Name: _________________________

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Admission Test for Ph.D. Candidates

May 6,, 2010 Time Limit: 90 minutes

Note:

1. This test has several applied mathematics problems and they do not require any specialized field
knowledge. It is designed only to test elementary comprehension and simple math skills. There
are no complicated formulae to be used from memory as all the required information is given in
the problem statements. So, read your problems carefully and you should be able to solve all of
them.
2. All questions carry equal marks.
3. No calculators are allowed
4. Please write in the space provided after each problem and use the back side of the page if
necessary.

DO NOT WRITE IN THE SPACE BELOW

Problem Marks

TOTAL
1. The force applied on a tool, in a certain given punching operation, in the axial direction as a function of
the axial position can be approximated by a quadratic equation of the form ax2 + bx + c, where a, b and
c are constants. The following measurements are made in one such operation and the data is as follows:

x 0 1 2

F 0 15 50

The elemental work done by a force ‘F’ which undergoes a displacement ‘dx’ is calculated as the dot
product of the force and displacement vectors – i.e. W=F.dx. Note that in this particular case the force
and displacement vectors are in the same direction. Calculate the work done during the punching
operation outlined above, as the tool moves from x=0 to x=2.

Note: No units are given for the values given above. You need not specify units for your solution also.
2. One of the basic laws in Fluid Mechanics is the law of Conservation of Mass. For a control volume,
CV (the volume of fluid under investigation) with a number of inlets and exits, the Conservation of
Mass can be written as:

∂ρ
∫ ∂t
dV + ∑(ρ
j
j Ajv j ) out
− ∑(ρ
k
k Ak v k ) in = 0
CV

The first term is the unsteady term, which would go to zero in cases where the flow is steady (does not
change with time) or when the flow is incompressible (density of fluid is constant). The second term
refers to the sum of the mass flow rates leaving the control volume through the surface ‘j’. The third
term is the sum of the mass flow rates entering the control volume through ‘k’.

Volumetric flow rate is given by the product of the flow area and the velocity of flow, i.e. Q = Av ,
where Q is the volumetric flow rate, in m3/s, A is the cross sectional area of flow, in m2 and v is the
average velocity of the fluid normal to the surface in m/s. In general, if the velocity varies with the flow

∫
area, then we can write Q = vdA (integrated over the surface, A)
A

An incompressible fluid flows steadily over an impermeable (no flow can pass through) flat plate as in
the Figure below. The height of the control volume is δ. The inlet velocity is uniform, i.e. v = U o and

 3η − η 3 
the exit velocity profile is a cubic polynomial given by: u = U 
o
 where, η = y . Compute the
 δ
 2 
volumetric flow rate across the top surface of the control volume.

Q=?
Uo y=δ Uo
 3η − η 3 
u = U o  

 2 

y=0

Solid impermeable plate of width ‘b’ perpendicular to the

paper
3. Molten metal is being filled from a pouring basin into a rectangular mould of height hm and base area
Am as shown in the figure below. The velocity, V, at the entry (gate) of the mould at any given instant is
a function of the instantaneous height of the fluid, h, in the mould and is given by:

V = 2 g ( ht − h ) ,

where, ht is the supply height in the pouring basin. The velocity at the entry of the gate may be assumed
to be uniform and the volumetric flow rate of the fluid can be assumed to be equal to the product of the
velocity and the area of the gate, Ag. As the fluid fills the mould, the height h increases. Assuming that
the free surface is flat and horizontal, determine the time required to fill the mould in terms of the
cross-sectional area of the gate is Ag, Am, hm. ht. Assume that the ht, is constant throughout the filling
process. Assume that h=0 at the beginning of the filling process.

Pouring
Basin

Am
ht
Mould

hm
Ag h

Entry
4. The shape of a flexible string hanging under the action of gravity is given by the equation,

2
d2y  dy 
2
= C 1+  ,
dx  dx 

Where, y is the deflection and C is a constant. The coordinate x is defined as 0 at the mid way between
the two supports as shown. The above equation is a non-linear equation and is difficult to solve
analytically. In such cases, one looks for obtaining approximate solutions. Consider the case of a string
supported between two points separated by a length, 2L. The maximum deflection for this case will be
at the centre and is denoted by H. Answer the following:

(a) Looking at the shape of the string, what are the boundary conditions that you might like to apply
at x = 0 and x = L

(b) What is the value of dy/dx, if the string is assumed to have a shape of a straight line maintaining a
deflection of H at the centre?

(c) If you are allowed to assume that the slope anywhere in the actual string is less than that
computed in part (b), and that H << L, can you simplify the equation and obtain the expression
for deflection?

2L
x=0 x
H y
5. Springs are devices that are commonly used in engineering applications to absorb shocks. These
are characterized by a quantity called stiffness, which is defined as the force required per unit
deformation (Change in length). Thus for if a force F is applied on a spring and it elongates by L,
then stiffness K = F/L. Proceed systematically from first principles to solve the following
questions. Blind use of formulae will attract penalty

(a) Consider the case shown in figure 1. Assuming that the mass attached remains horizontal, derive
an expression for the deflection in the springs in terms of K1, K2, m, and g.

(b) Now if the same mass is attached in a different configuration as shown in figure 2, derive an
expression for the displacement of mass in terms of K1, K2, m, and g.

K
K1 K2
Fig. 1 1
Fig. 2
m
mg g
K
2
6. A fluid flows through a circular pipe of diameter D, and length L with a constant mass flow rate
of m . The walls of the pipe are electrically heated, and the linear heat rate (heat generated per
unit length) function is given by the expression

α z 
−  
π z  ,
q′( z ) = Ce

 L 
sin 
 L 

where z is the distance from the pipe inlet, α is a control parameter that is positive and can be
changed, and C is a positive constant. A look at the function must suggest that at z = 0, the value
of the function is 0. The same is true at x = L. It is also fairly clear that the function is positive for
0 < x < L. Therefore the maxima of the function must lie at distance x such that 0 < x < L. The
position of the maxima can be adjusted by tuning the parameter α. You are asked to find the value
that α will take, if the maximum has to be at a distance L/3 from the pipe entrance.