MECH 340 Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 2: Properties of Fluid

Dr. Fadi Alnaimat
Mechanical Engineering Department
UAE University
1. A block of mass (m) 6 kg slides down an inclined plane, with uniform
velocity, while lubricated by a thin film of oil as shown in figure below.
The film contact area (A) is 35 cm2 and its thickness (h) is 1 mm. Assume
linear velocity distribution in the film and determine the velocity (V) of
the motion of the block. The plane is inclined at an angle of 15o to the
horizontal. The viscosity of the oil is 0.4 kg/(m.s).
• Given
• Mass of block, m = 6 kg
• Contact area of the block, A = 35 cm2
= 35 × 10-4 m2
• Thickness of oil film, h= 1mm = 10-4 m
• Angle of orientation of block, θ = 150
• Viscosity of oil, μ = 0.4 kg/ (m.s)
• Step 1: Draw the free body diagram of the block (m)

Velocity V

• Step 2: Do force balance on the block

𝑑𝑉
σ𝐹 = 𝑚
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
= 0 since velocity is constant
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0
𝑚𝑔 sin 15 − 𝐹𝑣 = 0
⇒ 𝐹𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔 sin 15
• Step 3: Draw the velocity profile of oil
h = 10-3 m

𝒅𝒖 oil
• Step 4: Calculate
𝒅𝒚
𝑑𝑢 ∆𝑉 𝑉−0
= = = 1000𝑉
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑙 10−3 −0
• Step 5: Calculate 𝑽
𝐹𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔 sin 15
𝑑𝑢
𝐴𝜇 = 𝑚𝑔 sin 15
𝑑𝑦
1000𝑉𝐴𝜇 = 𝑚𝑔 sin 15 ⇒
𝑚𝑔 sin 15 6 ×9.81×sin 15
𝑉= = = 108.82 𝑚/𝑠
1000𝐴𝜇 1000× 35 ×10−4 ×0.4
2. A block of weight W is being pulled over a table by another weight Wo
as shown in the figure below. Find the steady velocity U of the block if it
slides on an oil film of thickness h and viscosity μ. The block bottom area
A is in contact with the oil. Neglect the cord weight and the pulley
friction. Assume a liner velocity profile in the oil film. Wo = 50 N, μ = 0.4
Pa.s, h = 1 mm, A = 50 cm2.
• Given
• Weight of the block moving in the
downward direction, Wo = 50 N
• Contact area of the block, A = 50 cm2
= 50 × 10-4 m2
• Thickness of oil film, h= 1mm = 10-4 m
• Viscosity of oil, μ = 0.4 kg/ (m.s)
• Note that the weight of the block
sliding on the oil is not provided
• Step 1: Draw the free body diagram of the block (W)

Velocity U
T

Fv

• Step 2: Do force balance on the block (W)

𝑑𝑈
σ𝐹 = 𝑚
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑈
= 0 since velocity is constant
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0
𝑇 − 𝐹𝑣 = 0 ⇒ 𝑇 = 𝐹𝑣 = 𝜏𝑣 𝐴
• Step 1: Draw the free body diagram of the second block (Wo)
T

`` Velocity U

Wo

• Step 2: Do force balance on the second block (Wo)

The second block moves in the downward direction with the same velocity
as the first block. Also, let the mass of second block be mo
𝑑𝑈
σ𝐹 = 𝑚𝑜
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑈
= 0 since velocity is constant
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0
𝑇 − 𝑊𝑜 = 0 ⇒ 𝑇 = 𝑊𝑜 = 50𝑁
• Step 3: Draw the velocity profile of oil
U

h = 10-3 m

Oil 0
𝒅𝒖
• Step 4: Calculate
𝒅𝒚
𝑑𝑢 ∆𝑉 𝑈−0
= = = 1000𝑈
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑙 10−3 −0
• Step 5: Calculate 𝑼
𝐹𝑣 = 𝑇
𝑑𝑢
𝐴𝜇 =𝑇
𝑑𝑦
T 50
1000𝑈𝐴𝜇 = 50 ⇒ 𝑈 = = = 25 𝑚/𝑠
1000𝐴𝜇 1000× 50 ×10−4 ×0.4
3. A shaft 6 cm in diameter is being pushed axially through a bearing
sleeve 6.02 cm in diameter and 40 cm long. The clearance is filled with oil
whose properties are ν = 0.003 m2/s and SG = 0.88. Estimate the force
required to pull the shaft at a steady velocity of 0.4 m/s.

