Chapter 1 Fluid Properties 85
Chapter 1 Fluid Properties 85
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1 FLUID PROPERTIES
1. INTRODUCTION
Fluid mechanics deals with the behaviour of fluids at rest and in motion. It is logical to begin
with a definition of fluid. Fluid is a substance that deforms continuously under the application
of shear (tangential) stress no matter how small the stress may be. Alternatively, we may
define a fluid as a substance that cannot sustain a shear stress when at rest.
2. FLUID AS A CONTINUUM
Fluids are composed of molecules. We thus treat a fluid as infinitely divisible substance i.e.
continuum and do not concern ourselves with the behaviour of individual molecules.
The concept of continuum is the basis of classical fluid mechanics. As a consequence of the
continuum assumption, each fluid property is assumed to have a definite value at every point
in the space.
Thus, fluid properties such as density, temperature, velocity and so on are considered to be
continuous functions of position and time.
A dimensionless parameter known as Knudsen number (Kn) describes the degree of departure
from continuum.
Knudsen number is given by:
Kn =
L
where λ is the mean free path and L is the characteristic length.
Usually when Kn> 0.01, the concept of continuum does not hold good.
3. FLUID PROPERTIES
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SI unit is (N / m3 )
ω of water = 9.81 kN/m3
3.3. Specific gravity or (relative density) (S):
It is defined as ratio between density of fluid and density of standard fluid i.e., water
S=
eg: Specific gravity of Hg is 13.6
ρHg = 13.6 × 1000 kg/m3
3.4. Specific volume (ν):
8000N/m3
ρ = = 815.49kg/m3
9.81 m/s2
Viscosity can be conceptualized as quantifying the frictional force that arises between
adjacent layers of fluid that are in relative motion.
• A fluid that has no resistance to shear stress is known as an ideal or inviscid fluid.
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du
=µ
dy
Where,
du
= rate of shear strain
dy
Derivation:
Assumptions:
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Consider:
JM = DE = dy, BJ = y, EG = du
JD = ME = u
In similar Δ BCK and Δ BJD:
CK BC V Y
= =
JD BJ u y
Vy
u= ........(1) (Linear velocity profile)
Y
Observation ⇒ (F, A, Y, V)
A, Y = constant, F ∝ V ……. (2)
V, Y = constant, F ∝ A ……… (3)
V
A, V = constant, F ......(4)
Y
From equation (2), (3) and (4):
VA
F
Y
F V
A Y
V
Thus, .......(5)
Y
In similar tringle Δ BCK and Δ DEG
CK BC V Y
= =
EG DE du dy
V du
= ...............(6)
y dy
Now, from (5) and (6):
du
dy
du
= ………………. Newton’s law of viscosity
dy
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du
tan =
dy
Note.2:
• SI unit of dynamic viscosity is N-s/m2 or pascal-sec.
• Dimensional unit of dynamic viscosity =[ML–1T–1]
• CGS unit for dynamic viscosity is poise.
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1 poise = Pa − sec
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3.5.2. Kinematic viscosity (ν):
It is defined as the ratio between dynamic viscosity (µ) and density.
µ
=
Units:
Its SI unit is m2/s.
CGS unit of kinematic viscosity is stoke.
1 stoke = 1 cm2/sec = 10–4 m2/sec.
Example.2 At a certain point in castor oil the shear stress is 0.216 N/m 2 and the velocity
gradient 0.216s–1. If the mass density of castor oil is 959.42 kg/m 3, find kinematic
viscosity.
Solution:
dv
Given, = 0.216 N/m2; = 0.216 s
−1
dy
ρ = 959.42 kg/m3
dv
According to Newton’s law of viscosity: =
dy
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By substitution, we get
0.216 = μ (0.216)
∴ μ = 1 N.s/m2
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∴Kinematic viscosity = = = 1.042 10−3 m2 /s
959.42
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Example.3 If the velocity distribution over a plate is given by u = y − y 2 in which u is
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the velocity in metre per second at a distance y metre above the plate, determine the
shear stress at y = 0 and y = 0.15 m. Take dynamic viscosity of fluid as 8.63 poise.
Solution:
2
Given, u = y − y2
3
du 2
= − 2y
dy 3
du 2 2
= − 2(0) = =0.667
dy y = 0 3 3
du 2
Also = − 2 × .15 = 0.667 − 0.30 = 0.367
dy y = 0.15 3
8.63
Then, = N s/m2 = 0.863 N s/m2
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du
shear stress, =
dy
du
0 = = 0.863 × 0.667 = 0.5756 N/m2.
dy y =0
du
()y = 0.15 = = 0.863 × 0.367 = 0.3167 N/m2.
dy y = 0.15
Example.4 Calculate the dynamic viscosity of an oil having thickness 1.5mm along the
plane & used for lubrication between a square plate of size 0.8 m × 0.8m in and an
inclined plane with angle of inclination 60 from the vertical. The weight of the square
plate is 300 N and it slides down the inclined plane with a uniform velocity of 0.3 m/s.
