Engineering Problems for Python Programming

Problem 1: Plot T-S Diagram for an Isentropic Expansion of Air

An ideal gas (air) expands isentropically from an initial state:

• Initial pressure: P1 = 500 kPa

• Final pressure: P2 = 100 kPa
• Initial temperature: T1 = 600 K

• Isentropic exponent: γ = 1.4

Using the isentropic relation:

  γ−1
P2 γ
T2 = T1
P1

1. Compute temperature values for intermediate pressures between 500 kPa and 100 kPa.
2. Assume entropy increases linearly and plot the T-S diagram.

Problem 2: Van der Waals Equation for Real Gas (CO2 ) – P-V
Diagram
For carbon dioxide (CO2 ) at T = 350 K, use the Van der Waals equation:
RT a
P = −
V −b V2
where:
• Gas constant: R = 0.1889 kJ/kg.K

• Van der Waals constants: a = 3.592 kPa.m6 /kg 2 , b = 0.0427 m3 /kg

• Volume range: V = 0.05 to 0.5 m3 /kg

1. Compute and plot the P-V diagram.

2. Avoid division by zero for volumes near b.
3. Use a loop to calculate P for different V .

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Problem 3: Temperature Distribution in a Fin (Heat Transfer
Problem)
A thin metal fin of length L = 10 cm is exposed to air. The governing equation for 1D steady-state
conduction is:

d2 T
− m2 (T − T∞ ) = 0
dx2
where:
• Ambient temperature: T∞ = 300 K
• Base temperature: Tb = 400 K
• Heat transfer coefficient: h = 50 W/m².K
• Thermal conductivity: k = 200 W/m.K
• Cross-sectional area: Ac = 0.0005 m²
• Perimeter: P = 0.05 m
The parameter m is given by:
r
hP
m=
kAc
1. Discretize the equation using the finite difference method (FDM).
2. Solve for temperature distribution along the fin.
3. Plot T (x) along the fin length.

Problem 4: Solidification Time in Sand Casting (Chvorinov’s Rule)

A cylindrical casting has the following parameters:

• Diameter: D = 10 cm
• Height: H = 20 cm
• Mold constant: Cm = 0.5 min/cm²
• Exponent: n = 2

Using Chvorinov’s Rule, the solidification time ts is given by:

 n
V
ts = Cm
A
where:
• V = volume of the casting
• A = surface area of the casting

1. Compute the solidification time.

2. Plot the variation of solidification time for different values of mold constant Cm (0.3 to 0.7
min/cm²).

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Problem 5: Forging Force Estimation for Open-Die Forging
A cylindrical workpiece is being hot forged with:

• Initial height: h0 = 150 mm

• Final height: hf = 50 mm
• Initial diameter: D = 100 mm
• Yield strength: σY = 200 MPa

• Friction coefficient: µ = 0.2

The forging force F can be estimated using:

 
D
F = σY 1 + 2µ A
h
where A is the current cross-sectional area of the workpiece.

1. Compute and plot the forging force vs. height curve as the height decreases from 150 mm to 50
mm.
2. Use a loop to calculate values at intervals of 10 mm.

Problem 6: Cooling Time for Metal in Continuous Casting

A slab of metal is being cooled in continuous casting with:

• Thickness: T = 50 mm
• Thermal conductivity: k = 200 W/m.K
• Density: ρ = 7800 kg/m³
• Specific heat: Cp = 500 J/kg.K

• Surface heat transfer coefficient: h = 500 W/m².K

• Initial temperature: Ti = 1600 K
• Final temperature: Tf = 800 K

The cooling time can be estimated using:

ρCp T
t=
h
1. Compute the cooling time for the given data.

2. Plot the cooling time vs. thickness for thickness values from 20 mm to 100 mm.

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Problem 7: Projectile Motion with Air Resistance
A ball is launched with an initial velocity of v0 = 50 m/s at an angle of θ = 45◦ . The governing equations
of motion with air resistance are:
dvx
m = −cvx
dt
dvy
m = −mg − cvy
dt
where:
• m = 0.5 kg (mass of the ball)
• g = 9.81 m/s² (acceleration due to gravity)
• c = 0.05 kg/s (drag coefficient)
1. Use Euler’s method to simulate the projectile motion in time steps of 0.01 s.
2. Plot the trajectory of the projectile (y vs. x).
3. Compare the motion with and without air resistance.

