Sub: Engineering Fluid Mechanics (BME303)

Topic: Properties of Fluids

By
Dr.V.K.Pandey

Asso.Prof, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Fluid Mechanics: Fluid mechanics may be defined as that branch of Engineering-science which deals
with the behaviour of fluid under the conditions of rest and motion.

The fluid mechanics may be divided into three parts: Statics, kinematics and dynamics
 Statics. The study of incompressible fluids under static conditions is called hydrostatics and that dealing with the
compressible static gases is termed as aerostatics
 Kinematics. It deals with the velocities, accelerations and the patterns of flow only. Forces or energy causing
velocity and acceleration are not dealt under this heading.
 Dynamics. It deals with the relations between velocities, accelerations of fluid with the forces or energy causing
them.

Properties of Fluids–General Aspects:

Solid state Fluid state

Liquid state Gaseous state

FLUID: “A fluid is a substance which is capable of flowing” or “A fluid is a substance which deforms continuously when
subjected to external shearing force.”

A fluid has the following characteristics:

 It has no definite shape of its own, but conforms to the shape of the containing vessel.
 Even a small amount of shear force exerted on a liquid/fluid will cause it to undergo a deformation which continues as
long as the force continues to be applied.
 Fluid may be liquid, gas , vapor, ideal fluid, real fluid.

LIQUIDS AND THEIR PROPERTIES:

Mass Density: The density (also known as mass density or specific mass) of a liquid may be defined as the mass per
unit volume at a standard temperature and pressure. It is usually denoted by ρ (rho). Its units are kg/m3
ρ = m/ V
Weight Density: The weight density (also known as specific weight) is defined as the weight per unit volume at the
standard temperature and pressure. It is usually denoted by w

Specific volume: It is defined as volume per unit mass of fluid. It is denoted by v

Specific Gravity: Specific gravity is the ratio of the specific weight of the liquid to the specific weight of a standard
fluid. It is dimensionless and has no units. It is represented by S.
Example 1. Calculate the specific weight, specific mass, specific volume and specific
gravity of a liquid having a volume of 6 m3 and weight of 44 kN.
VISCOSITY: Viscosity may be defined as the property of a fluid which determines its resistance to shearing
stresses. It is a measure of the internal fluid friction which causes resistance to flow. Viscosity of fluids is due
to cohesion and interaction between particles.

Shear stress is proportional to the rate of change of velocity

with respect to y. It is denoted by τ (called Tau).
Kinematic Viscosity : Kinematic viscosity is defined as the ratio between the dynamic viscosity and
density of fluid. It is denoted by ν (called nu).
Newton’s Law of Viscosity:
This law states that the shear stress (τ) on a fluid element layer is directly proportional to the rate of shear strain.
The constant of proportionality is called the co-efficient of viscosity.

Types of Fluids
 Newtonian fluids-Water, kerosene, air etc.
 Non-Newtonian fluids-Solutions or suspensions
(slurries), mud flows, polymer solutions, blood etc.
 Plastic fluids. -Sewage sludge, drilling muds etc.
 Thyxotropic substance-printer’s ink
 Ideal fluid
Effect of Temperature on Viscosity: Viscosity is effected by temperature. The viscosity of
liquids decreases but that of gases increases with increase in temperature. This is due to the reason
that in liquids the shear stress is due to the inter-molecular cohesion which decreases with increase of
temperature. In gases the inter-molecular cohesion is negligible and the shear stress is due to
exchange of momentum of the molecules, normal to the direction of motion. The molecular activity
increases with rise in temperature and so does the viscosity of gas.

Effect of Pressure on Viscosity: The viscosity under ordinary conditions is not appreciably
affected by the changes in pressure. However, the viscosity of some oils has been found to increase
with increase in pressure.
Example 1. A plate 0.05 mm distant from a fixed plate moves at 1.2 m/s and requires a
force of 2.2 N/m2 to maintain this speed. Find the viscosity of the fluid between the plates.
Example 2. A plate having an area of 0.6 m2 is sliding down the inclined plane at 30° to the horizontal
with a velocity of 0.36 m/s. There is a cushion of fluid 1.8 mm thick between the plane and the plate. Find
the viscosity of the fluid if the weight of the plate is 280 N.
Example 3. The space between two square flat parallel plates is filled with oil. Each side of the plate is 720 mm. The
thickness of the oil film is 15 mm. The upper plate, which moves at 3 m/s requires a force of 120 N to maintain the speed.
Determine:
(i) The dynamic viscosity of the oil;
(ii) The kinematic viscosity of oil if the specific gravity of oil is 0.95.
 SURFACE TENSION: Surface tension is caused by the force of cohesion at the free
surface. It is usually expressed in N/m.

The value of surface tension depends upon

the following factors:
(i) Nature of the liquid,
(ii) Nature of the surrounding matter (e.g.,
solid, liquid or gas), and
(iii) Kinetic energy (and hence the
temperature of the liquid molecules).

Pressure Inside a Water Droplet:

Let, p = Pressure inside the droplet above outside pressure (i.e., ∆p = p – 0 = p above atmospheric
pressure) , d = Diameter of the droplet and , σ= Surface tension of the liquid.
Soap (or hollow) bubble: Soap bubbles have two surfaces
on which surface tension σ acts.
A Liquid jet: Let us consider a cylindrical liquid jet of diameter d and length l.
Example 4. If the surface tension at air-water interface is 0.069 N/m, what is the pressure
difference between inside and outside of an air bubble of diameter 0.009 mm?
Capillarity: Capillarity is a phenomenon by which a liquid (depending upon its
specific gravity) rises into a thin glass tube above or below its general level. This
phenomenon is due to the combined effect of cohesion and adhesion of liquid
particles.