The thickness of oil film is 1.5 mm.
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Solution:
Given,
Area of plate, A = 0.8 × 0.8 = 0.64 m2
Angle of plane form horizontal, = 90° - 60° = 30
Weight of plate, W = 300 N
Velocity of plate, u = 0.3 m/s
Thickness of oil film, t = dy = 1.5 mm = 1.5 × 10−3 m
Let the viscosity of fluid between plate and inclined plane is .
Component of weight W, along the plane = W cos 60 = 300 cos 60° = 150 N
This component of the weight is responsible for motion of the plate:
Thus, the shear force, F, on the bottom surface of the plate = 150 N
F 150
and shear stress, = = N / m2
Area 0.64
du
=
dy
150 15 10−3
= = 1.17 N s/m2 = 1.17 × 10 = 11.7 poise
0.64 0.3
Example.5 The dynamic viscosity of an oil, used for lubrication between a shaft having
diameter 0.4m, and sleeve is 6 poise. The shaft rotates at 190rpm. Then calculate the
power lost in the bearing for a sleeve length of 90 mm. The thickness of the oil film is 1.5
mm.
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Solution:
Given:
6 Ns Ns
Viscosity, = 6 poise = 2
= 0.6 2
10 m m
Diameter of shaft (D) = 0.4 m
Speed of shaft (N) = 190 rpm
Sleeve length (L) = 90 mm = 90 × 10−3 m
Thickness of oil film (t) = 1.5 mm = 1.5 × 10−3 m
du
Now, =
dy
Where,
du = Change of velocity = u − 0 = u = 3.98 m/s
dy = Change of distance or gap between the sleeve and shaft = t = 1.5 × 10 −3 m
3.98
shear stress on shaft, = 10 −3
= 1592 N/m2
1.5 10
D 0.4
Torque on the shaft, T= Force × = 180.05 × = 36.01Nm
2 2
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Case I. When the thin plate is in the middle of the two plane surfaces:
Where:
du = Relative velocity between thin plate and upper large plane surface
du = 0.6 m/sec
dy = Distance between thin plate and upper large plane surface
dy = 1.2 cm = 0.012 m (plate is a thin one and hence thickness of plate is neglected)
0.6
1 = 8.10 × 10−1 × = 40.5 N/m2
.012
Now shear force, F1 = Shear stress × Area
F1 = 1 × A = 40.5 × 0.5 = 20.25 N
Similarly shear stress (2) on the lower side of the thin plate is given by:
du 0.6
2 = = 8.10 × 10−1 × = 40.5 N/m2
dy 2 0.012
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Let the thin plate is at a distance 0.8 cm from the lower plane surface.
du 0.6
F1 = × A = 8.10 × 10−1 × × 0.5 = 15.18 N
dy 1 0.016
du
F2 = 2 × A = A
dy 2
0.6
F2= 8.10 × 10−1 × × 0.5 = 30.36N
0.008
When a viscous fluid flows over a solid surface, the fluid elements adjacent to the surface
attains the velocity of surface i.e. the relative velocity between the solid surface and the
• Since cohesion decreases with increase in temperature, the liquid viscosity decreases
• While in gases the intermolecular cohesive forces are very small, and the viscosity is
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Various types of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids are shown in the figure.
• The fluids like water, air, mercury obeys Newtons law of viscosity and are known as
Newtonian fluids
du
=
dy
• Other fluids like paints, differential polymer solution, blood do not obey typical linear
• General Relationship between shear stress and velocity gradient is given by:
n
du
= K + y
dy
Where:
K = consistency index
• The fluids in which the apparent viscosity increases with increases in velocity gradient(n>1)
K =1 and τy = 0.
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Examples: Suspension of starch and sand, sugar in water, better are examples of dilatant
fluids.
• The fluids in which the apparent viscosity decreases with increases with velocity
Examples: paints, polymer solutions, blood, paper pulp, syrup, molasses, milk, gelatine.
• A fluid that behaves as a solid until a minimum yield stress is exceeded and subsequently
exhibits a linear relation between stress and deformation rate are called Bingham plastic
(ideal plastic) fluids. They have time dependent Newtonian behaviour.
Examples are: Clay suspension, drilling muds & toothpaste.
