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Eighth Edition
J.P. Holman
Experimental Methods
for Engineers
E I G H T H E D I T I O N
McGraw-Hill Series in Mechanical Engineering
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Anderson Fundamentals of Aerodynamics
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Anderson Modern Compressible Flow
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Cengel/Cimbala Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications
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Heywood Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals
Holman Experimental Methods for Engineers
Holman Heat Transfer
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Norton Design of Machinery
Palm System Dynamics
Plesha/Grey/Costanzo Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics
Reddy An Introduction to Finite Element Method
Schey Introduction to Manufacturing Processes
Smith/Hashemi Foundations of Materials Science and Engineering
Turns An Introduction to Combustion: Concepts and Applications
Ullman The Mechanical Design Process
White Fluid Mechanics
White Viscous Fluid Flow
Zeid Mastering CAD/CAM
Experimental Methods
for Engineers
E I G H T H E D I T I O N
J. P. HolmanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering
Southern Methodist University
EXPERIMENTAL METHODS FOR ENGINEERS, EIGHTH EDITION
Published by McGraw-Hill, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Holman, J. P. (Jack Philip)
Experimental methods for engineers / J.P. Holman.—8th ed.
p. cm.—(McGraw-Hill series in mechanical engineering)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-352930-1
ISBN-10: 0-07-352930-3
1. Engineering—Laboratory manuals. 2. Engineering instruments. I. Title.
TA152.H6 2011
620.0078—dc23
2011015004
www.mhhe.com
About the Author
J. P. Holman received the Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State
University. After two years as a research scientist at the Wright Aerospace Research
Laboratory, he joined the faculty of Southern Methodist University, where he is
presently Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering. He has also held adminis-
trative positions as Director of the Thermal and Fluid Sciences Center, Head of the
Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department, and Assistant Provost for Instruc-
tional Media. During his tenure at SMU he has been voted the outstanding faculty
member by the student body 13 times.
Dr. Holman has published over 30 papers in several areas of heat transfer and
his three widely used textbooks, Heat Transfer (10th edition, 2010), Experimental
Methods for Engineers (7th edition, 2001), and Thermodynamics (4th edition, 1988),
all published by McGraw-Hill, have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese,
Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian, and are distributed worldwide. He is
also the author of the utilitarian monograph What Every Engineer Should Know About
EXCEL (2006), published by CRC Press. Dr. Holman also consults for industry in
the fields of heat transfer and energy systems.
Amember ofASEE, he is past Chairman of the National Mechanical Engineering
Division and past chairman of the ASME Region X Mechanical Engineering Depart-
ment Heads. Dr. Holman is a Fellow of ASME and recipient of several national
awards: the George Westinghouse Award from ASEE for distinguished contributions
to engineering education (1972), the James Harry Potter Gold Medal from ASME
for contributions to thermodynamics (1986), the Worcester Reed Warner Gold Medal
from ASME for outstanding contributions to the permanent literature of engineering
(1987), and the Ralph Coats Roe Award from ASEE as the outstanding mechanical
engineering educator of the year (1995). In 1993 he was the recipient of the Lohmann
Medal from Oklahoma State University, awarded annually to a distinguished
engineering alumnus of that institution.