• Given
• Diameter of the shaft, d = 6 cm
• Inner diameter of the sleeve Ds = 6.02 cm
• Length of sleeve, Ls = 40 cm
• Kinematic viscosity of oil, ν = 0.003 m2/s
• Specific gravity of oil SG = 0.88
• Step 1: Draw schematic of the problem and mark all parameters

V = 0.4 m/s
Sleeve (Ds = 6.02 mm)

Oil (in the gap between the shaft

and inner surface of sleeve; gap = h)

Shaft (ds = 6 cm)

Gap, h = (Ds – ds)/2 = (6.02 – 6)/2 = 0.01 mm

• Step 2: Draw free body diagram of wire
Fe
Area over
which τv acts

As is the area over which τv acts

• Step 3: Do force balance on the shaft
𝑑𝑉
σ𝐹 = 𝑚
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
= 0 since velocity is constant
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0
𝐹𝑒 − 𝐹𝑣 = 0 ⇒ 𝐹𝑒 = 𝐹𝑣
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢
𝐹𝑣 = 𝜏𝑣 𝐴𝑠 = 𝐴𝑠 𝜇 ⇒ 𝐹𝑒 = 𝐴𝑠 𝜇
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
• Step 4: Calculate As
As = area of the shaft in contact with the oil
As = (circumference of the shaft) × (length of the sleeve)
𝐴𝑠 = 𝜋𝑑𝑠 × 𝐿𝑠 = π × 6 × 10−2 × 40 × 10−3 = 0.0754 𝑚2
• Step 5: Calculate absolute viscosity
μ=νρ
ρ = SG × ρH2O = 0.88 × 1000 = 880 kg/m3
μ = 0.003 × 880 = 2.64 Pa
• Step 6: Draw velocity profile of oil
0

h = 10-4 m

0.4 m/s

0.4 m/s

h = 10-4 m

0
 𝒅𝒖
• Step 4: Calculate
𝒅𝒚
𝑑𝑢 ∆𝑉 0.4−0
= = = 4000
𝑑𝑦 ℎ 10−4 −0
• Step 5: Calculate 𝑭
𝐹𝑒 = 𝐹𝑣
𝑑𝑢
𝐹𝑒 = 𝐴𝑠 𝜇
𝑑𝑦
𝐹𝑒 = 4000𝐴𝑠 𝜇 = 4000 × 0.0754 × 2.64 = 796.22 𝑁
4. A shaft with outside diameter of 18 mm turns at 20 rpm inside a stationary
journal bearing 60 mm long. A thin film of oil 0.2 mm thick fills the concentric
annulus between the shaft and the journal. The torque needed to turn the shaft is
0.0036 N m. Estimate the viscosity of the oil that fills the gap

• Given
• Diameter of the shaft, ds = 2R = 18 mm
• Length of the sleeve, Ls = 60 mm
• Rotational speed of shaft, N = 20 rpm = 20/60 rps
• External torque applied on shaft, Te = 0.0036 Nm
• Thickness of oil film, l = 0.2 mm
• Step 1: Draw schematic of the problem and mark all parameters

Oil (in the gap between the shaft and Sleeve

inner surface of sleeve; l = 0.2 mm)

Shaft (ds = 18 mm)

Te = 0.0036 Nm
N = 20 rpm
• Step 2: Draw free body diagram of wire
Area over
which τv acts

Tv = Fv R= τv As R
Te = 0.0036 Nm

As is the area over which τv acts

• Step 3: Do torque balance on the shaft
𝑑𝜔
σ𝑇 = 𝐼
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝜔
= 0 since angular velocity is constant
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝑇 = 0
𝑇𝑒 − 𝑇𝑣 = 0 ⇒ 𝑇𝑒 = 𝑇𝑣
4𝜋2 𝜇𝑅 3 𝑁𝐿 4𝜋2 𝜇𝑅 3 𝑁𝐿
𝑇𝑣 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑒 =
𝑙 𝑙
0.2
𝑇𝑒 𝑙 0.0036× 1000
𝜇= = 9 3
= 1.251 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠
4𝜋2 𝑅 3 𝑁𝐿 4×𝜋2 × ×
20
×
60
1000 60 1000
5. An infinitely long plate is moved over a infinitely long plate on a layer of liquid as
shown below. For small gap width, d, we assume a linear velocity distribution in
the liquid. The liquid viscosity is 0.65 centipoise and its specific gravity is 0.88.
Determine the kinematic viscosity of the liquid and the shear stress on the upper
plate.

