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Determining Flow Behavior

Kyle Jones Group 4

Abstract: The knowledge of how a fluid behaves is incredibly important in the design process
of a hydraulic system. To prove this an experiment was done on household fluids (Dawn dish
soap, Dawn EZSsqueeze, chocolate syrup, and canola oil). The experiment was designed to test
the viscosity of these liquids at certain temperatures and determine whether the fluid was
Newtonian, non-Newtonian, dilatant, or pseudoplasGc. Using a Bohlin rheometer and a
Brookfield viscometer, mulGple tests were conducted on these liquids to determine shear rate
and shear stress. The shear rate and shear stress were then graphed on excel using a scaKer
plot. A trend line equaGon was displayed with R2 values. Using the Herschel and Bulkey equaGon
the rheological parameters, flow behavior index, and consistency coefficients could be
determined, thus determining the behavior of each fluid.

Introduc7on

Knowing how a fluid behaves impacts many facets of the scien8fic community. As it
pertains to the medical world, understanding the behavior of blood in our bodies is impera8ve
to how different medical professionals assess and treat certain illnesses. The engineering world
is no different. Understanding how many different types of fluids operate and behave is crucial
to the engineering process and designing systems. One of the most important characteris8cs of
fluids is viscosity, and it can be defined as a property that quan8fies the ra8o of shear stress to
rate of deforma8on (Cengal et. Al, 2018).

To prove this, an experiment has been created to observe the behaviors of mul8ple different
household fluids. The experiment dives into the characteris8cs of Newtonian and non-
Newtonian fluids, which can apply to a wide range of materials with widely disparate material
structures (Rajagopal K.R, 1993).

Methods and Materials

2.1 Set up for experiment

A Brookfield Digital Viscometer was used to test the apparent viscosity and shear rate of
chocolate syrup at room temperature (25C). Two spindles (#3 and #2) were used at varying
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RPMs in order to obtain the apparent viscosity (cp). In order to complete this experiment, 500
mL of the fluid were placed into a beaker. The spindles were then suspended in the fluid and ran
at different RPMs for one minute resul8ng in 12 different trials. In between each trial the
spindles were removed and s8rred gently with a spoon in order to get repeatable data. The data
would only be acceptable if the percentage displayed on the viscometer was between 5-100%.
The data would also be inconclusive if an “EEEE” error was displayed.

2.2 Data analysis of Brookfield Viscometer

Each spindle number was provided with a conversion factor for the shear rate. Spindle
#3 had a conversion factor of 0.210N and spindle #2 of 0.212N. The shear rate can be calculated
by mul8plying the conversion factor by the RPMs used in each respec8ve trial (eq 1). The trials
were then used to find the average shear rate and 6 data sets were lea (eq 2).

1
𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 ) , = 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑁) × 𝑅𝑃𝑀 (1)
𝑠

1
𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 ? 𝑠 @ × 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝑐𝑝)
𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 (𝑃𝑎) = (2)
1000

2.3 Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluid formulas

The Herschel-Bulkey Equa8on (Herschel and Bulkey, 1926) demonstrates the viscosity of
a liquid and shear rate via a power rela8onship (3).

𝑑𝜏 !
𝜏 = 𝑘 × ) , + 𝜏"
𝑑𝑡 (3)

2.4 StaGsGcal Parameters for recorded data

Once the shear stress vs. shear rate for all fluids were ploced on excel, a trendline was
used to display the equa8on and R2 values. A power trend line was used for all non-Newtonian
fluids, and a linear trendline was used for all Newtonian fluids. If n=1 then the fluid is deemed
Newtonian, and if n<1 the fluid is deemed non-Newtonian (eq.3). The R2 value indicates how
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accurate the trendline fits the data. A perfect fit would be R2=1. It should also be noted that if
n>1 the fluid is most likely dilatant, and if n<1 it is most likely pseudoplas8c.

Results and Discussion

3.1 Recorded data For Non-Newtonian Fluids

The non-Newtonian fluids exhibited in this experiment are chocolate syrup and the 54%
starch water mix. In figure 1 and figure 2 you can see the scacer plot of each respec8vely. The
trend line on each demonstrates a nonlinear pacern sugges8ng that they are non-Newtonian
fluids. It should also be noted that the R2 value for each is greater than 0.95 indica8ng that the
appropriate trendline was used. Each of these data sets were gathered using the Bohlin
rheometer. Chocolate syrup has an n value of n= 0.5723, while the starch water mix was n=
1.9426. This shows that chocolate syrup is a pseudoplas8c fluid, while the starch water mixture
is a dilatant.

Chocolate Syrup (Bohlin)

60

50 y = 3.8658x0.5723
R² = 0.9857
40
Shear Stress (Pa)

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Shear Rate (1/s)

Figure 1: Chocolate Syrup Shear Rate (Pa) vs. Shear Stress (1/s). R2= 0.9857, n= 0.5723.
The trendline that worked best was of a power func8on. The fluid was tested at 25°C
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250.00
Starch Water Mix (54%)

200.00 y = 0.0039x1.9426
R² = 0.9535
Shear Stress (Pa)

150.00

100.00

50.00

0.00
0.00 50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 250.00
Shear Rate (1/s)

Figure 2: Shear Stress vs. Shear Rate of 54% starch water mixture, n= 1.9426, R2= 0.9535. The trendline is
of a power func8on. The fluid was tested at 25°C.

