know that in “shooting” water under certain conditions, the velocity may decrease over short
distances and the water depth suddenly increase. An unsteady motion of this type is called Hydraulic
jump.
27. In what conditions hydraulic jump occurs?
Hydraulic jump occurs only in shooting water that is in water streams with flow velocity greater than
the wave propagation velocity.
28. What is Right hydraulic jump?
A shock or hydraulic jump in which the wave front s normal to the flow direction is called a Right
Hydraulic jump.
29. What is Slant hydraulic jump?
A shock or hydraulic jump that is along a line oblique to the flow direction is called a Slant hydraulic
jump.
30. Explain hydraulic jump in supercritical shallow water.
In supercritical shallow water flows, discontinuities in the form of a hydraulic jump occur. This
discontinuities results in a sudden rise in water depth and change in velocity.
At a jump, surface tension and viscosity act as equilibrating forces and they cannot be neglected.
Energy loses occur at the hydraulic jump that are dissipated through heat losses in turbulence at
strong jumps and undulations in weak jumps

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

31. What is test section? (April/May 2017)

The test section is the part of the wind tunnel in which the model is placed.
It is the basic element of wind tunnel on which all other designs are generally made.
All the aerodynamic models are mounted in the test section when the tunnel is operated with desired
flow velocity.
32. What is Schileren method technique? (April/May 2017)
The Schlieren technique is used to study high-speed flows in the transonic and supersonic Mach
number ranges.
This again gives only a qualitative estimate of the density gradient of the field.
This is used to visualize faint shock waves, expansion waves, and so on.
The Schlieren method is a technique for visualizing the density gradients in a transparent medium.

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

PART B
1. What is the principle of flow visualization and mention various flow visualization techniques
and explain any two with neat sketch?
List the various flow visualization techniques and give brief explanation on those techniques.
Explain in detail about schlieren technique with neat sketches. (April/May 2017)
What are the different types of Visualization Techniques and explain the methods to use to
visualize the shock in supersonic flows. (Nov/Dec 2017)
Refer Page No: 175 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

2. Explain in detail the following (i) Hele-Shaw apparatus (ii) interferometer

(i) HELESHAW APPARATUS (Nov/Dec 2017)
Refer Page No: 229 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and
Experiments in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
(i) INTERFEROMETER
Refer Page No: 185 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and
Experiments in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
3. Briefly explain the following
Fringe- displacement method, (Nov/Dec 2017)
Schileren system and shadowgraph methods.
Refer Page No: 189,193,199 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and
Experiments in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

4. Compare Schileren system and shadowgraph method.

Refer Page No: 201 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

5. Explain in detail Hydraulic analogy and application to supersonic airfoils

Refer Page No: 238, 255 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and
Experiments in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

6. Explain in detail electrolytic tank.

How do you use the electrolytic tank for solving potential flow problems? Explain
your answer with neat sketches. (April/May 2017)
Refer Page No: 235 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

7. Explain in detail hydraulic jumps (shocks).

Refer Page No: 243 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

UNIT 4

PRESSURE VELOCITY
AND

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

TEMPERATURE
MEASUREMENTS
PART A
1. What are the fundamental qualities to be measured in fluid flow experiments?
Pressure, temperature, velocity and density.

2. What is the main group of pressure measuring devices?

Manometers and pressure transducers.

3. Give the examples for manometers.

i. U tube manometers
ii. Multi-tube manometers
iii. Betz type manometers.

4. Give the examples for pressure transducers.

i. Electrical type transducers
ii. Mechanical type transducers
iii. Optical type transducers.

5. What is the basic principle of manometers?

The pressure applied is balanced by weight of a liquid column. The sensitivity of the instrument
depends on the density of the manometric fluid used.

6. What is LDA?
LDA is laser Doppler are anemometry; it is used to measuring velocities in fluid flows.

7. What are the advantages of LDA?

i. The measurement with LDA is absolute
ii. It has high frequency response.

8. Explain the term “temperature”.

Temperature is a measure of the intensity of hotness or coldness.

9. What are the factors considering for the temperature measurements?

i. Increase or decrease of size
ii. Change of colour
iii. Generation of electromotive force.

10. What is thermometer? Give examples for thermometer.

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

A thermometer is a general name given to thermometric measuring devices. Some of the commonly
used thermometers are the mercury in glass thermometer. Beckmann and gas thermometer.