• Given
• Thickness of the liquid layer, h = 0.3 mm
• Velocity of the upper plate, U = 0.3 m/s
• Viscosity of the liquid, µ = 0.6 centipoise
• Specific gravity of the liquid, SG = 0.88
• Step 1: Calculate kinematic viscosity
ρ = SG × ρH2O = 0.88 × 1000 = 880 kg/m30
μ = 0.65 centipoise = 0.65 × 10-3 Pa.s
𝜇 0.65 × 10−3 𝑚 2
ν= = = 7.39 × 10−7
𝜌 880 𝑠
• Step 2: Draw velocity profile of liquid
U = 0.3 m/s

d = 3×10-4 m

0
𝒅𝒖
• Step 3: Calculate
𝒅𝒚
𝑑𝑢 ∆𝑢 𝑈−0 0.3
= = = = 103
𝑑𝑦 ∆𝑦 𝑑−0 3×10−4
• Step 5: Calculate shear stress on the upper plate
𝑑𝑢
𝜏𝑣 = 𝜇
𝑑𝑦
𝜏𝑣 = 0.65 × 10−3 × 103
𝜏𝑣 = 0.65 𝑃𝑎
6. A solid cylinder needle of diameter, d, length, L, and density, ρ, may
float in liquid of surface tension, σ. Assume a contact angle of 0o.
Determine the diameter d that is able to float in the liquid. Assume SG of
the needle to be 7.84 and σ of the liquid to be 0.0728 N/m

• Given
• Surface tension of the liquid, σ = 0.0728 N/m
• Specific gravity of the needle, SG = 7.84
• Contact angle, θ = 00
• Step 1: Draw schematic of the problems and mark all parameters
Needle

Liquid

Depression in
liquid; surface
tension acts at
Depression both ends of this
in liquid depression
• Step 2: Draw free body diagram of the needle

σL σL σL

σL

W = mg = Vρg

• Step 3: Calculate density

𝜌 = 𝑆𝐺 × 𝜌𝐻20 = 7.84 × 1000 = 7840 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
• Step 4: Do force balance on the needle
𝑑𝑉
σ𝐹 = 𝑚
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
= 0 since needle is not moving
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0
Fs is the force due to surface tension, W is the weight of the needle, V is
the volume of the needle
𝑊 − 𝐹𝑠 = 0 ⇒ 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑠
𝜌𝑉𝑔 = 2𝜎𝐿
𝜋𝐷2 𝐿 8𝜎 8×0.0728
𝜌 𝑔 = 2𝜎𝐿 ⇒ 𝐷 = = = 1.55 mm
4 𝜋𝑔𝜌 𝜋×9.81×7840
7. Determine the capillary height, h, for a liquid of surface tension σ and
contact angle θ between two vertical parallel plates a distance W apart as
shown in the figure below. Assume W = 0.5 mm, θ = 00, ρ = 1000 kg/m3,
and σ = 0.0728 N/m.

• Given
• Surface tension of the liquid, σ = 0.0728 N/m
• Density of the liquid, σ = 1000 kg/m3
• Contact angle, θ = 00
• Distance between the glass plates, W = 0.5 mm
• Step 1: Draw free body diagram of the fluid column

σL
σL σL
σL

h
h

W = mg = Vρg
• Step 2: Do force balance on the liquid column
𝑑𝑉
σ𝐹 = 𝑚 σL σL
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
= 0 since liquid column is not moving
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0 h
Fs is the force due to surface tension
Wo is the weight of the liquid column
V is the volume of the liquid column W = mg = Vρg
𝑊𝑜 − 𝐹𝑠 cos 𝜃 = 0 ⇒ 𝑊𝑜 = 𝐹𝑠
𝜌𝑉𝑔 = 2𝜎𝐿
2𝜎 cos 𝜃 2×0.0728×cos 0
𝜌 𝑊ℎ𝐿 𝑔 = 2𝜎𝐿 cos 𝜃 ⇒ ℎ = = = 2.97 𝑐𝑚
𝑊𝑔𝜌 0.5×10−3 ×9.81×1000
8. Surface tension forces can be strong enough to allow a double edge steel razor
blade to float on water. Assume that the surface tension forces act at an angle θ
relative to the water surface as shown in the figure below. The mass of the double
edge blade is 0.64 × 10-3 kg and the total length of its sides is 206 mm. Determine
the value of θ required to maintain equilibrium between the blade weight and the
resultant surface tension force. Take σ = 0.0728 N/m

• Given
• Surface tension of the liquid, σ = 0.0728 N/m
• Weight of the blade, m = 0.64 × 10-3 kg
• Total length of the blade, LT = 206 mm
• Step 1: Draw free body diagram of the blade