v
Contents
C h a p t e r 1
Introduction 1
C h a p t e r 2
Basic Concepts 5
2.1 Introduction 5
2.2 Definition of Terms 5
2.3 Calibration 6
2.4 Standards 7
2.5 Dimensions and Units 11
2.6 The Generalized Measurement System 14
2.7 Basic Concepts in Dynamic
Measurements 18
2.8 System Response 31
2.9 Distortion 32
2.10 Impedance Matching 32
2.11 Fourier Analysis 35
2.12 Experiment Planning 46
2.13 Review Questions 50
2.14 Problems 52
2.15 References 58
C h a p t e r 3
Analysis of ExperimentalData 60
3.1 Introduction 60
3.2 Causes and Types of Experimental
Errors 61
3.3 Error Analysis on a Commonsense Basis 62
3.4 Uncertainty Analysis and Propagation of
Uncertainty 63
3.5 Evaluation of Uncertainties for Complicated
Data Reduction 72
3.6 Statistical Analysis of Experimental
Data 74
3.7 Probability Distributions 79
3.8 The Gaussian or Normal Error
Distribution 83
3.9 Comparison of Data with Normal
Distribution 93
3.10 The Chi-Square Test of Goodness of Fit 97
3.11 Method of Least Squares 104
3.12 The Correlation Coefficient 108
3.13 Multivariable Regression 110
3.14 Standard Deviation of the Mean 112
3.15 Student’s t-Distribution 113
3.16 Graphical Analysis and Curve Fitting 120
3.17 Choice of Graph Formats 121
3.18 Causation, Correlations, and Curve-fits 137
3.19 General Considerations in
Data Analysis 142
3.20 Summary 143
3.21 Review Questions 144
3.22 Problems 144
3.23 References 163
C h a p t e r 4
Basic Electrical Measurementsand Sensing Devices 166
4.1 Introduction 166
4.2 Forces of Electromagnetic Origin 166
4.3 Waveform Measures 170
4.4 Basic Analog Meters 173
4.5 Basic Digital Meters 179
4.6 Basic Input Circuits 180
4.7 Amplifiers 194
4.8 Differential Amplifiers 198
4.9 Operational Amplifiers 198
4.10 Transformers 203
4.11 Power Supplies 204
4.12 Signal Conditioning 205
4.13 The Electronic Voltmeter 217
4.14 Digital Voltmeters 218
4.15 The Oscilloscope 220
4.16 Oscilloscope Selection 223
4.17 Output Recorders 226
vi
Contents vii
4.18 Counters—Time and Frequency
Measurements 226
4.19 Transducers 227
4.20 The Variable-Resistance Transducer 227
4.21 The Differential Transformer (LVDT) 230
4.22 Capacitive Transducers 232
4.23 Piezoelectric Transducers 234
4.24 Photoelectric Effects 236
4.25 Photoconductive Transducers 236
4.26 Photovoltaic Cells 239
4.27 Ionization Transducers 240
4.28 Magnetometer Search Coil 241
4.29 Hall-Effect Transducers 242
4.30 Digital Displacement Transducers 244
4.31 Comparison of Analog and Digital
Instruments 245
4.32 Summary 245
4.33 Review Questions 246
4.34 Problems 247
4.35 References 254
C h a p t e r 5
Displacement and AreaMeasurements 256
5.1 Introduction 256
5.2 Dimensional Measurements 256
5.3 Gage Blocks 258
5.4 Optical Methods 259
5.5 Pneumatic Displacement Gage 262
5.6 Area Measurements 264
5.7 The Planimeter, a Device of Historical
Interest 265
5.8 Graphical and Numerical Methods for Area
Measurement 266
5.9 Surface Areas 271
5.10 Problems 272
5.11 References 276
C h a p t e r 6
Pressure Measurement 278
6.1 Introduction 278
6.2 Dynamic Response Considerations 281
6.3 Mechanical Pressure-Measurement
Devices 283
6.4 Dead-Weight Tester 288
6.5 Bourdon-Tube Pressure Gage 290
6.6 Diaphragm and Bellows Gages 291
6.7 The Bridgman Gage 295
6.8 Low-Pressure Measurement 296
6.9 The McLeod Gage 296
6.10 Pirani Thermal-Conductivity
Gage 298
6.11 The Knudsen Gage 299
6.12 The Ionization Gage 300
6.13 The Alphatron 301
6.14 Summary 302
6.15 Review Questions 303
6.16 Problems 303
6.17 References 310
C h a p t e r 7
Flow Measurement 312
7.1 Introduction 312
7.2 Positive-Displacement Methods 313
7.3 Flow-Obstruction Methods 316
7.4 Practical Considerations for
Obstruction Meters 320
7.5 The Sonic Nozzle 329
7.6 Flow Measurement by Drag
Effects 331
7.7 Hot-Wire and Hot-Film Anemometers 340
7.8 Magnetic Flowmeters 344
7.9 Flow-Visualization Methods 345
7.10 The Shadowgraph 347
7.11 The Schlieren 348
7.12 The Interferometer 351
7.13 The Laser Doppler Anemometer
(LDA) 353
7.14 Smoke Methods 356
7.15 Pressure Probes 356
7.16 Impact Pressure in Supersonic Flow 365
7.17 Summary 366
7.18 Review Questions 367
7.19 Problems 369
7.20 References 377
viii Contents