11. Give the examples for Electrical thermometers.

i. Thermocouples
ii. Resistance temperature detectors
iii. Thermistors

12. What are the importance observations made from pressure distributions?
i. The reaction of the minimum pressure point and its strength.
ii. The load that the skin is to withstand and its distribution.

13. What are the factors considering in the flutter testing?

i. Critical flutter speed
ii. Flutter frequency
iii. Wing Empennage interaction.

14. What is solid blockage?

The presence of the model in wind tunnel testing reduces the area, so increase the velocity this effect
is called the solid blockage.

15. What are the commonly used scattering instances?

i. Micro polythene spheres
ii. Diluted milk droplets
iii. Aerosal
iv. Fine alumina powder.

16. What is fringe system?

In the fringe system the fringes obtained during interference of the two beams are made use of for the
measurement of flow velocities.

17. What is vortex shedding technique?

Measurement of low velocities, below 2m/s, are difficult to do with instrument like a pitot-static
probe in conjunction with a manometer, for measuring such low velocities, vortex shedding
techniques could be used.

18. What is fluid jet anemometer?

The deflection of the jet strongly depends on the ratio of flow velocity to jet velocity. This kind of
instrument has been used successfully in various industrial processing plants.

19. What is Beckmann Thermometer?

It is used for accurate determination of a small temperature changes, such as that encountered while
using the bomb calorimeter.

20. What is net flap span ratio?

It is the ratio between flap span and wing span

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

21. What is flap at out ratio?

It is the ratio between total flap at out area and total wing area.

22. What is laser velocimetry?

The most common laser Doppler velocimeter uses optics to split the laser beam into two parallel
beams that are focused to cross at the point where measurements are to be made.

23. What are the advantages of forward scatter mode?

i. It can use low power lasers, such as helium, neon output .5 to 3.00 mv.
ii. The laser does not need cooling
iii. The signal to noise ratio is large.

24. What is the diaphragm type pressure transducer?

The most commonly used pressure transducers are of the diaphragm type. Generally they are of the
differential pressure type and a preselected reference pressure is applied to the reference side.

25. When the fluorescence photography is used?

Ultraviolet fluorescence photography is used when the medium used for visualizing the flow has been
treated with a dye that radiates in the visual spectrum when excited by long wave ultraviolet light.
The wavelength of the long wave ultraviolet light is 320-400 milli-microns and it is transmitted by
optical glass.

25. How are turbulence and velocity measured in wind tunnels? (DEC-2013)
Turbulence can be measured in wind tunnel by using turbulence sphere (or) pressure sphere method.
Hot wire anemometer can also be used to measure the free stream turbulence directly.
The velocity can be measured in wind tunnel by using Pitot - static tube inside the test section. This
can determine test section velocity.

26. What is the use of pressure transducers? (DEC-2013)

i) They provide a signal proportional to the applied pressure which can be automatically recorded by
any data acquisition system.
ii) They are relatively low volume devices and consequently respond more rapidly to pressure
changes.
Iii) They are small enough to be mounted inside the wind tunnel models.

27. What is the ultra-sonic flow meter? (A/M-2015)

An ultra-sonic flow meter is a type of flow meter that measures the velocity of a fluid with ultra
sound to calculate volume flow.

28. What are the factors that affect the ultra-sonic flow meter?
The ultra-sonic flow meter are affected by the acoustic properties of the fluid and can be impacted by
temperature, density and viscosity.

29. How ultra-sonic flow meter differ from other flow meter equipment?

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

They are very greatly in price of purchase but are often in-expensive to use and maintain moving
parts, unlike mechanical (or) conventional flow meter.

30. What is pyrometer?

A pyrometer is a type of remote sensing thermometer used to measure the temperature of a surface.

31. Write the application of pyrometer. (APR-2014, N/D-2015)

Pyrometers are suited especially to the measurement of moving objects.
The application of pyrometer can be listed below:
i) Smelter industry
ii) Over-the bath pyrometer.
iii) Tuyore Pyrometer
iv) Steam boilers
v) Hot air balloons
vi) Gas turbine engines.

32. Write the working principle of a Rotameter in wind tunnel testing in brief. (A/M-2015)
The Rotameter operation is based on the variable area principle: Fluid flow raises a float in a tapered
tube, increasing the area for passage of the fluid. The greater the flow, the higher the float is raised.
The height of the float is directly proportional to the flow rate.

