Test 1 Reflection:

This test focuses on the first two course objectives, “Describe the nature of fluids and define different fluid properties such as viscosity and pressure; Compute pressure and the forces (magnitude, location, and direction) associate with it in a stagnant fluid.” We are solving for a pressure the whole time using tools the professor taught us to use on this test.

I made a few mistakes that contributed to some incorrect final answers. Overall, however, I followed the format correctly and my methods to solve this problem were correct. My first issue was using the wrong (f) value for my losses in the pipe due to length. I used 0.018 instead of 0.020 as I did not use Reynolds number to compute f, I just used the value in the given table. The rest of the first part of the test I did correctly with that one incorrect number. My P1 was just barely off the correct number with using that one wrong value. This also effected my ability to get the right manometer value for the first and second part of the test. My answers were slightly off with this problem taken into account. My only other large issue was my use of excel. I didn’t change my Q value in my losses equation as I changed Q for the graph to find flow rate at a given pressure. This made it impossible to complete the 3rd part of the test. If I had just used a bigger equation to include the use of Q in both the main part of the equation along with each energy loss, I would’ve been able to complete this part of the test perfectly.

1st part)

  1. Bernoulli’s at liquid surfaces and solve for air pressure    1/7 out of 1/7
  2. Compute velocity with Q=VA                                                       1/7 out of 1/7
  3. Compute energy losses (pipe and minor)                               0.80/7 out of 1/7
  4. “gamma*h” equation and solve for “h” in manometer     0.80/7 out of 1/7
  5. Compute pressure at 2nd elbow                                                  0.80/7 out of 1/7
  6. Create spreadsheet with all calculations                                 1/7 out of 1/7
  7. Correct results?                                                                                 0.80/7 out of 1/7

2nd part)

  1. “gamma*h” equation and solve for air pressure                  1/3 out of 1/3
  2. “gamma*h” equation and solve for “h” in manometer     1/3 out of 1/3
  3. Correct results?                                                                                 0.80/3 out of 1/3

3rd part)

  1. Use spreadsheet from “1st part” to get P1 for diff Q

Make sure energy losses change when changing Q            1/4 out of 1/4

  1. Plot P1 vs Q                                                                                        0.6/4 out of 1/4
  2. Read Q for P1=75 psig                                                                    0.6/4 out of 1/4
  3. Correct results?                                                                                 0.6/4 out of 1/4

I didn’t think I had any issues going though the test the first time other than the fail with part 3, which was caused by a minor error. Any questions I had about the wording of the test or clarification on the diagram related to the questions was answered when I texted my professor. That was a very helpful method of communication. It was a good idea for me to do the test reflection since I got valuable feedback after I submitted it. I learned new concepts, such as computing energy losses, finding a manometer reading, and finding pressure and flow rate at a given place in a fluid system. I think what I learned for this test will be helpful in the future if I am dealing with fluid dynamics, and I very may will be. It all depends on where I end up in the industry. I could use my new knowledge to help choose a water pump for a job, given I have the required information from the system on its requirements and limitations. I improved in my ability to ask for help when I don’t know the answer, and I also got better at problem solving on the fly. I want to work in the automotive engineering industry, so I could use what I learned today to design the brake system with hydraulics relating to the pedal and brake calipers. I got the flu the week of the test, so my ability to focus on this test was much less than it usually is. I spent about 10 hours over the entire week to make sure I wasn’t making any mistakes (yet I still did). If I wasn’t sick, I could’ve finished the test in half that amount of time.