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Physicsinvestigatoryprojectforcolleges 140119070411 Phpapp01 PDF
Physicsinvestigatoryprojectforcolleges 140119070411 Phpapp01 PDF
PROJECT
Fluid Mechanics: Viscosity of Engine Oils
By Ashrant Kohli
(2013-2014)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2
AIM .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
APPARATUS ............................................................................................................................................. 3
THEORY ................................................................................................................................................... 4
PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................................................ 6
OBSERVATIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 7
CALCULATIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 8
CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................................... 14
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................... 15
INTRODUCTION
Consider the following situation:
You are driving your diesel car on the road to Shimla (a hill-station) and it is 25
degrees Celsius outside. Suddenly your car breaks down and you open the
bonnet to see what’s wrong. You notice that grime has accumulated in your
engine and the motor oil has to be replaced for your car to start. You wait for
people but no cars pass your way. You only get the following oils :
Of the given choices, you must use your knowledge of physics and viscosity to
choose the oil most suited for your diesel engine car.
AIM
To compare the viscosity of different engine oils at a given
temperature and thereby determine the most effective one for a
diesel car.
APPARATUS
1. Metre high, 5cm broad cylindrical glass tube
4. Screw gauge
5. Stop watch
6. String
Motor oil or engine oil is used for lubrication of various internal combustion
engines.
The main function is to reduce wear (deterioration due to friction) on moving
parts. When the pistons of the engine move back and forth they wear out the
sides of the cylinder block, the oil creates a layer that lets them move
smoothly.
It also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing, and cools the engine by
carrying heat away from moving parts.
How it is rated: Engine oils can be made of singular polymers (single grade) or
multiple polymers (multi grade) and are rated accordingly. These differ in their
viscosity, and therefore, in their uses. The SAE gives a single grade to engine
oils. However, single grade oils cannot withstand the variety of conditions
vehicles today are put through. Therefore, multi grade oils are more popular.
These behave as differently rated single grade oils under different temperature
conditions. Under cold conditions, the oil is thin enough to grease the engine
and allow for proper ignition and running. Under high engine temperatures,
the oil only thins to a particular extent so as to keep the engine sufficiently
lubricated.
Multi grade ratings are in the form xWy (eg. 5W40). 'W' is the winter rating
which shows that the oil has been tested to work under cold conditions. The 'x'
number tells us which single grade polymer the oil behaves like under cold
conditions. The lower the number, the less viscous the oil and better the
performance in low temperatures. The 'y' number tells us the single grade
polymer as much as which the oil thins at high temperatures.
The rating is primarily based on the viscosity of the engine oils. Hence, it is
evident that viscosity is the single most important characteristic deciding the
efficiency of these oils. Different polymer combinations are made to essentially
alter the viscosity of the oil at different temperatures.
What is viscosity?
Coefficient of viscosity
When liquid flows over a flat surface, the liquid layer in contact with the fixed
surface does not move. Higher layers move forward with increasing velocity.
Due to relative motion, a backward dragging force F acts tangentially to every
layer. This force is proportional to the speed (v) of the layer, the area (A) of the
layer and inversely proportional to their separation (x). Combining these
factors we have the following:
F = ηA (v/x)
Stokes Law
It was shown by Stokes Law that if a small sphere of radius r be moving with a
terminal v through an infinite homogeneous and incompressible fluid of
coefficient of viscosity η, it experiences a force F given by,
Terminal Velocity
This is the maximum velocity acquired by the body falling freely in a viscous
medium.
Consider a small sphere of radius (r) and density (ρ) falling freely in a viscous
medium (coefficient of viscosity η and density σ).
η = [2r2 (ρ – σ) g ] / 9 v
MAK Gold 40
η = 0.029541 kg/ms
Servo 4T
η = 0.02614 kg/ms
HP Milcy Turbo
η = 0.023698 kg/ms
Castrol Active
η = 0.031482 kg/ms
There are a wide range of factors that must be taken into consideration to
choose the right engine oil. Engine oil ratings are based on the viscosity of the
oil, but these ratings aren’t exactly accurate. Each of these oils falls under a
SAE 40 rating, but they have different viscosities.
Volumetric Expansion
ΔV = α ΔT
Change in Density
ρ1 = ρ0 / [1 + α ( t1 - t0 )]
Kinematic Viscosity
ν=μ/ρ
Viscosity Index
VI = (L - U)/ (L - H) * 10
Kinematic Kinematic
Coefficient of
Oil Name Density Viscosity Viscosity
Viscosity
(m2/s) (cSt)
MAK Gold 40 0.029541 820 0.000359 359
Servo 4T 0.02614 840 0.000311 311
HP Milcy Turbo 0.023698 820 0.000289 289
Castrol Active 0.031482 840 0.000374 374
Calculating the kinematic viscosity at 1000 C :
μ(T)= μ0 * e-bT
μ0 = μ(T) / e-bT
or
(This is a hypothesised relation which may or may not hold true for all values that are entered into it.)
CONCLUSION
This equation puts all the values of kinematic viscosity of the oils in the SAE 40
Range. Therefore any of the oils may be used as SAE 40 is suitable for
prolonged use in cars.
But in order to compensate for the grime build-up and the fact that the engine
may have to start in colder weather as it is specified that the car is on its way
to a hill station, the least viscous oil should be used. This oil will ensure it
doesn’t get too thick at lower temperatures and will still flow.
WEBSITES:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com
http://www.kittiwake.com
http://www.carbibles.com
http://www.racq.com.au
http://www.redlineoil.com
http://www.upmpg.com
http://www.olwinlube.com
http://www.kewengineering.co.uk
http://www.howstuffworks.com
http://www.synlube.com/viscosity.html
http://www.widman.biz/English/Calculators/VI.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity_index
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagen%E2%80%93Poiseuille_equation
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ppois.html
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature_dependence_of_liquid_viscosity
http://easycalculation.com/physics/classical-physics/kinematic-viscosity.php
http://www-
mdp.eng.cam.ac.uk/web/library/enginfo/aerothermal_dvd_only/aero/fprops/
propsoffluids/node5.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity#Dynamic_.28shear.29_viscosity
http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/EN/units-converter/viscosity-
kinematic/18-4/centistokes-millimeter%C2%B2%2Fsecond/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oil
http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Tribology/Viscosity.html
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/kinematic-viscosity-d_397.html
RESEARCH PAPERS:
http://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/MNL/SOURCE_PAGES/DS39B_forewor
d.pdf
http://www-
personal.engin.umd.umich.edu/~ratts/me379fil/me379_lab_report_example.p
df
http://www.ideas4ag-
ed.com/uploads/3/7/0/4/3704787/stan_toepfer_understanding_motor_oil_vi
scosity.pdf
http://www.kittiwake.com/sites/default/files/2%20-
%20Viscosity%20Dec12_0.pdf
http://www.pipeflow.co.uk/public/articles/Viscosity_And_Density_Units_And_
Formula.pdf
http://biosystems.okstate.edu/Home/jcarol/Class_Notes/BAE2023_Spring200
9/viscosity_handout.pdf
http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/teach_res/jp/fluids/viscosity.pdf