• Thixotropic and Rheopectic have time dependent viscosity. These fluids show an increase in
apparent viscosity with time.
Examples: printer’s ink, ketchup, certain paints and enamels.
• Surface tension is the apparent interfacial tensile stress (force per unit length of interface)
that acts whenever a liquid has a density interface, such as when the liquid contacts a gas,
vapour, second liquid, or a solid.
• The liquid surface appears to act as stretched elastic membrane as seen by nearly spherical
shapes of small droplets and soap bubbles. With some care it may be possible to place a
needle on the water surface and find it supported by surface tension.
• A force balance on a segment of interface shows that there is a pressure jump across the
imagined elastic membrane whenever the interface is curved. For a water droplet in air, the
pressure in the water is higher than ambient; the same is true for a gas bubble in liquid.
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2
Pgauge = N / m2
R
5.2. Gauge pressure for soap bubble:
4
For static equilibrium, Pgauge = N / m2
R
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Pgauge = N / m2
R
Example.7 The pressure outside the droplet of water of diameter 0.04mm is 10.32N/cm 2.
Calculate the pressure within the droplet if surface tension of water is 0.0725N/m.
Solution:
Given,
4 4 0.0725 7250 N
or Δ p = = − 3
= 7250 N/m2 = = 0.725 N/cm2
d .04 10 104 cm2
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6. CAPILLARITY
• It is the rise or depression of a liquid in a small passage such as a tube of small cross-sectional
area, like the spaces between the fibres of a towel or the openings in a porous material.
• Capillarity is not limited to the vertical direction i.e. along the gravity forces.
Example: Water is drawn into the fibres of a towel, no matter how the towel is oriented.
• Physical life capillary Phenomenon’s:
(i). A kerosene lamp or a candle "sucking up" oil or liquid wax, respectively.
(ii). Water climbing up the microscopic fibres of paper towels.
(iii). Located at the inner ends of each eye, the lacrimal ducts drain our tears using
capillary action.
• Capillary action occurs because of the forces of cohesion of liquid and adhesion of the liquid
with the solid surface.
• Capillary action occurs when the adhesion to the walls is stronger than the cohesive forces
between the liquid molecules.
• The height to which capillary action is limited by surface tension and, of course, gravity.
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2 cos
Capillarity rise h = = g
R
4 cos
h=
gd
• For water θ = 0 h=+ve = capillary rise
• For Hg = θ = 130°
cos 130° = –ve so, h=-ve = capillary fall
Wetting and Non-wetting phenomenon:
• It is commonly observed that water in a glass container curves up slightly at the edges where
it touches the glass surface; but the opposite occurs for mercury: it curves down at the
edges (Fig.1). Thus, it is said that water wets the glass (by sticking to it) while mercury does
not.
• This effect is expressed by the strength of the capillary effect which is quantified by the contact
(or wetting) angle ϕ, defined as the angle that the tangent to the liquid surface makes with the
solid surface at the point of contact. The surface tension force acts along this tangent line
toward the solid surface.
• A liquid is said to wet the surface when ϕ < 90° and not to wet the surface when ϕ > 90°.
Fig.11: The contact angle of a solid with the liquid is used as wettability index
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Example.8 Calculate the capillary effect in millimetres in a glass tube of 4 mm diameter, when
immersed in
(i) water,
(ii) mercury.
The temperature of the liquid is 20°C and the values of the surface tension of water and
mercury at 20°C in contact with air are 0.073575 N/m and 0.51 N/m respectively. The angle
of contact for water is zero and that for mercury is 130. Take density of water at 20°C as
equal to 998 kg/m3.
Solution:
Given,
Diameter of tube, d = 4 mm = 4 × 10−3m
The capillary effect (i.e., capillary rise or depression) is given by
4 cos
h=
g d
4 0.073575 cos 0o
h= = 7.51 × 10−3 m = 7.51 mm.
998 9.81 4 10−3
(ii) Capillary effect for mercury
= 0.51 N/m, = 130° and
= specific gravity × 1000 = 13.6 × 1000 = 13600 kg/m3
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• The vapour molecules execute a partial pressure in the space above liquid, known as vapour
pressure.
• Cavitation occurs when the static pressure of the liquid falls below its vapor pressure.
• The formation of vapor bubbles in cavitation is not a major problem in itself but the collapse
of these bubbles generates pressure waves, which can be of very high frequencies, causing
damage to the machinery.
• The bubbles collapsing near the machine surface are more damaging and cause erosion on
the surfaces called as cavitation erosion.
• Cavitation is formation of vapor bubbles in the liquid flowing through any Hydraulic Turbine.