C h a p t e r 8
The Measurement ofTemperature 381
8.1 Introduction 381
8.2 Temperature Scales 381
8.3 The Ideal-Gas Thermometer 382
8.4 Temperature Measurement by Mechanical
Effects 384
8.5 Temperature Measurement by Electrical
Effects 388
8.6 Temperature Measurement by
Radiation 409
8.7 Effect of Heat Transfer on Temperature
Measurement 416
8.8 Transient Response of Thermal
Systems 425
8.9 Thermocouple Compensation 427
8.10 Temperature Measurements in High-Speed
Flow 430
8.11 Summary 434
8.12 Review Questions 434
8.13 Problems 435
8.14 References 444
C h a p t e r 9
Thermal- andTransport-PropertyMeasurements 447
9.1 Introduction 447
9.2 Thermal-Conductivity Measurements 448
9.3 Thermal Conductivity of Liquids
and Gases 452
9.4 Measurement of Viscosity 454
9.5 Gas Diffusion 461
9.6 Calorimetry 465
9.7 Convection Heat-Transfer
Measurements 470
9.8 Humidity Measurements 473
9.9 Heat-Flux Meters 478
9.10 pH Measurement 481
9.11 Review Questions 482
9.12 Problems 483
9.13 References 489
C h a p t e r 10
Force, Torque, and StrainMeasurements 491
10.1 Introduction 491
10.2 Mass Balance Measurements 492
10.3 Elastic Elements for Force
Measurements 496
10.4 Torque Measurements 499
10.5 Stress and Strain 503
10.6 Strain Measurements 505
10.7 Electrical-Resistance Strain Gages 505
10.8 Measurement of Resistance Strain-Gage
Outputs 509
10.9 Temperature Compensation 510
10.10 Strain-Gage Rosettes 512
10.11 The Unbonded Resistance Strain
Gage 515
10.12 Review Questions 516
10.13 Problems 516
10.14 References 521
C h a p t e r 11
Motion and VibrationMeasurement 523
11.1 Introduction 523
11.2 Two Simple Vibration Instruments 523
11.3 Principles of the Seismic Instrument 525
11.4 Practical Considerations for Seismic
Instruments 532
11.5 Sound Measurements 535
11.6 Review Questions 548
11.7 Problems 549
11.8 References 554
C h a p t e r 12
Thermal- andNuclear-RadiationMeasurements 556
12.1 Introduction 556
12.2 Detection of Thermal Radiation 556
12.3 Measurement of Emissivity 562
Contents ix
12.4 Reflectivity and Transmissivity
Measurements 565
12.5 Solar Radiation Measurements 566
12.6 Nuclear Radiation 568
12.7 Detection of Nuclear Radiation 569
12.8 The Geiger-Muller Counter 569
12.9 Ionization Chambers 570
12.10 Photographic Detection Methods 571
12.11 The Scintillation Counter 572
12.12 Neutron Detection 572
12.13 Statistics of Counting 573
12.14 Radiation Effects in Humans 577
12.15 Review Questions 579
12.16 Problems 579
12.17 References 582
C h a p t e r 13
Air-Pollution Samplingand Measurement 585
13.1 Introduction 585
13.2 Units for Pollution Measurement 585
13.3 Air-Pollution Standards 586
13.4 General Air-Sampling Train 589
13.5 Gas Sampling Techniques 590
13.6 Particulate Sampling Techniques 591
13.7 Sulfur Dioxide Measurements 599
13.8 Combustion Products Measurements 602
13.9 Opacity Measurements 606
13.10 Odor Measurement 607
13.11 Review Questions 608
13.12 Problems 609
13.13 References 611
C h a p t e r 14
Data Acquisitionand Processing 612
14.1 Introduction 612
14.2 The General Data Acquisition System 612
14.3 Signal Conditioning Revisited 615
14.4 Data Transmission 618
14.5 Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog
Conversion 621
14.6 Data Storage and Display 629
14.7 The Program as a Substitute
for Wired Logic 630
14.8 Summary 633
14.9 Glossary 633
14.10 Review Questions 635
14.11 Problems 635
14.12 References 637
C h a p t e r 15
Report Writingand Presentations 638
15.1 Introduction 638
15.2 Some General Comments 638
15.3 Types of Reports 641
15.4 Contents of a Report 643
15.5 Graphical Presentations 651
15.6 Miscellaneous Helpful Hints 662
15.7 Word Processors and Computers 663
15.8 Processing of Reports 664
15.9 Oral Presentations 666
15.10 Planning Sessions and Conferences 667
15.11 Review Questions 668
15.12 References 670
C h a p t e r 16
Design of Experiments 671
16.1 Introduction 671
16.2 Types of Experiments 671
16.3 Experiment Design Factors 675
16.4 Experiment Design Protocol
and Examples 675
16.5 Summary 710
16.6 Problems 711
16.7 References 712
Appendix A–Conversion Factorsand Material Properties 713
Appendix B–Digital ImagingSystems 723
Index 731