33. Give the application of Rotameter.

The Rotameter are widely used in process industry as well as in research and development industry.

34. Write the types of anemometers. (M/J-2013)

The anemometer can be classified as,
I) Velocity anemometer
- Cup anemometer
- Wind mill anemometer
- Hot-wire anemometer
- Laser Doppler anemometer
- Sonic anemometer
- Ping-Pong ball anemometer.
ii) Pressure anemometer
- Plate anemometer
- Tube anemometer.

35. List the main categories of instrumentation and control for wind tunnels. (M/J-2013)
i) Pressure measuring device
- Liquid column manometer
- Inclined manometer
- Mercury manometer
- Micro manometer

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

ii) Temperature measuring device

- Pyrometry
- Thermistors
- Thermal paints
iii) Velocity measuring device
- LDA
- Hot-wire anemometer
- Vortex-shedding technique

36. What is pressure transducer?

A pressure transducer is a transducer that converts pressure into an analog electrical signal. Although
there are various types of pressure transducers, one of the most common is the strain gauge base
transducer. The conversion of pressure into an electrical signal is achieved by the pressure
deformation of strain gauges which are bonded into the diaphragm of the pressure transducer and
wired into a Wheatstone bridge configuration.
37. Explain about Hot wire anemometry?
A hot wire is nothing more than a very thin wire that is inserted into the flow at the end of a probe.
The diameter of the wire is approximately 4-10cm. Electricity is applied to the wire which generates
heat due to the resistance in the wire according to Ohm’s law.
The heat is carried away from the probe by the flow of air and the heat transfer is proportional to the
velocity of the flow.

38. State the principle of hot wire anemometry.

The principle of operation of hot wire anemometry is that heat transfer from the filament varies as the
flow rate varies. This in turn causes variation in the heat balance of the filament.

39. Classify Hot wire anemometry.

The Hot wire anemometry is classified into 3 types, they are:
i) The constant wire anemometer
ii)The constant current anemometer.
iii) The pulsed-wire anemometer.

40. What are the limitations of Hot wire anemometry?

The limitations are:
i) A non-linear character of heat transfer with respect to velocity and temperature.
ii) an onset of practical limitations due to the complex nature of the heat transfer between the wire
and fluid in compressible flows.
iii) A limitation set by the resolution power in space. That is in the direction of the wire, due to its
finite length.
A limitation set by resolution power in time, in the flow direction, due to the finite time constant of
the hot wire.
41. What is fluid jet anemometer?
The deflection of the jet strongly depends on the ratio of flow velocity to jet velocity.
This kind of instrument has been used successfully in various industrial processing plants.

42. What is the diaphragm type pressure transducer?

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

The most commonly used pressure transducers are of the diaphragm type. Generally they are of the
differential pressure type and a preselected reference pressure is applied to the reference side.

43. Give the examples for manometers.

i. U tube manometers
ii. Multitube manometers
iii. Betz type manometers.

44. What is nose effect?

Because of the intrusive nature of the prandtl probe, the flow will be accelerated by the nose. The
effect will be to reduce the static pressure which is called the nose effect

45. What is stem effect?

In contrast to nose effect, the effect of stem will be to locally stagnate the flow and thereby to
increase the static pressure. This effect is the stem effect.

46. Why is the orifice position so significant in a probe?

The position of the orifices is so chosen that the two effects (nose effect stem effect) neutralize each
other.
Additionally, the probe must be slender (say ~ 1.0 to 1.5mm dia) and kept parallel to the flow.

47. Provide the schematic sketch of Syphon barometer. (April/May 2017)

48. Define overheat ratio (a). (April/May 2017)

a=

49. What is Syphon Barometer? (Nov/Dec 2017)

The syphon barometer is essentially a U-tube of glass with one limb much shorter than the other. The
short limb is open to the atmosphere; the long limb end is closed and a Torricelli vacuum is created in