The collapses of smaller bubbles create higher frequency waves than larger bubbles. So,
smaller bubbles are more detrimental to the hydraulic machines.
V
=–
V
– P – P dP
∴ Bulk modulus: K= = =
( V / V ) – d
• The values of k are very high for liquid than gases. Hence liquids are treated of
incompressible fluids and gases are known as compressible fluids.
• Air is about 20000 times more compressible than water.
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dP
= RT
d T = C
V
−
1 V 1 d
= = =
K P dP
If ρ = f(P) and if density changes are more than 5% ⇒ flow is compressible flow.
Example.9 What is the bulk modulus of elasticity of a liquid which is compressed in a
cylinder from a volume of 0.0125 m 3 at 80 N/cm2 pressure to a volume of 0.0124 m3 at
150 N/cm2 pressure?
Solution:
Given,
Initial volume, V1 = 0.0125 m3
Final volume = 0.0124m3
Decrease in volume, dV = 0.0125 − 0.0124 = .0001 m3
dV V2 − V1 0.0001
= =−
V V1 0.0125
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PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. A liquid has a specific gravity of 1.527. What are the values of its specific weight and specific
volume?
2. At a point in a fluid the shear stress is 15N/m2 and the velocity gradient is 100 m/s/m. What is the
viscosity of fluid in poise?
3. An oil of viscosity 3 poises fills the gap of 1 cm between two parallel plates. If one of the plates
moves with a velocity of 1 m/s and the other plate is stationary, what is the velocity gradient?
4. A glass tube of 1.2 mm diameter gives a capillary depression of 8 mm when it is dipped in mercury.
What diameter tube will give a depression of 4 mm?
5. 10 m3 of carbon tetrachloride reduces in volume by 0.11 percent when subjected to certain pressure
increase. If the bulk modulus of the fluid is 1.145 × 10 6 N/m2, the original specific weight is 15,750
N/m3, calculate the increase in pressure and the final specific weight.
6. A thin flat plate of size 60cm×60cm moves centrally between two large stationary boundaries. The
plane of the plate is parallel to the two boundaries which are 7 cm apart. The space between the plate
and one boundary is filled with a fluid of viscosity twice that of another fluid which fills the space on
the other side of the plate. If the plate moves with a uniform speed of 20 cm/s by the application of
a force of 6 N parallel to the plane of the plate, determine the fluid viscosities.
3
7. The velocity distribution for flow over a flat plate is given by u = y − y 3 2 , where u is the velocity
2
in m/s at a distance y metre above the plate. Determine the shear stress at y = 9 cm. Assume dynamic
viscosity as 8 poise.
8. Determine the intensity of shear stress of an oil having viscosity = 1.2 poise and is used for
lubrication in the clearance between a 10 cm diameter shaft and its journal bearing. The clearance is
1.0 mm and shaft rotate at 200rpm.
9. The pressure of a liquid is increased from 60 N/cm2 to 100 N/cm2 and volume decreases by 0.2%.
Determine the bulk modulus of elasticity.
10. A 150 mm diameter vertical cylinder rotates concentrically inside another cylinder of diameter
151 mm. Both the cylinders are of 250 mm height. The space between the cylinders is filled with a
liquid of viscosity 10 poise. Determine the torque required to rotate the inner cylinder at 100 rpm.
11. A square plate of size 1 m × 1 m and weighing 350 N slides down an inclined plane with a uniform
velocity of 1.5 m/s. The inclined plane is laid on a slope of 5 vertical to 12 horizontal and has an oil
film of 1 mm thickness. Calculate the dynamic viscosity of oil.
12. A mist droplet is of 0.06mm diameter. The atmospheric pressure is 101.04 KPa and the surface
tension of water is 0.0736 N/m. Estimate the absolute pressure within the droplet.
13. The height of a crop plant from root end to leaf tip is 1.56 m. The cell diameter through which the
sap is expected to rise may be taken as 0.025 mm. If the surface tension force of the sap is 0.098N/m
what is the contact angle of the force with the vertical? Assume that the sap has the same density as
that of water.
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Answers:
1. 14,980 N/m3, 6.55 × 10−4m3/kg
2. 1.5 poise
du U 1
3. = = = 100m/s/m
dy Y 0.01
4. 2.4 mm
5. 1260 N/m2, 15,767 N/m3
6. 0.972 Ns/m2, 1.944 Ns/m2
7. 0.839N/m2
8. 125.56N/m2
9. 2×104 N/cm2
10. 13.87N-m
11. 0.897 Poise
12. 106 Pa
13. 12.6
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