Dynamic, Absolute and Kinematic Viscosity

Dynamic, absolute and kinematic viscosity - and how to convert

between CentiStokes (cSt), CentiPoises (cP), Saybolt Universal
Seconds (SSU) and degree Engler
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The viscosity is an important fluid property when analyzing liquid behavior and fluid motion near
solid boundaries. Viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to gradual deformation by
shear stress or tensile stress. The shear resistance in a fluid is caused by intermolecular friction
exerted when layers of fluid attempt to slide by one another.

 viscosity is the measure of a fluid's resistance to flow

 molasses is highly viscous

 water is medium viscous
 gas is low viscous

There are two related measures of fluid viscosity

 dynamic (or absolute)

 kinematic

Dynamic (absolute) Viscosity

Absolute viscosity - coefficient of absolute viscosity - is a measure of internal resistance.
Dynamic (absolute) viscosity is the tangential force per unit area required to move one
horizontal plane with respect to an other plane - at an unit velocity - when maintaining an unit
distance apart in the fluid.

The shearing stress between the layers of a non turbulent fluid moving in straight parallel lines
can be defined for a Newtonian fluid as

The dynamic viscosity can be expressed

τ = μ dc / dy (1)

where

τ = shearing stress (N/m2)

μ = dynamic viscosity (N s/m2)

dc = unit velocity (m/s)

dy = unit distance between layers (m)

Equation (1) is known as the Newtons Law of Friction.

In the SI system the dynamic viscosity units are N s/m2, Pa s or kg/(m s) - where

 1 Pa s = 1 N s/m2 = 1 kg/(m s)

Dynamic viscosity may also be expressed in the metric CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system
as g/(cm s), dyne s/cm2 or poise (p) where

 1 poise = 1 dyne s/cm2 = 1 g/(cm s) = 1/10 Pa s = 1/10 N s/m2

For practical use the Poise is normally too large and the unit is often divided by 100 - into the
smaller unit centiPoise (cP) - where

 1 p = 100 cP
 1 cP = 0.01 poise = 0.01 gram per cm second = 0.001 Pascal second = 1 milliPascal
second = 0.001 N s/m2

Water at 20.2oC (68.4oF) has the absolute viscosity of one - 1 - centiPoise.

Absolute Viscosity *)
Liquid
(Pa s)

Air 1.983 x 10-5

Water 1 x 10-3

Olive Oil 1 x 10-1

Glycerol 1 x 100
 Absolute Viscosity *)
Liquid
(Pa s)

Liquid Honey 1 x 101

Golden Syrup 1 x 102

Glass 1 x 1040
*) at room temperature

 Absolute or Dynamic Viscosity of some common Liquids

Kinematic Viscosity
Kinematic viscosity is the ratio of - absolute (or dynamic) viscosity to density - a quantity in
which no force is involved. Kinematic viscosity can be obtained by dividing the absolute
viscosity of a fluid with the fluid mass density.

ν=μ/ρ (2)

where

ν = kinematic viscosity (m2/s)

μ = absolute or dynamic viscosity (N s/m2)

ρ = density (kg/m3)

In the SI-system the theoretical unit of kinematic viscosity is m2/s - or Stoke (St) where

 1 St (Stokes) = 10-4 m2/s = 1 cm2/s

Since the Stoke is a large unit it is often divided by 100 into the smaller unit Centistoke (cSt) -
where

 1 St = 100 cSt
 1 cSt (centiStoke) = 10-6 m2/s = 1 mm2/s

The specific gravity for water at 20.2oC (68.4oF) is almost one, and the kinematic viscosity for
water at 20.2oC (68.4oF) is for practical purpose 1.0 mm2/s (cStokes). A more exact kinematic
viscosity for water at 20.2oC (68.4oF) is 1.0038 mm2/s (cStokes).

 Kinematic Viscosity of Some common Liquids and Fluids

A conversion from absolute to kinematic viscosity in Imperial units can be expressed as

ν = 6.7197 10-4 μ / γ (2a)

where

ν = kinematic viscosity (ft2/s)

μ = absolute or dynamic viscosity (cP)

γ = specific weight (lb/ft3)

Viscosity and Reference Temperature

The viscosity of a fluid is highly temperature dependent - and for dynamic or kinematic viscosity
to be meaningful the reference temperature must be quoted. In ISO 8217 the reference
temperature for a residual fluid is 100oC. For a distillate fluid the reference temperature is 40oC.

 for a liquid - the kinematic viscosity decreases with higher temperature

 for a gas - the kinematic viscosity increases with higher temperature

Related Mobile Apps from The Engineering ToolBox

 Kinematic Viscosity Converter App

This is a free app that can be used offline on mobile devices.

