Characteristics of Fluids Characteristics of Fluids

Other Fluids Viscosity

IIC-1 DEFINITIONS AND METHODS OF MEASUREMENT

The viscosity of a fluid (liquid or gas) is that prop-

IIB-7 VAPOR PRESSURE-VARIOUS L1aUIDS CHART 2-180° 10 GO°F erty which tends to resist a shearing force. Since
motion or flow of a fluid is produced by shearing
forces, viscosity is associated with fluid motion.
There is no relation between the viscosity and the
specific gravity of most liquids. For instance, mo-
lasses having the same specific gravity (1.48) and
the same Brix rating (90) may vary in viscosity
from 128,000 to 303,000 Seconds Saybolt Universal FIXED, V = 0
(SSU). Figure 1

There are two basic viscosity parameters; i.e.,

DYNAMIC (or ABSOLUTE) VISCOSiTY and KINE- The kinematic viscosity (v) may be obtained by di-
100 MATIC VISCOSITY. The dynamic viscosity may be viding the dynamic viscosity (1') by the mass den-
80 defined with the aid of Fig. 1 which shows two sity (p). The mass density is the specific weight (w)
60 parallel plane surfaces of area (A) separated a dis- divided by the acceleration of gravity (g). These
tance (d) and the space between completely fiiled relationships may be expressed by the equation
Z
50
40 - with fiuid. A force (F) is applied to and in the plane
of the upper surface, causing it to move with a
velocity (V) parallel to the lower fixed surface. The v ］ｾＡＺ (15)
velocity distribution will be linear over the distance wIg p
(d) and experiments show that the slope of the ve-
Therefore, the dimensions of kinematic viscosity
locity line ( ｾＩ will be directly proportional to the are
length'
unit shearing force, T =.£: , for ail
"true" or "New- time
A
tonian" fluids. The porportionality factor (I.L) is the The unit of kinematic viscosity in English measure
dynamic viscosity. The foregoi ng may be ex- is the square foot per second. The unit of kine-
pressed by the equations matic viscosity in Metric measure is the square
F V centimeter per second called the STOKE. It usually
T = - = 1'- is more convenient to express numerical values in
A d
CENTISTOKES such that 100 centistokes equal
and one stoke.

The distinction between the dynamic and the kine-

matic viscosity should be carefully noted so that
Therefore, the dimensions of the dynamic viscosity the correct parameter will be used as required in
are computations. Some useful relationships are as
follows:
1 pound = 444,823 dynes
force lime
lenglh' 1 foot = 30.4800 centimeters
1 square foot = 929.034 square centimeters
The unit of dynamic viscosity in English measure 1 dyne-second
is the pound-second per square foot which is nu- per sq em = 1 poise = 100 centipoises
merically identical with the slug per foot-second. 1 sq em/sec = 1 stoke = 100 centistokes
The unit of dynamic viscosity in Metric measure is 1 Ib-sec/sq It = 478.801 poises
Ihe dyne-second per square centimeter, called Ihe = 47,880.1 centipoises
POISE, which is numerically identical with the
gram per centimeler-second. II usually is more I' Ib-sec/sq It 47; centipoises
Reprinted with permission from , 80.1
the Byron Jackson Pump Division. convenient to express numerical values in CENTI-
Borg-Warner Corporation POISES such that 100centipoises equal one POISE. = 0.0000208855 centipoises

14 15