1.

0 TITLE

The measurement of drag coefficient of spheres.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

To measure the drag coefficients of spheres over several decades of particle Reynolds

number.

3.0 INTRODUCTION

3.1 Definition of Drag Coefficient for Flow Past Immersed Objects.

The flow of fluids outside bodies appears in many engineering applications

and other processing applications. This occurs, for example, in flow past

spheres in settling, flow through packed beds in drying and filtration, flow past

tubes in heat exchangers and others. It is useful to be able to predict the

frictional losses and/or the force on the submerged objects in these various

applications.

In the examples of fluid friction inside conduits that we considered, the

transfer of momentum perpendicular to the surface resulted in a tangential

shear stress or drag on the smooth surface parallel to the direction flow. This

force exerted by the fluid on the solid in the direction of flow is called skin or

wall drag. For any surface in contact with a flowing fluid, skin friction will

exist. In addition to skin friction, if the fluid is not flowing parallel to the

surface but must change directions to pass around a solid body such as a

sphere, significant additional frictional losses will occur and this is called form

drag.

1
3.1.1 Drag Coefficient

In treating fluid flow through pipes and channels, a friction factor, defined as

the ratio of the shear stress to the product of the velocity head and density, was

shown to be used. An analogous factor, called the drag coefficient, is used for

immersed solids. Consider a smooth sphere immersed in a flowing fluid and at

a distance from the solid boundary of the stream sufficient for the approaching

stream to be at a uniform velocity. Define the projected area of the solid body

as the area obtained by projecting the body on a plane perpendicular to the

AP
direction of flow. Denote the projected area by . For a sphere, the

projected area is that of a great circle, or ( 4 ) D 2

p , where
DP
is the

FD
diameter. If is the total drag, the average drag per unit projected area is

FD/ Ap w
. Just as the friction factor f is defined as the ratio of to the

product of the density of the fluid and the velocity head, so the drag

CD FD/ Ap
coefficient is defined as the ratio of to this same product or

FD
Ap
CD
uO 2
2

u0
Where is the velocity of the approaching stream. For particles having

shapes other than spherical, it is necessary to specify the size and geometric

2
form of the body and its orientation with respect to the direction of flow of the

fluid. One major dimension is chosen as the characteristic length, and the other

important dimensions are given as ratios to the chosen one. For cylinders the

diameter D is taken as the defining dimensions, and the length expressed as

the L/D ratio. The orientation between the particle and the stream is also

specified. For a cylinder, the angle formed by the axis of the cylinder and the

direction of flow is sufficient. Then the projected area is can be determined as

LD P
, where L is the length of the cylinder. For a cylinder with its axis

parallel to the direction f flow,

A p is ( 4 ) D 2
p , the same as for sphere of the

same diameter.

From dimension analysis, the drag coefficient of a smooth solid in an

incompressible fluid depends upon a Reynolds number and the necessary

shape ratios. For given shape

C D =(P )

The Reynolds number for a particle in a fluid is defined as

G0 G p
P
u

D p=characteristiclength
Where

G0=u o

CD P relation exists for each shape and orientation.

A different versus

The relation must in general be determined experimentally, although a well-

3
substantiated theoretical equation exists for smooth spheres at low Reynolds

numbers. Drag coefficients for compressible fluids increase with an increase in

the Mach number when the latter becomes greater than about 0.6. Coefficients

in supersonic flow are generally greater than in subsonic flow.

4
 4.0 APPARATUS

1. Glass tubes.

2. Drain valves, V1 & V2

3. Knob

4. Ball valves, V3 & V4

Glass tubes

Drain valves
Knob

Ball valves

5
5.0 METHOD

The Instructions Methods

1. Fill the two glass tubes with clear liquids The two glass tubes are filled with cooking

of different viscosities (cooking oil and oil and another one is filled up with

detergent). detergent.
2. Mild steel sphere with diameter 3.175mm Start the experiment with diameter of

are dropped one at a time from the top of the 3.175mm by dropping it at one time from top

tubes and allowed to fall to the bottom. of the tubes and allowed to fall to bottom.
3. The passage between the 1m marks on the Time is recorded by watching at the passage

wall of the tubes being timed with a stop between 1m marks on the wall.

watch and recorded.