3.2 Viscosity vs. Temperature for a Newtonian Fluid

Canola oil samples were tested at 6 different temperatures: 10°C, 25°C, 40°C, 55°C, 70°C,
and 85°C using the Bohlin rheometer. Figure 3 shows that each temperature has an n value that
is equal to 1. The trends are also linear, sugges8ng that the fluid is Newtonian. Each sample
have an approximate R2 value of 1 proving that the trendline format is accurate as well. It can be
seen that as the temperature of the fluid is increased, the slope is decreased. When the
viscosity is ploced against temperature (Figure 4) there is a nega8ve trend proving that viscosity
decreases as temperature is increased. Figure 6 displays the characteris8cs of canola oil at 25°C
only.

Canola Oil at 25C

5
y = 0.0624x
Sheer Stress (Pa)

4
R² = 0.9999
3
2
1
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Shear Rate (1/s)

Figure 6: canola oil Shear Rate vs. Shear Stress at 25°C only
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Canola Oil at All Temp (C)

y = 0.0183x
y = 0.1209x R² = 0.9805
R² = 1 y = 0.0142x
y = 0.0624x
R² = 0.9706
R² = 0.9999
y = 0.0367x
Shear Stress (Pa)

R² = 0.9988
y = 0.0244x
R² = 0.994

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Shear Rate (1/s)
10C 25C 40C
55C 70C 85C

Figure 3: Shear Rate vs. Shear Stress of 6 different canola oil samples. As the temperature is increased, the
slopes decrease. N=1 proving linear rela8onship and Newtonian liquid.

Viscosity vs. Temperature

0.16
y = 1.3904x-1.01
0.14
R² = 0.9811
0.12
Viscosity (cP)

0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Temperature (C)

Figure 4: Viscosity vs. Temperature scacer plot, indica8ng that as temperature increases viscosity decreases.
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3.3 Rheological Data of Dawn Dish Soaps

The rheometer was used to gather data on two different dish soaps, Dawn EZSqueeze
and normal Dawn. Each sample was taken at 25°C. When the Shear Rate vs. Sheer Stress plot
was made a linear trendline was used indica8ng that each were likely a Newtonian fluid. They
both demonstrated an R2 value of 1 proving the trendline was an exact match. In Figure 5 you
can see the two soaps compared to each other. Dawn EZSqueeze has a slope that is slightly
greater than that of normal Dawn indica8ng that it is slightly more viscous. The more viscous
product would in theory be the becer one, but the difference is so small that it is negligible.
Therefore no one product is becer than the other. Both are examples of Newtonian fluids.

Dawn EZSqueeze vs. Dawn Normal

60
y = 0.7091x
50 R² = 1
Shear Stress (Pa)

40
y = 0.7479x
30 R² = 1
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Shear Rate (1/s)

Dawn EZSqueeze
Dawn Normal
Linear (Dawn EZSqueeze )

Figure 5: Shear Rate vs. Shear Stress of Dawn and Dawn EZSqueeze. R2 = 1. Dawn EZSqueeze has the higher slope
indica8ng a slightly more viscous product.

3.4 Comparison of Experimental Data and Given Data

In Figure 7 you can see the Shear Rate vs. Shear Stress of chocolate syrup. This data was
obtained experimentally using the Brookfield viscometer while the fluid was at 25°C. The plot
has a power-related trend line with a R2 value of 0.9568 and a n value of n= 0.5045. The trend is
non-linear sugges8ng again that the fluid is non-Newtonian. This is consistent when compared
to the given data provided by the Bohlin rheometer in Figure 1. The main difference between
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the two arise when you look the closeness of the data points in the experimental trial. This
could be explained because the data was obtained using only 2 different spindles at very similar
rpms, and the rheometer uses high tech soaware to determine the fluid behavior. The data
from the two trials are s8ll conclusive enough to prove that the overall behavior is consistent
using both machines.

Chocolate Syrup Brookefield

8
7
6
5
Shear Stress (Pa)

4 y = 5.9776x0.5045
3 R² = 0.9568
2
1
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Shear Rate (1/s)

Figure 7: Experimental data of chocolate syrup. R2= 0.9568, n= 0.504. The non-linear plot shows this is a non-
Newtonian fluid.

Conclusions

Mul8ple household fluids were tested using various instruments and methods. The
results of these test show that fluid behavior is indica8ve of viscosity, and how viscosity can
differ under certain condi8ons. The shear rate vs. shear stress graphs provides informa8on
about the fluid thanks to the trend line equa8ons used. Rela8ng the trend line equa8ons to the
Hershel and Bulkey equa8on provides cri8cal fluid behavior informa8on that can be easily
displayed and understood.
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References
Trea, Imane, et al. “Experimental Measurements of Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow through a
Stenotic Tube - Korea-Australia Rheology Journal.” SpringerLink, Korean Society of
Rheology, Australian Society of Rheology, 3 Aug. 2022,
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13367-022-00038-7.

“Fluid Mechanics Fundamental and Application Fourth Edition : Yunus A. Cengel; John M.
Cimbala : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, 1 Jan. 1970,
archive.org/details/ed4_20201119.

Person, et al. “Mechanics of Non–Newtonian Fluids: 5 : Recent Developments in Theoret.”

Taylor & Francis, Taylor & Francis, 21 July 2023,
www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781003417026-5/mechanics-
non%E2%80%93newtonian-fluids-rajagopal.