Problem 8: Forces on a Truss (Static Equilibrium)

A simple truss consists of a triangle with three joints A, B, C and two applied forces:
• F1 = 500 N acting at joint B in the downward direction.
• F2 = 300 N acting at joint C at an angle of 30◦ from the horizontal.
The reactions at supports A and C need to be determined using static equilibrium:
X X X
Fx = 0, Fy = 0, MA = 0
1. Compute the reaction forces at supports A and C.
2. Solve for internal forces in each member using the method of joints.
3. Plot the truss with labeled forces using Python.

Problem 9: Damped Harmonic Oscillator (Spring-Mass System)

A spring-mass-damper system is described by the equation:

d2 x dx
m +c + kx = 0
dt2 dt
where:
• m = 2 kg (mass)
• k = 50 N/m (spring constant)
• c = 5 Ns/m (damping coefficient)
• x0 = 0.1 m (initial displacement)
• v0 = 0 m/s (initial velocity)
1. Use numerical integration to solve for x(t) over time.
2. Plot the displacement vs. time for different damping values (c = 5, 10, 20 Ns/m).
3. Identify critical damping where oscillations cease.

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Problem 10: Orthographic Projection of a Cylinder
A cylinder of:
• Diameter: 50 mm
• Height: 80 mm
• Axis inclined at: 30◦ to HP
is placed on the HP (Horizontal Plane).
1. Draw the top view and front view using Python.
2. Use loops to create a grid-based representation of the projection.
3. Compute and plot the change in projection as the inclination increases from 30◦ to 60◦ .

Problem 11: Isometric View of a Cube with a Hole

A cube of side 40 mm has a cylindrical hole of diameter 20 mm passing through its center.
1. Generate the isometric view using Python.
2. Use loops and conditionals to create the wireframe model.
3. Rotate the isometric view and plot projections for different viewing angles.

Problem 12: Development of a Truncated Cone

A truncated cone has:
• Base Diameter: 60 mm
• Top Diameter: 30 mm
• Height: 100 mm
1. Compute and plot the development of the lateral surface.
2. Use a loop to calculate the sector angles for flattening the cone.
3. Compare developments for different truncation heights.

Problem 13: Velocity Profile in a Laminar Flow (Hagen-Poiseuille

Equation)
Water flows through a horizontal circular pipe of diameter D = 10 cm under laminar conditions. The
maximum velocity at the center is given as:

Vmax = 2 m/s
The velocity distribution is given by the equation:

r2
 
V (r) = Vmax 1− 2
R
where R = D/2 is the pipe radius.
1. Compute the velocity at different radial positions.
2. Plot the velocity profile across the pipe cross-section.
3. Use a loop to vary the pipe diameter and analyze its effect on the profile.

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Problem 14: Pressure Drop in a Pipe using Darcy-Weisbach Equa-
tion
A pipe with:

• Diameter: D = 0.2 m
• Length: L = 50 m
• Flow Rate: Q = 0.05 m³/s
• Friction Factor: f = 0.02

is used to transport water. The pressure drop is given by:

L ρV 2
∆P = f
D 2
Q
where V = A is the velocity of flow.

1. Compute the velocity of flow and pressure drop.

2. Use a loop to compute ∆P for different friction factors (f = 0.01 to 0.05).

3. Plot the variation of pressure drop with pipe length.

Problem 15: Drag Force on a Sphere in a Fluid

A sphere of diameter D = 0.1 m is moving in air with velocity V = 5 m/s. The drag force is given by:
1
FD = CD ρAV 2
2
where:
• CD = 0.47 (drag coefficient for a sphere)

• ρ = 1.225 kg/m³ (air density)

πD 2
• A= 4 (frontal area)
Tasks:

1. Compute the drag force on the sphere.

2. Use a loop to vary V from 1 to 20 m/s and compute the corresponding drag forces.
3. Plot the drag force vs. velocity curve.