4. When each sphere arrives at the recess in The sphere is removed from the base of the

the base of the tubes, it is removed by turning tubes by rotating the knob at the bottom of

the valve through 180 by rotating the knob the glass tube, and then only open the ball

at the bottom of the glass tube, then open the valve.

ball valve, V3 or V4.

5. After ejecting the sphere, the ball valve The sphere is ejected and returned the knob

and knobs should be returned to the operating to the operating position.

position.
6. Repeat the experiment for step 2 until 5 The experiment is repeated by changing the

with different dimension and material of the diameter size of the sphere and the material

sphere. of the sphere.

7. Calculate viscosity of liquid used. The viscosity of the liquid used is calculated.

6
6.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

RESULTS

Fluid : Cooking Oil

Drag
coefficient Reynolds Viscosity
Object Length/diameter Mass Time taken (s)
Material CD No Re oil (kg/sm)
shape (mm) (kg) oil
1 2 3 Average
3.175 0.000142 3.50 3.50 3.60 3.53 4.2559 5.59 0.1460
5.000 0.000526 1.90 2.00 1.80 1.90 3.8893 2.97 0.8054
Mild steel 6.350 0.001050 1.40 1.50 1.40 1.43 1.2709 18.74 0.2152
8.000 0.002040 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.10 0.9338 25.70 0.2570
9.525 0.003530 0.95 0.95 0.98 0.96 0.8546 27.87 0.3233
Sphere
3.175 0.000142 3.81 3.84 3.59 3.75 4.8022 4.96 0.1551
5.000 0.000525 1.91 1.99 2.00 1.97 4.1811 2.76 0.8351
Stainless
6.350 0.001040 1.62 1.58 1.53 1.58 1.5345 15.52 0.2352
steel
8.000 0.002048 1.12 1.11 1.26 1.16 1.0443 22.98 0.2725
9.525 0.003527 1.08 0.99 0.99 1.02 0.9648 24.68 0.3435

7
Fluid : Detergent

Time taken (s) Drag

Object Length/diamete Mass coefficient Reynolds Viscosity
Material
shape r (mm) (kg) 1 2 3 Average CD No Re det (kg/sm)
det
3.175 0.000142 1.00 1.10 1.20 1.10 0.4292 55.45 0.0457
5.000 0.000526 0.68 0.75 0.72 0.72 0.5800 19.89 0.3065
Mild steel 6.350 0.001050 0.62 0.60 0.61 0.61 0.2402 99.13 0.0922
8.000 0.002040 0.50 0.53 0.52 0.52 0.2168 110.72 0.1220
9.525 0.003530 0.48 0.47 0.49 0.48 0.2220 107.28 0.1624
Sphere
3.175 0.000142 0.98 1.10 1.02 1.03 0.3763 63.24 0.0428
5.000 0.000525 0.83 0.80 0.86 0.83 0.7707 14.97 0.3533
Stainless
6.350 0.001040 0.73 0.68 0.69 0.70 0.3129 76.15 0.1046
steel
8.000 0.002048 0.60 0.59 0.57 0.59 0.2807 85.52 0.1392
9.525 0.003527 0.53 0.55 0.54 0.54 0.2809 84.77 0.1827

8
Additional info : Oil

N N
s f 2 3
Material Weight (N) ( m3 ) ( m3 ) v (m/s) (Ns/ m ) V( m r (m)
8
0.0014 81599.35 8907.48 0.2833 0.1460 1.7157 10 0.0016

0.0052 79449.96 8907.48 0.5263 0.8054 6.5450 108 0.0052

Mild steel 0.0103 75040.07 8907.48 0.6993 0.2152 1.3726 107 0.0032

0.0200 74604.60 8907.48 0.9091 0.2570 2.6808 107 0.0040

7
0.0346 74689.69 8907.48 1.0417 0.3233 4.6325 10 0.0048
0.0014 81599.35 8907.48 0.2667 0.1551 1.7157 10
8
0.0016
0.0052 79449.96 8907.48 0.5076 0.8351 6.5450 108 0.0052