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 AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

this limb. A common scale is used for both limbs. If h 1 is the height of the mercury column in the
closed limb and h2 is that at the open limb, then the barometric height h = h 1 − h2. Thus, the
atmospheric pressure is measured easily with a syphon barometer.
50. What is Thermal Shunting? (Nov/Dec 2017)
An act of altering the measurement temperature by inserting a measurement transducer is termed
thermal shunting. The problem of thermal shunting is comparatively more for RTDs than the
thermocouples, because the physical size of an RTD is larger than the thermocouple.
It is a problem associated with the mass of the thermocouple. Because some energy is used to heat the
mass of the thermocouple, the thermocouple will slightly alter the temperature it was meant to
measure.
PART B
1. Explain the applications of thermocouples and pyrometers.
Refer Page No: 346,372 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and
Experiments in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
2. Explain the functions of hot wire anemometer and laser Doppler Anemometer with
sketches.
Explain the merits and De-merits of hot wire anemometer and laser Doppler
anemometer with sketch
Explain the working of Laser Doppler Anemometer with suitable diagram and also state
its advantages. (Nov/Dec 2017)
Refer Page No: 203,325 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
3. How do you measure static and total temperature? How is measurement error
estimated? (DEC-2013)
Refer Page No: 375,378 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

4. i) Discuss the working principle of Pitot tube with a suitable diagram. (A/M-2015)
Refer Page No: 295 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
ii) What are the problems associated with Pitot tube? How the problems are rectified?
Disuss. (A/M-2015)
Refer Page No: 287 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
5. Explain the function of Rotameters and ultra-sonic flow meter in detail
Explain the applications of Rotameters and ultrasonic flow meters in wind studies with
neat sketch.
Refer Page No: 414, 416 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments
in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

6. Explain pressure transducers in detail.

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 AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

Refer Page No: 276 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in

Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
7. With suitable diagram explain the working principle of Pitot-static tube. (Nov/Dec2017)
Refer Page No: 291 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments
in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
8. Derive compressible Bernoulli equation. (April/May 2017)
Refer Page No: 282 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments
in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
9. (i) Explain Mcleod gauge in detail.
(ii) A McLeod gauge with VB = 100 cm3 and capillary diameter 1 mm measures the
pressure of a vacuum chamber as 10mm of mercury. Calculate the chamber pressure in
Pa. (April/May 2017)

(i) Refer Page No: 304 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments
in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
(ii) Refer Page No: 306 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments
in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

10. (i) Calculate the dynamic pressure of a flow with V∞ = 200 m/s, p∞ = 1 atm, and T∞ =
300 K. What will be the percentage of error if the flow is treated as incompressible?
(April/May 2017)
(ii) A gas thermometer was calibrated by placing the bulb in melting ice at 0 ◦C and the
difference in height of the mercury column was 820 mm. The bulb was then placed in
steam at 100◦C and the mercury column was adjusted to be 1300 mm. The bulb was
then placed in a fluid of unknown temperature and, after adjustment, the difference in
height of the mercury column was 97 cm. Determine the temperature of the fluid.
(April/May 2017)
(i)Refer Page No: 286 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
(ii)Refer Page No: 342 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

UNIT 5

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

SPECIAL FLOWS
AND
UNCERTAINITY
ANALYSIS
PART A
1. What is geostrophic motion? (Nov/Dec 2017)
In a slowly rotating fluid it can be shown theoretically that the Coriolis force is completely balanced
by the pressure gradient induced by the centrifugal force.
This is known as geostrophic motion.

2. What is Taylor-Proudman theorem?

The Taylor–Proudman theorem states that when a solid body is moved slowly within a fluid
that is steadily rotated with a high angular velocity Ω, the fluid velocity will be uniform along any
line parallel to the axis of rotation. Ω, must be large compared to the movement of the solid body in
order to make the Coriolis force large compared to the acceleration terms.

3. What are Taylor walls?

A highly stable thin vertical columns in a sheet like fashion in a three dimensional rotational ink tank
demonstrating Taylor–Proudman theorem are called Taylor walls.
4. What is Ekman Boundary layer?
In a rotating fluid the boundary layer formed on the floor of the tank has some special
significance. This is termed as Ekman boundary layer and is spiral in nature.
5. What role Coriolis force plays in Ekman boundary layer?
In Ekman layer the frictional forces reduce the velocity and hence the Coriolis force is no
longer in balance with the pressure gradient: hence the net transport in the Ekman boundary layer is at
an angle to the net transport interior.
6. What is Coriolis force?
An effect (Coriolis effect) whereby a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force
(the Coriolis force) acting perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of rotation.