Let, d = Diameter of the capillary tube, θ= Angle of

contact of the water surface
σ= Surface tension force for unit length, and w =
Weight density (ρg).
Now, upward surface tension force (lifting force) =
weight of the water column in the tube (gravity
force)
In case of mercury there is a capillary depression, h
is negative indicating capillary depression

Following points are worth noting:

(i) Smaller the diameter of the capillary tube,
greater is the capillary rise or depression.
(ii) The measurement of liquid level in labora-
tory capillary (glass) tubes should not be
smaller than 8 mm.
(iii) Capillary effects are negligible for tubes
longer than 12 mm.
(iv) For wetting liquid (water): θ < π /2. For
water: θ = 0 when pure water is in contact with
clean glass. But θ becomes as high as 25° when
water is slightly contaminated.
Example 4. Calculate the capillary effect in millimetres in a glass tube of 4 mm diameter, when
immersed in (i) water and (ii) mercury. The temperature of the liquid is 20°C and the values of
surface tension of water and mercury at 20°C in contact with air are 0.0735 N/m and 0.51 N/m
respectively. The contact angle for water θ = 0° and for mercury θ = 130°. Take specific weight of
water at 20°C as equal to 9790 N/m3.
COMPRESSIBILITY: The property by virtue of which fluids undergo a change in volume under
the action of external pressure is known as compressibility.
Note: The compressibility in Fluid Mechanics is considered mainly when the velocity of flow is
high enough reaching 20 percent of speed of sound in the medium.
BULK MODULUS: Elasticity of fluids is measured in terms of bulk modulus of elasticity (K)
which is defined as the ratio of compressive stress to volumetric strain. Compressibility is the
reciprocal of bulk modulus of elasticity.
Note:
 The bulk modulus of elasticity (K) of a fluid is not constant, but it
increases with increase in pressure. This is so because when a fluid mass
is compressed its molecules become close together and its resistance to
further compression increases i.e., K increases. (e.g. the value of K
roughly doubles as the pressure is raised from 1 atmosphere to 3500
atmosphere).
 The bulk modulus of elasticity (K) of the fluid is affected by the
temperature of the fluid. In the case of liquids there is a decrease of K
with increase of temperature. However, for gases since pressure and
temperature are inter-related and as temperature increases, pressure also
increases, an increase in temperature results in an increase in the value of
K.
 At NTP (normal temperature and pressure):
Example 4. When the pressure of liquid is increased from 3.5 MN/m2 to MN/m2 its volume is
found to decrease by 0.08 percent. What is the bulk modulus of elasticity of the liquid?
VAPOUR PRESSURE:
 All liquids have a tendency to evaporate or vaporize (i.e., to change from the
liquid to the gaseous state). Molecules are continuously projected from the free
surface to the atmosphere. These ejected molecules are in a gaseous state and
exert their own partial vapour pressure on the liquid surface. This pressure is
known as the vapour pressure of the liquid (pv).
 If the surface above the liquid is confined, the partial vapour pressure exerted by
the molecules increases till the rate at which the molecules re-enter the liquid is
equal to the rate at which they leave the surface. When the equilibrium condition
is reached, the vapour pressure is called saturation vapour pressure (pvs).
 If the pressure on the liquid surface is lower than or equal to the saturation
vapour pressure, boiling takes place.
 Vapour pressure increases with the rise in temperature.
 Mercury has a very low vapour pressure and hence, it is an excellent fluid to be
used in a barometer.
Cavitation
 It is a phenomenon in which rapid changes of pressure in a liquid lead to the formation of small
vapor-filled cavities in places where the pressure is relatively low. The process in which a void or
bubble in a liquid rapidly collapses, producing a shock wave, is called inertial cavitation.
 The effects of cavitation are hydraulic (low efficiency due to flow instability) and mechanical
(surface damage, noise and vibration).
 Assignment-I
DOS:2.8.2020
Q1. What are the different types of fluids? Explain
Q2.What do you mean by Newton’s law of viscosity?
Q3. Define: Surface tension, Capillarity, Cavitation, Vapor pressure.
Q.4 A 400 mm diameter shaft is rotating at 200 r.p.m. in a bearing of length 120 mm. If the thickness of oil film is
1.5 mm and the dynamic viscosity of the oil is 0.7 N.s/m2, determine:
(i) Torque required to overcome friction in bearing;
(ii) Power utilized in overcoming viscous resistance.
Assume a linear velocity profile
Q.5 Two large fixed parallel planes are 12 mm apart. The space between the surfaces is filled with oil of viscosity
0.972 N.s/m2. A flat thin plate 0.25 m2 area moves through the oil at a velocity of 0.3 m/s. Calculate the drag
force:
(i) When the plate is equidistant from both the planes, and
(ii) When the thin plate is at a distance of 4 mm from one of the plane surfaces.
Q.6 If the surface tension at the soap-air interface is 0.09 N/m, calculate the internal pressure in a soap bubble
of 28 mm diameter.
Q.7 Determine the minimum size of glass tubing that can be used to measure water level, if the capillary rise in
the tube is not to exceed 0.3 mm. Take surface tension of water in contact with air as 0.0735 N/m.