Stainless steel 0.0102 74311.53 8907.48 0.6329 0.2352 1.3726 10

7
0.0032
0.0201 74977.62 8907.48 0.8621 0.2725 2.6808 107 0.0040
0.0346 74689.69 8907.48 0.9804 0.3435 4.6325 107 0.0048

g/W
/Mg
V
s=
V

1m
v=
T

9
 4
V = r3
3

10
 W =mg Additional info : Detergent

N
N f
s ( m3 2 3
Material Weight (N) ( m3 ) v (m/s) (Ns/ m ) V( m r (m)
)
0.0014 81599.35 8613.18 0.9091 0.0457 1.7157 108 0.0016
8
0.0052 79449.96 8613.18 1.3889 0.3065 6.5450 10 0.0052

Mild steel 0.0103 75040.07 8613.18 1.6393 0.0922 1.3726 107 0.0032
7
0.0200 74604.60 8613.18 1.9231 0.1220 2.6808 10 0.0040
7
0.0346 74689.69 8613.18 2.0833 0.1624 4.6325 10 0.0048
0.0014 81599.35 8613.18 0.9709 0.0428 1.7157 108 0.0016
0.0052 79449.96 8613.18 1.2048 0.3533 6.5450 10
8
0.0052

Stainless steel 0.0102 74311.53 8613.18 1.4286 0.1046 1.3726 107 0.0032
0.0201 74977.62 8613.18 1.6949 0.1392 2.6808 107 0.0040
0.0346 74689.69 8613.18 1.8519 0.1827 4.6325 107 0.0048

g/W
/Mg
V
s=
V

11
 1m
v=
T

4
V = r3
3

W =mg

12
 Mild Steel Sphere in Oil
4.5

3.5

2.5
Drag
Mild Steel Sphere in Oil
Coefficient 2

1.5

0.5

0
5.59 2.9699999999999998 18.739999999999991 25.7 27.87

Reynold's
Number

13
14
 Mild Steel Sphere in Detergent
0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

Drag
Mild Steel Sphere in Detergent
Coefficient
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
55.45 19.89 99.13 110.72 107.28

Reynold's
Number

15
 Stainless Steel Sphere in Oil
6

Drag 2 Stainless Steel Sphere in Oil

Coefficient

Reynold's
Number

16
17
 Stainless Steel Sphere in Detergent
0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

Drag 0.3 Stainless Steel Sphere in

Coefficient Detergent
0.2

0.1

Reynold's
Number

18
DISCUSSION

1. Drag force exerted on the solid which move in a fluid is due to viscosity of the fluid.
It is made up of two components, surface drag and form drag.
2. Relationship of the drag force with the coefficient is
2
A V
F=C D
2
3. The resultant force on the sphere must equal to the specific weight difference times
the volume of the displaced liquid, strokes expression,

f
s

3
4r
F=
3

4. The measurement of the drag coefficients of spheres are as follows:

f
s

r
8
CD=
3

5. Reynolds number

VD
=

6. The fall velocity of a sphere V is calculated as 1/T, where T is the take time taken by
the sphere to fall between the 1m marks. So, in order to calculate the Re, we need to
find and determine the viscosity first. Stokes law can be used to find as long as Re
< 1. The procedure is to select the smallest sphere of the lightest material provided,
measure T, calculate V and use this value to find viscosity from following equation.

f
s


2 2
= r
9

7. From the above equation we can find the Reynolds number

VD
=

19
8. It is possible to measure the value of T for the remaining spheres, and calculate the
drag coefficient and the Reynolds number. To get the accurate reading, it is advisable
to average the number of T obtained over repeated drops of the sphere.

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7.0 CONCLUSION

A measurement technique was developed enabling time measurement of spheres falling in

fluids with great accuracy. A proposed mathematical model that includes a new drag

coefficient correction factor enables more precise evaluation of drag coefficients.

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