7. What is Ekman suction?

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

Ekman layers are divergent and this creates a suction diverted toward the interior whose
magnitude is proportional to the vorticity of the flow above. This is known as Ekman suction.

8. What is spin up and spin down in experiments?

In a rotating system, changes in angular velocity with the time affect the flow pattern
appreciably. During rotation of fluid the complete fluid mass goes into a spin as though it were a
rigid body. The time required to achieve this rigid body condition is called “spin up time” and the
reverse is called “spin down time.’

8. What is relaminarization?
Reverse transition or Relaminarization is process in which turbulent flow changes over to a
laminar nature.

9. Measurements near the wall do contain some errors due to displacement effect.
TRUE/FALSE
TRUE
10. How to induce a turbulent flow in a wind tunnel?
The boundary layer in the plate can be made turbulent by introducing a tripper downstream of
the leading edge.
Rough emery paper can serve as a tripper when a small strip of it is pasted across the width of
the plate.

11. Is the statement correct? Justify.

To conduct experiments on a laminar boundary of reasonable thickness, it is not
necessary to have low turbulence wind tunnel.

No, the statement is not correct

To conduct experiments on a laminar boundary of reasonable thickness, it is essential to have
a good low turbulence wind tunnel.

12. Define intermittency.

The ratio of the time duration for which the flow is turbulent to the total duration is known as
INTERMITTENCY
For a laminar flow intermittency =0
For turbulent flow =1

13. When does the flow change to turbulent in terms of dimensionless number?
When Reynolds number is increased beyond 350 the flow becomes turbulent.

14. How to obtain relaminarization?

i. When the dissipation of turbulence exceeds its generation
ii. When turbulence process is completely suppressed.
iii. A turbulent layer when subjected to high acceleration reverts back to laminar condition.
iv. By applying centrifugal force

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

v. Buoyancy forces
vi. Reduction of Reynolds number below critical value in a duct flow

15. Upto what distance of boundary layer static pressures can be measured and how can they be
measured?
With a properly made fine pitot tube, it is possible to measure velocities very close to the
boundary upto a distance of 0.3mm.
The static pressure can be measured using fine holes drilled on the surface of the body on
which the boundary layer is formed.

16. What is the purpose of instrument transducer?

The essential element in a modern data acquisition system is the instrument transducer, which
furnishes an electrical signal indicative of the physical quantity being measured.

17. What is the sequence of operation involved in any data acquisition system?
i. Generation of input signals by transducers
ii. Signal conditioning
iii. Multiplexing
iv. Data conversion from analogue to digital form and vice versa
v. Data storage and display
vi. Data processing

18. What is the objective of signal conditioning?

The objective of signal conditioning is to modify the signal received from the sensor to suit
the requirements of further processing.

19. What are the operations if signal conditioning?

i. Amplification of the signal from the sensor
ii. Filtering out the unwanted frequencies originating from the sensor and their associated
circuitry
iii. Providing independence matching
iv. Compensation for the limitations of the sensor or receiving devices so as to extend the
frequency range.
v. Correction of thermoelectric errors at input functions
vi. Performance of arithmetic operations on the output of two or more sensors.

20. What are the advantages of data conversion?

i. Conversion of signals from analogue to digital form gives noise immunity to the data during
their transmission
ii. It is easy to determine whether a single digital pulse is present at a given time determining the
presence of a pulse in analogue form.
iii. Coding techniques have been developed only for digital signals and thus to take advantage of
the error-detection and error- correction capabilities of these codes, it is essential to correct all
the data signals of interest to digital form.

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

21. What is LSI chip and what does it contain?

LSI is Large Scale Semiconductor Integrated circuit and is termed as microprocessor.
It contains the following
i. An instruction register and coder
ii. An arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
iii. A number of registers to store and manipulate data
iv. Control and timing circuits

22. What are the errors to be associated with measured quantity?

i. The external estimate based on the knowledge of experimental work carried out by others.
ii. The internal estimate based on the data obtained during the experiment.
23. Define uncertainty.
 The appropriate concept for expressing inaccuracies is Uncertainty.
 An uncertainty is a possible value that the error might take on in a given measurement.
 It is a statistical value
24. Define error.
 An error in a measurement is just the difference between the correct value and recorded value.
 An error is a fixed number and not a statistical variable.
25. Mention few uses of uncertainty.
What are the primary uses of uncertainty analysis? (Nov/Dec 2017)
i. To identify the need f9or employing improved instruments
ii. To minimize instrument cost for a given output accuracy
iii. To assess the feasibility of an experiment to yield the results with desired accuracy.
iv. To decide on when more accurate experiments must be provided to further calibrate
approximate theory
v. To provide the basis for guarantees of accuracy in commercial tests of large equipment, such
as power plants.
vi. Allows design of probes for minimum uncertainty.