Other Viscosity Units

Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS, SSU)
Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS) is an alternative unit for measuring viscosity. The efflux
time is Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) required for 60 milliliters of a petroleum product to flow
through the calibrated orifice of a Saybolt Universal viscometer - under a carefully controlled
temperature and as prescribed by test method ASTM D 88. This method has largely been
replaced by the kinematic viscosity method. Saybolt Universal Seconds is also called the SSU
number (Seconds Saybolt Universal) or SSF number (Saybolt Seconds Furol).

Kinematic viscosity in SSU versus dynamic or absolute viscosity can be expressed as

νSSU = B μ / SG

= B νcentiStokes (3)

where

νSSU = kinematic viscosity (SSU)

B = 4.632 for temperature 100 oF (37.8 oC)

B = 4.664 for temperature 210oF (98.9 oC)

μ = dynamic or absolute viscosity (cP)
SG = Specific Gravity
νcentiStokes = kinematic viscosity (centiStokes)

 SSU at other temperatures

Degree Engler
Degree Engler is used in Great Britain as a scale to measure kinematic viscosity. Unlike
the Saybolt and Redwood scales, the Engler scale is based on comparing the flow of the
substance being tested to the flow of another substance - water. Viscosity in Engler degrees is
the ratio of the time of a flow of200 cubic centimeters of the fluid whose viscosity is being
measured - to the time of flow of 200 cubic centimeters of water at the same temperature
(usually 20oC but sometimes 50oC or 100oC) in a standardized Engler viscosity meter.

Newtonian Fluids
A fluid where the shearing stress is linearly related to the rate of shearing strain - is designated
as a Newtonian Fluid.

A Newtonian material is referred to as true liquid since the viscosity or consistency is not
affected by shear such as agitation or pumping at a constant temperature. Most common fluids -
both liquids and gases - are Newtonian fluids. Water and oils are examples of Newtonian
liquids.

Shear-thinning or Pseudo-plastic Fluids

A Shear-thinning or pseudo-plastic fluid is a fluid where viscosity decreases with increasing
shear rate. The structure is time-independent.

Thixotropic Fluids
A Thixotropic fluid has a time-dependent structure. The viscosity of a thixotropic fluid decreases
with increasing time - at a constant shear rate.

Ketchup and mayonnaise are examples of thixotropic materials. They appear thick or viscous
but are possible to pump quite easily.

Dilatant Fluids
A Shear Thickening Fluid - or Dilatant Fluid - increases the viscosity with agitation or shear
strain. Dilatant fluids are known as non-Newton fluids.

Some dilatant fluids can become almost solid in a pump or pipe line. With agitation cream
becomes butter and candy compounds. Clay slurry and similar heavily filled liquids do the same
thing.

Bingham Plastic Fluids

A Bingham Plastic Fluid has a yield value which must be exceeded before it will start to flow like
a fluid. From that point the viscosity decreases with increasing agitation. Toothpaste,
mayonnaise and tomato ketchup are examples of such products.
Example - Air, Converting between Kinematic and Absolute Viscosity
Kinematic viscosity of air at 1 bar (1 105 Pa, N/m2) and 40oC is 16.97 cSt (16.97 10-6 m2/s).

The density of the air can be estimated with the Ideal Gas Law

ρ = p / (R T)

= 1 105 (N/m2) / ( 287 (J/(kg K)) (273 (oC) + 33 ( oC)) )

= 1.113 (kg/m3)

where

ρ = density (kg/m3)

p = absolute pressure (Pa, N/m2)

R = individual gas constant (J/(kg K))

T = absolute temperature (K)

The absolute viscosity can be calculated as

μ = 1.113 (kg/m3) 16.97 10-6 (m2/s)

= 1.88 10-5 (kg/(m s), N s/m2)

Viscosity of some Common Liquids

Saybolt Second
centiStokes
Universal Typical liquid
(cSt)
(SSU, SUS)

1 31 Water (20oC)

Milk
4.3 40 SAE 20 Crankcase Oil
SAE 75 Gear Oil

15.7 80 No. 4 fuel oil

20.6 100 Cream

 Saybolt Second
centiStokes
Universal Typical liquid
(cSt)
(SSU, SUS)

43.2 200 Vegetable oil

SAE 30 Crankcase Oil

110 500
SAE 85 Gear Oil

Tomato Juice
220 1000 SAE 50 Crankcase Oil
SAE 90 Gear Oil

440 2000 SAE 140 Gear Oil

Glycerine (20oC)
1100 5000
SAE 250 Gear Oil

2200 10,000 Honey

6250 28,000 Mayonnaise

19,000 86,000 Sour cream

Kinematic viscosity can be converted from SSU to Centistokes as

νCentistokes = 0.226 νSSU - 195 / νSSU

where

νSSU < 100

νCentistokes = 0.220 νSSU - 135 / νSSU

where

νSSU > 100

Viscosity and Temperature

Kinematic viscosity of fluids like water, mercury, oils SAE 10 and oil no. 3 - and gases like air,
hydrogen and helium are indicated in the diagram below. Note that
  for liquids viscosity decreases with temperature
 for gases viscosity increases with temperature

Measuring Viscosity