Blade L2
L3

Blade σL2
L1 σL3
L4

σL1
σL4

W = mg
• Step 2: Do force balance on the blade
𝑑𝑉 σL2
σ𝐹 = 𝑚 σL3
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
= 0 since blade is not moving
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0 σL1
σL4
Fs is the force due to surface tension
Wo is the weight of the blade W = mg
𝑊𝑜 − 𝐹𝑠 sin 𝜃 = 0 ⇒ 𝑊𝑜 = 𝐹𝑠 sin 𝜃
𝑚𝑔 = 𝜎𝐿1 + 𝜎𝐿2 + 𝜎𝐿3 + 𝜎𝐿4 sin 𝜃 = 𝜎𝐿 𝑇 sin 𝜃
𝑚𝑔 0.64×10−3 ×9.81
𝑚𝑔 = 𝜎𝐿 𝑇 sin 𝜃 ⇒ sin 𝜃 = = = 0.4186
𝜎𝐿𝑇 0.0728× 206×10−3
𝜃 = sin−1 0.4186 = 24.75𝑜
10. A 12 mm diameter jet of water discharges vertically into the
atmosphere. Due to surface tension the pressure inside the jet will be
slightly higher than the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Determine
this difference in pressure. Take σ = 0.0728 N/m

• Given
• Diameter of the jet, DJ = 12 mm
• Surface of the water, σ = 0.0728 N/m
• Step 1: Draw schematic of the problem and mark all parameters
Jet (diameter = 12 mm)

• Step 2: Draw free body diagram of the cross-section of the water jet
ΔP acting on the flat surface with area LJDJ
σLJ
σLJ

LJ
• Step 3: Do force balance ΔP acting on the flat
σ𝐹 = 0 surface with area LDJ

Fp is the force due to pressure difference σLJ

FS is the force due to surface tension
σLJ
𝐹𝑃 − 𝐹𝑆 = 0
∆𝑃𝐿𝐽 𝐷𝐽 − 2𝜎𝐿𝐽 = 0
2𝜎 2×0.0728
∆𝑃𝐿𝐽 𝐷𝐽 = 2𝜎𝐿𝐽 ⇒ ∆𝑃 = = = 12.13 𝑁/𝑚2
𝐷𝐽 12×10−3
10. Magnet wire is to be coated with varnish for insulation by drawing it through a
circular die of 1 mm diameter. The wire diameter is 0.9 mm and it is centered in
the die. The varnish (μ = 20 centipoise) completely fills the space between the wire
and the die for a length of 50 mm. The wire is drawn through the die at a speed of
50 m/s. Determine the force required to pull the wire.

• Given
• Diameter of the wire, dw = 0.9 mm
• Inner diameter of the die, DD = 1 mm
• Length of the die, LD = 50 mm
• Viscosity of the varnish, μ = 20 centipoise
• Speed of drawing, V = 50 m/s
• Step 1: Draw schematic of the problem and mark all parameters

V = 50 m/s
Die (DD = 1 mm)

Varnish (in the gap between the wire

and inner surface of die; gap = h)

Wire (dw = 9 mm)

Gap, h = (DD – dw)/2 = (1 – 0.9)/2 = 0.05 mm

• Step 2: Draw free body diagram of wire
Fe
Area over
which τv acts

AD is the area over which τv acts

• Step 3: Do force balance on the wire
𝑑𝑉
σ𝐹 = 𝑚
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
= 0 since velocity is constant
𝑑𝑡
⇒ σ𝐹 = 0
𝐹𝑒 − 𝐹𝑣 = 0 ⇒ 𝐹𝑒 = 𝐹𝑣
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢
𝐹𝑣 = 𝜏𝑣 𝐴𝐷 = 𝐴𝐷 𝜇 ⇒ 𝐹𝑒 = 𝐴𝐷 𝜇
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
• Step 4: Draw velocity profile of varnish

Die
0
h = 5×10-4 m
Varnish
50 m/s

50 m/s

h = 5×10-4 m
0
 𝒅𝒖
• Step 5: Calculate
𝒅𝒚
𝑑𝑢 ∆𝑉 50−0
= = = 10000
𝑑𝑦 ℎ 5×10−4 −0
• Step 6: Calculate AD
AD = area of the wire in contact with the varnish
AD = (circumference of the wire) × (length of the die)
𝐴𝐷 = 𝜋𝑑𝑤 × 𝐿𝐷 = π × 0.9 × 10−3 × 50 × 10−3 = 0.0001414 𝑚2
• Step 7: Calculate Fe
𝐹𝑒 = 𝐹𝑣
𝑑𝑢
𝐹𝑒 = 𝐴𝐷 𝜇
𝑑𝑦
𝐹𝑒 = 0.0001414 × 20 × 10−3 × 10000 = 0.283 𝑁