26. What is uncertainty analysis?

 Uncertainty analysis is the procedure used to quantify data validity and accuracy.
 Uncertainty analysis also will be useful in identifying the potential sources of unacceptable
errors and suggesting improved measurement methods.

27. What are the types of experimental errors in uncertainty analysis?

Usually experimental errors will be of the following two types.
1. Fixed (or systematic) error makes repeated measurements be in error by the same amount for each
trial. This error is the same for each reading and can be removed by proper calibration or correction.

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AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

2. Random error (non-repeatability) is different for every reading and hence cannot be removed. The
factors that introduce random error are uncertain by nature.

28. The primary objective of uncertainty analysis is to estimate the probable random error in
experimental results. TRUE/ FALSE.

TRUE

29. What is the usual procedure adopted in uncertainty analysis?

i. Estimation of the uncertainty interval for each measured quantity
ii. Statement of confidence limit on each measurement
iii. Analysis of the propagation of uncertainty into results calculated from the experimental data
30. Explain uncertainty analysis.
The uncertainty has two components, namely, bias (related to accuracy) and the unavoidable random
variation that occurs when making repeated measurements (related to precision). The measured
quantities may have biases, and they certainly have random variation, so what needs to be addressed
is how these are "propagated" into the uncertainty of the derived quantity. Uncertainty analysis is
often called the "propagation of error."

31. What is sensitivity analysis?

Biases are not known while the experiment is in progress. If it was known, for example, that the
length measurements were low by 5 mm, the students could either correct their measurement mistake
or add the 5 mm to their data to remove the bias. Rather, what is of more value is to study the effects
of nonrandom, systematic error possibilities before the experiment is conducted. This is a form
of sensitivity analysis.

32. What is fractional uncertainty?

Combining uncertainties in several quantities: multiplying and dividing. When one multiplies or
divides several measurements together, one can often determine the fractional (or
percentage) uncertainty in the final result simply by adding the uncertainties in the several quantities.

33. Define Rossby number (Ro) (April/May 2017)

Rossby number Ro = U/LΩ

Where L is some characteristic length

U and Ω are the linear and angular velocities

34. What is data conversion? (April/May 2017)

Data conversion generally involves conversion of data from analogue to digital or from digital to

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 AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

analogue.

PART B
1. Explain the estimation of boundary layer velocity profile on a flat plate by momentum-
integral method.
Refer Page No: 391 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
2. Explain the experiment on Taylor-Proudman theorem.
Refer Page No: 430 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
3. Explain in detail about Measurement in boundary layers with suitable examples
(Laminar Boundary layer on a flat plate and Turbulent Boundary Layer on a Flat Plate).
(April/May 2017)
Explain the procedure to measure the boundary layer thickness in the flow.
Refer Page No: 438 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
4. Explain Signal conditioning and uncertainty analysis and its uses.
Refer Page No: 446 and 477 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and
Experiments in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
5. Explain in detail data acquisition principle
Refer Page No: 445 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
6. What are the errors in measurements and explain estimation of error?
Explain in detail about Estimation of Measurement errors and external estimate of
error. (April/May 2017)
Refer Page No: 471, 472,476 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and
Experiments in Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
7. (i)Explain experiment on Spin-Up and Spin Down in a rotating system.
(ii)Explain the procedure to measure the boundary layer thickness in the flow.

7
 AE6014 EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS QUESTION BANK

(Nov/Dec 2017)
(i)Refer Page No: 432 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
(ii) Refer Page No: 438 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
8. What is Uncertainty calculation and explain its procedure.
Explain the signal conditioning in DAS (Nov/Dec 2017)
(i)Refer Page No: 481 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007
(ii) Refer Page No: 446 Rathakrishnan. E “Instrumentation, Measurement and Experiments in
Fluids”, CRC Press, London, 2007