Department of Civil Engineering

Kulliyyah of Engineering
International Islamic University Malaysia

Fluid Mechanics
Lab Manual
CIVE 2116 – Civil engineering Lab I

Impact of Jets

2nd edition (Apr 2017)

 F3.
IMPACT OF JETS

1. OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objectives of the experiment are:

1. to investigate the reaction force produced by the impact of a jet of water on to various target
vanes,
2. to experimentally determine the force required to keep a target at a datum level while it is
subjected to the impact of a water jet,
3. to compare the experimentally measured force with the theoretically calculated force.

It is expected by completing the experiment, the student will be able to apply the principles of
fluid momentum in analyzing forces exerted by a moving fluid.

2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Impact of Jets Apparatus, which is illustrated in Figure 1, is intended to be used with the
Hydraulic Bench which provides the water supply and the means of measuring flow rate. The
apparatus is supported on a PVC base into which a vertical nozzle supply pipe is fitted.
Surrounding the supply pipe is a transparent acrylic plastic shield/tube fitted with a removable
top PVC flanged cover assembly.

A vertical shaft, which passes through the top flange assembly, has provision for attaching the
target vane at its lower end. The top of the shaft is screwed to a weight platform and a spring
between the top flange and the weight platform provides vertical support to an equilibrium
position. A weight carrier and a set of brass weights are supplied.

Five interchangeable target vanes are supplied; the flat 180°, 120° conical, 30° flat and
hemispheres (inward and outward), dimensional detail of the three target vanes are shown in
Figure 2. Two interchangeable plain bore nozzles are supplied, one 5 mm diameter and one 8
mm diameter. Screws are provided on the base plate of the apparatus for storage of the nozzle
and target vanes which are not in use.

The reaction vane is held within the transparent shield approximately 20 mm above the vertical
water supply pipe nozzle by a rod which passes through the top cover and supports a flat tray,
onto which masses may be placed. In operation, water from the Hydraulic Bench flows vertically
from the nozzle and impacts onto the target vane. The impulse force produced by the impact of
the jet onto the vane lifts the vane, shaft and weight platform upwards and weights can then be
added to restore the weight platform to its equilibrium position. The water from the jet is deflected
 by the reaction vane under test and drains away through three apertures in the base of the
chamber.

2.1. Description and Assembly

1
7

2
8
3
9

4
10

Figure 1: Impact of Jet Apparatus

No. Description No. Description

1 Pointer 7 Weight Platform
2 Spring Tension Adjuster 8 Spring
3 Wing Nut 9 Screw Nut
4 Interchangeable Target 10 Interchangeable Nozzle
5 Brass Weight 11 Water Inlet
6 Weight Carrier
 Figure 2: Interchangeable Target Vanes

3. THEORY/BACKGROUND
3.1. General Analysis

When a jet of water flowing with a steady velocity strikes a solid surface, the water is deflected
to flow along the surface. Unlike the impact of solid bodies, there is no rebound and unless the
flow is highly turbulent, there will be no splashing. If friction is neglected by assuming an inviscid
fluid and it is also assumed that there are no losses due to shocks then the magnitude of the
water velocity is unchanged, the pressure exerted by the water on the solid surface will
everywhere be at right angles to the surface. Newton’s second law of motion states that a mass
that is accelerated required a force that is equal to the product of the mass and acceleration. In
fluid mechanics, whenever fluid are forced to go through a restriction or change direction. The
analogy to Newton’s second law in fluid mechanics is known as the momentum equation.

FX
Vi Vi

Vi cos 
Impact Velocity, Vi Vi

Height, h Vi sin 

Vi

Nozzle Velocity, Vn

Figure 3: Impact of a Jet

 Consider a jet of water which impacts on to a target surface causing the direction of the jet to be
changed through and angle θ as shown in Figure 3 above. In the absence of friction, the
magnitude of the velocity across the surface is equal to the incident velocity V i. The impulse force
exerted on the target will be equal and opposite to the force which acts on the water to impart
the change in direction.

Applying Newton’s Second law in the direction of the incident jet;

Force  Mass  Acceleration

 Mass Flow Rate  Change in Velocity
.
- FX  M V
.
 M (VX, out - VX, in )

 MVi cos - Vi 
.
- FX

 M Vi 1 - cos 
.
FX

. .
But M = ρ Q , therefore
.
F  ρ Q Vi (1  cosθ)
.
And dividing trough by ρ Q Vi which is the incident momentum

F
.
 1  cosθ
ρ Q Vi

3.2. Application to Impact of Jet Apparatus

In each case, it is assumed that there is no splashing or rebound of the water from the surface
so that the exit angle is parallel to the exit angle of the target.

a. Effect of Height

The nozzle velocity (exit velocity) can be calculated from the measured flow rate and the nozzle
exit area.
.
Q
Vn 
A
However, as the nozzle is below the target, the impact velocity will be less than the nozzle velocity
due to interchanges between potential energy and kinetic energy.
Applying the Bernoulli equation between nozzle and plate:
 Pn   Vn2  P   Vi 2 
      Z n    i      Z i 
   2g     2g 

Since the jet is open to the atmosphere,

 Pn   Pi 
      0
   
And
Z n   Z i   h

Therefore,
Vi 2  Vn2  2 gh

Where h is the height of target above the nozzle exit.

b. Impact on Flat 180° Plane Target

For the flat 180° plane target θ is 90º. Therefore cos θ = 0

F
.
 1  cos θ  1
ρ Q Vi

c. Impact on 120° Conical and 30° Flat Plate Target

The target exit angle, θ is 120º. Therefore cos θ = 0.5

F
.
 1  cos θ  0.5
ρ Q Vi

d. Impact on Hemisphere Target

The target exit angle, θ is 180º. Therefore cos θ = - 1

F
.
 1  cos θ  2
ρ Q Vi

By using the above equation, we can compare the theoretical and experimental of force value of
target with different angle.
Theoretically,
F  mg

