B.

ASHWINI KUMAR
ASST PROFESSOR
MECHANICAL ENGG DEPT

FLUID MECHANICS

Fluid Properties
o Definition of fluid
o Properties of fluid
o Viscosity
o Classification of fluids
o Surface tension and capillarity
o Vapour pressure and cavitation

Fluids
Definition:
A fluid is a substance which is capable of flowing.
It has no definite shape of its own.
It 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.

Fluid Mechanics
Definition:
It is that branch of science which deals with the behaviour
of fluids(liquids or gases) at rest as well as in motion.

Thus this branch of science deals with the static, kinematics

and dynamic aspects of fluids.

 The study of fluids at rest is called fluid statics.

The study of fluids in motion where pressure forces are not

considered is called fluid kinematics.

The study of fluids in motion where pressure forces are

considered is called fluid dynamics.

Properties of fluids

Density or Mass Density ( ) ( Mass/Volume )

Specific Weight or Weight Density ( w ) (Weight/Volume)

Specific Volume ( Volume/Mass )

Specific Gravity ( S ) ( Weight Density of fluid/Weight

Density of standard fluid )

Viscosity
It is defined as the property of a fluid which offers resistance
to the movement of one layer of fluid over another adjacent
layer of the fluid.

Shear stress is proportional to the rate of change of velocity

with respect to y.

It is denoted by symbol (tau)

 (du/dy)
= (du/dy)
= /(du/dy)
where is the constant of proportionality and is known as the
coefficient of dynamic viscosity or viscosity.
du/dy represents the rate of shear strain or rate of shear
deformation or velocity gradient.

 Units of Viscosity
MKS kgf-sec/m2
CGS dyne-sec/cm2
SI Ns/m2 = Pa.s
N/m2 Pascal and represented by Pa
dyne-sec/cm2 Poise
Conversion from MKS to CGS
1 kgf-sec/m2 = 9.81 N-sec/m2

Example of Viscosity
(Animation)

 Open site
http://www.planetseed.com/flash/science/lab/liquids/visco_exp
/en/viscosity.htm?width=620&height=500&popup=true

Kinematic Viscosity
It is defined as the ratio of dynamic viscosity to the density of
fluid.
It is denoted by the Greek symbol (nu).

= Viscosity/Density = /

Units in MKS and SI systems m2/sec

 Units in CGS system cm2/sec

In CGS units, kinematic viscosity is also known as stoke

One stoke = cm2/sec = (1/100) m2/sec = 10-4 m2/sec

Centistoke means 1/100 stoke

Newtons Law of Viscosity

It states that the shear stress () on a fluid element layer is
directly proportional to the rate of shear strain.

The constant of proportionality is called the coefficient of

viscosity.

Mathematically it is expressed as (du/dy)

= (du/dy)

Types of fluids
Ideal fluid incompressible and no viscosity
Real fluid possess viscosity
Newtonian fluid obeys Newtons law of viscosity
Non-Newtonian fluid - not obey Newtons law of viscosity
Ideal Plastic fluid shear stress > yield value and (du/dy)

Surface Tension
It is defined as the tensile force acting on the surface of a
liquid in contact with a gas or on the surface between two
immiscible ( meaning - not forming a homogenous mixture or
cannot be mixed ) liquids such that contact surface behaves
like a membrane under tension.

Examples of Surface Tension

 Surface Tension on Liquid Droplet

Surface Tension on a Hollow Bubble
Surface Tension on a Liquid Jet

Capillarity (Animation) click on image

Capillarity
It is defined as a phenomenon of rise or fall of a liquid surface
in a small tube relative to the adjacent general level of liquid
when the tube is held vertically in the liquid.
The rise of liquid surface is known as capillary rise.
The fall of liquid surface is known as capillary depression.
It is expressed in terms of cm or mm of liquid.

 Its value depends upon specific weight of liquid, diameter of

tube and surface tension of liquid.
Expression for capillary rise:
h = 4 / ( x g x d)
Expression for capillary fall:
h = 4 cos / ( x g x d)
Value of for mercury and glass tube is 128o

Vapour Pressure
A change from liquid state to the gaseous state is known as
vaporization.
Vaporization occurs due to continuous escaping of molecules
through the free liquid surface.
In a closed vessel when vaporization takes place, molecules
will escape from free surface and accumulated vapours exert
pressure on the liquid surface.
This pressure is known as Vapour Pressure.

Cavitation
It is the phenomenon of formation of vapour bubbles of a
flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls
below the vapour pressure and sudden collapsing of these
vapour bubbles in a region of higher pressure.