E: Pressure distribution over a cylinder

1. Aim The main goals of this experiment are the following 1. To become familiar to conventional pressure measuring instruments 2. Find the experimental pressure distribution on a circular cylinder at large Reynolds numbers and compare with predictions of potential theory and 3. Understand the physical reasons for the observed experimental pressure distribution 2. Theory External flows past objects have been studied extensively because of their many practical applications. For example, airfoils are made into streamline shapes in order to increase the lift, and at the same time, reducing the aerodynamic drag exerted on the wings. For inviscid and irrotational flow based on potential theory we can derive the distribution of pressure on the cylinder surface ( pc ) as a function of , the angle as shown in figure. The potential flow solution to this problem results in a relation between coefficient of pressure C p , pressure on the surface of cylinder pc , static pressure p and velocity of the fluid U which is

C p( theoretical ) =

pc p = 1 4sin 2 1 2 U 2

The aerodynamic drag force ( D ) exerted on cylinder is

D =

pc R cos d
D = 1 2 C p cos d 2 0
Figure 1

1 2 U ( 2R ) 2 The drag force calculated by this potential flow solution comes out to be zero which is known as d'Alembert's paradox. The paradox arises because viscous influences are neglected. The presence of the fluid viscosity slows down the fluid particles very close to the solid surface and forms a thin slow-moving fluid layer called a boundary layer. The flow velocity is zero when it is in contact with the solid body to satisfy the no-slip boundary condition. Inside the boundary layer, flow momentum is quite low since it experiences a strong viscous flow resistance. Therefore, the boundary layer flow is sensitive to the external pressure gradient (as the form of a pressure force acting upon fluid particles). If the pressure decreases in the direction of the flow, the pressure gradient is said to be favorable. In this case, the pressure force can assist the fluid movement and there is no flow retardation. However, if the pressure is increasing in the direction of the flow, an adverse pressure gradient is said to exist. In addition to the presence of a strong viscous force, the fluid particles now have to move against the increasing pressure force. Therefore, the fluid particles could be stopped or reversed, causing the neighboring particles to move away from the surface. This phenomenon is called the boundary layer separation. At higher Reynolds

The drag coefficient CD =

numbers, the boundary layer remains laminar and symmetrical (about axis of the cylinder parallel to the flow direction) up to the separation points. Beyond the point of separation, the boundary layer separates and eddies are formed.
3. Experimental Set-up

There are two experimental set-ups to conduct the experiment: (1) Suction type wind tunnel and (2) Blowing type wind tunnel. (1) In the first set-up the air flows through the wind tunnel due to suction pressure created by a fan at the outlet (shown in fig. 2). A cylinder of diameter 25 mm is placed across the flow direction. The wall static pressure ( p ) is measured by a Betz Manometer and pressure around the cylinder ( pc ) is measured by Prandtl manometer.

Figure 2 1 Circular cylinder, 2 Test section, 3 Prandtl manometer, 4 Betz Manometers, 5 Honey comb, 6 Nylon screens, 7 Wall Pressure Tap, 8 Diffuser, 9 Fan

(2) In the second set-up a blower at the inlet section causes the air flow through the wind tunnel. See fig. 3. A cylinder of diameter 25 mm is placed across the flow direction. The wall static pressure ( p ) and pressure around the cylinder ( pc ) are measured by two digital manometers.

Figure 3 1 Circular cylinder, 2 Test section, 3 & 4 Digital Manometers, 5 Blower, 6 Honey comb, 7 Nylon screens, 8 Wall Pressure Tap, 9 Diffuser
4 Experimental procedure:

Experiment is carried out in a suction/blower type of wind tunnel with 0.6 m x 0.6 m test section. A circular cylinder of 25mm diameter is placed in the test section of the wind tunnel. A total pressure probe is attached on the surface of the cylinder and connected to a manometer. A pressure tab is attached to the wall of the wind tunnel before the test section and connected to another manometer which gives static pressure reading. The wind tunnel is switched on and the experiment is started after the flow attains steady state. Initially the cylinder is kept at 0o angle ( the angle measured with respect to the horizontal axis facing the downstream side, as shown in Figure 1 ) and the pressure readings from both the manometers are taken. The cylinder is rotated in steps of 5o or 10o up to 70o, in steps of 1o or 2o from 70o to 80o (to be able to capture the separation point accurately) and further rotated in steps of 5o or 10o from 80o to 180o pressure readings from both the manometers are taken at each station. Since, the flow is assumed to be symmetrical about the axis of the cylinder parallel to the flow direction experimental readings between 180o and 360o are not taken. Record the following observations and perform relevant calculations to obtain experimentally observed C p vs distribution.

(in degrees)

pc

C p( experimental )

C p( theoretical )

Calculations:

C p( experimental ) =

( pc p ) ( pc p ) =0

=
O

( hp hb ) ( hp hb ) =0

5 Results and Discussion a) Plot actual C p distribution (along with theoretical distribution) on the cylinder surface as

a function of the angle of measurement. b) Identify the points of separation. c) Plot ( C p cos ( ) ) vs in a graph paper. Calculate the area (A) under the curve by counting the smallest squares bounded by the curve and axis. The drag coefficient is calculated from the area (A) as, CD = 2 A /180 .
6. Answer the following in your lab report:

1. Is the pressure on the downstream side after the boundary layer has separated larger or smaller than the pressure on the upstream side? Why is it so? 2. Qualitatively sketch the velocity profiles (of the streamwise component of velocity) just before the separation point, at the separation point and a just after the separation point 3. Calculate the Reynolds number of the flow around the cylinder, is the flow laminar or turbulent. If the flow is laminar sketch the expected Cp distribution for the turbulent case, if the flow is turbulent sketch the expected Cp distribution for the laminar case. 4. Explain why the Drag coefficient is related to the area of the curve as described in 5(c)