Experimentally,
.
F  ρ Q Vi  1- cos 
4. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
4.1. General Start-up Procedures

The Impact of Jet (Model: FM 31) is supplied ready for use and only requires connection to the
Hydraulic Bench (Model: FM 110) as follows:
1. Locate the apparatus on top of the Hydraulic Bench so that the apparatus straddles the weir
channel.
2. Attach a spirit level to baseboard and level the unit on top of the bench by adjusting the feet.
3. Connect the feed tube from the Hydraulic Bench to the base of the Impact of Jets Apparatus
by using a hose.
4. Fill water into the volumetric tank of the hydraulic bench until approximately 90% full.
5. Fully close the bench flow control valve then switch on the pump.
6. Gradually open control valve and allow the piping to fill with water until all air has been
expelled from the system.
7. The actual flow of water can be measured using the volumetric tank with a stopwatch.

4.2. General Shut-down Procedures

1. Close bench flow control valve.

2. Turn off the water supply pump.
3. Drain off water from the unit when not in use.

4.3. Experiment: Reaction Force Determination

Objectives:
1. to investigate the reaction force produced by the impact of a jet of water on to various target
vanes.
2. to experimentally determine the force required to keep a target at a datum level while it is
subjected to the impact of a water jet.
3. to compare the experimentally measured force with the theoretically calculated force.

Procedures:
1. Open the weight platform by unscrewing the screw nut and screwing the wing nut.
2. Attach the 5 mm nozzle onto the bottom vertical shaft and hemisphere target vane onto top
vertical shaft.
3. Close the weight platform by unscrewing wing nut and screwing the screw nut.
4. Position the weight carrier on the weight platform.
5. Adjust the spring tension adjuster to ensure the distance of 20 mm between the nozzle and
the target vane by first pressing the spring until the target vane touches the nozzle.
6. Move the pointer so that it is aligned to the weight platform.
7. Release the spring and adjust the spring tension adjuster to ensure distance between the
weight platform and the pointer is 20 mm, and then record this value as h.
8. Then move the pointer so that it is aligned to the weight platform that is floating in mid
position.
9. Turn on the pump and establish the water flow by steadily opening the bench control valve
until it is fully open.
10. The target vane will now be deflected by the impact of the jet. Add weights onto the weight
carrier until the weight platform is again floating in mid position (weight platform aligned with
pointer).
11. Measure and record the flow rate, together with the corresponding value of weight on the
weight carrier. Observe the form of the deflected jet and note its shape.
12. Reduce the weight on the weight carrier in steps and maintain balance of weight platform by
regulating the flow rate for a few steps, each time recording the value of flow rate and weight
on the weight carrier.
13. Close the control valve and switch off the pump.
14. Repeat the experiment with different target vanes and nozzles.
15. To change the target vanes and nozzles, open the weight platform by unscrewing the screw
nut and screwing the wing nut.
16. After the target vanes and nozzles are change, close the weight platform by unscrewing the
wing nut and screwing the screw nut.

Results and analysis:

1. Record the results on the result sheets.
2. Calculate the flow rate and the nozzle velocity. Correct the nozzle velocity for the height of
the target above the nozzle to obtain the impact velocity.
3. Calculate the experimental force and the theoretical force, then compare.
5. DICUSSION AND REPORTING

1. In the installation of this apparatus, it’s crucial to make sure the placement of the nozzle head
is at the centre under the vane. The displacement of it causing a loss in water velocity due
to splashing by the rebound water. If the vane and the nozzle shaft are placed in series and
centred, there will be no water rebound as jet water exerted will be deflected to flow along
the surface to the surrounding shield when it hits the target vane. Due to this displacement
also, it will cause an uneven force impact on the target vane hence decreasing the reaction
force produced on the vane.
2. Higher water jet velocity will produce a higher force exerted onto the target vane. The amount
of weight can be supported indicate the force exerted by the jet.
3. Force exerted can be calculated by:

F (N)  W (in kg)  9.81

IMPACT OF JETS
2

1 2 3
0
log Vi
Demonstration that the force exerted on
Fla ere
sph

the vane when struck by the jet, is

t
mi
He

-1
ne

proportional to the rate of change of

Co

momentum of the jet stream.

-2

-3

-4
6. REFERENCES

Applied Fluid Mechanics 5th Edition, Robert L. Mott, Prentice-Hall

Elementary Fluid Mechanics 7th Edition, Robert L. Street, Gary Z. Watters, John K. Vennard,
John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Fluid mechanics 4th Edition, Reynold C. Binder

Fluid Mechanics with applications, Anthony Esposito, Prentice-Hall International Inc.

 APPENDIX A
Experimental Data Sheets
 F3.
IMPACT OF JETS

a. Nozzle Diameter: 5mm

Flat Plate Semi Spherical

No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s) No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s)
1 70 1 140
2 140 2 280
3 210 3 420
4 280 4 560
5 350 5 700

120⁰ Conical 30⁰ Plate/ 120⁰ Plate

No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s) No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s)
1 40 1 40
2 60 2 80
3 80 3 120
4 100 4 160
5 120 5 200

b. Nozzle Diameter: 8mm

Flat Plate Semi Spherical

No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s) No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s)
1 70 1 140
2 140 2 280
3 210 3 420
4 280 4 560
5 350 5 700

120⁰ Conical 30⁰ Plate/ 120⁰ Plate

No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s) No. Mass (g) Volume (L) Time (s)
1 40 1 40
2 60 2 80
3 80 3 120
4 100 4 160
5 120 5 200