COMPRESSIBLE FLOW 885
dharm
\M-therm\Th16-2.pm5
The quantity within the brackets may be positive or negative depending upon the magni-
tude of Mach number. By integrating eqn. (16.40), we can obtain a relationship between the
critical throat area Ac, where Mach number is unity and the area A at any section where M (^) <> 1
A
Ac =
12 1
1
2
1
21
M
+−M
- L
N
M
M
O
Q
P
P
()γ ()−
γ
γ
γ
...(16.41)
Example 16.12. The pressure leads from Pitot-static tube mounted on an aircraft were
connected to a pressure gauge in the cockpit. The dial of the pressure gauge is calibrated to read
the aircraft speed in m/s. The calibration is done on the ground by applying a known pressure
across the gauge and calculating the equivalent velocity using incompressible Bernoulli’s equa-
tion and assuming that the density is 1.224 kg/m^3.
The gauge having been calibrated in this way the aircraft is flown at 9200 m, where the
density is 0.454 kg/m^3 and ambient pressure is 30 kN/m^2. The gauge indicates a velocity of
152 m/s. What is the true speed of the aircraft? (UPSC)
Sol. Bernoulli’s equation for an incompressible flow is given by,
p + ρV
2
2
= constant
The stagnation pressure (ps) created at Pitot-static tube,
ps = p 0 + ρ^00
2
2
V (neglecting compressibility effects) ...(i)
Here p 0 = 30 kN/m^2 , V 0 = 152 m/s, ρ 0 = 1.224 kg/m^3 ...(Given)
∴ ps = 30 +
1 224 152
2
. ×^2
×10–3 = 44.139 kN/m^2
Neglecting compressibility effect, the speed of the aircraft when
ρ 0 = 0.454 kg/m^3 is given by [using eqn. (i)],
44.139 × 10^3 = 30 × 10^3 +
0 454
2
0
. ×V^2
or V 02 =
(. )
.
44 139 30 10 2
0 454
−× ×^3
= 62286.34
∴ V 0 = 249.57 m/s
Sonic velocity, C 0 = γRT 0 = γρ
p 0
0
= 1.4
0.454
×30 10×
3
= 304.16 m/s
Mach number, M =
V
C
0
0
249 57
304 16
=.
. = 0.82
Compressibility correction factor =^1
4
0
2
+
F
HG
I
KJ
M
, neglecting the terms containing higher powers
of M 0 (from eqn 16.19).
=^1
082
4
FHG +. IKJ = 1.168
∴ True speed of aircraft =
249 57
1 168
.
.
= 230.9 m/s
Hence true speed of aircraft = 230.9 m/s (Ans.)