01-01.

QXD 11/14/2001 10:42 AM Page 1

SECTION ONE

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to
Mechanics of Fluids
B. S. Kandola

Fluid Properties Specific volume: Specific volume is the reciprocal of

A fluid is defined as a substance that has the capacity
to flow freely and as a consequence deform continuously
when subjected to a shear stress. A fluid can be either a
liquid, a vapor, or a gas.
For the purposes of fluid flow studies, a very impor-
tant distinction is made between compressible fluids and
incompressible fluids. In general, the compressibility ef-
fects of liquids are so small that they can be regarded as
incompressible, whereas gases and vapors can be either
compressible or incompressible depending on the forces
involved.
To simplify analytical investigation of fluid motion,
the intermolecular forces of the fluids are ignored, and
such a fluid is known as inviscid (i.e., zero viscosity).
An incompressible, inviscid fluid is called a perfect
fluid. In reality no real fluid is a perfect fluid, but the ef-
fects of viscosity are so small in a perfect fluid that they
can be ignored.
Density: The density of a fluid is defined as the mass of
the fluid per unit volume. The density, :, is therefore de-
fined as
mass m
:C C Physical Properties of Fluids
volume v
where m is the mass of fluid of volume, v. If the units of
mass are kilograms (kg) and the volume m3, then the
units of density are kg/m3.
Dr. B. S. Kandola, formerly a member of the unit of fire safety engi-
neering, Edinburgh University, and a senior consultant with AEA
Technology and Lloyd’s Register, is an independent safety and risk
management consultant. He has worked on a range of research proj-
ects involving fire and smoke movement modeling on offshore oil
and gas installations and for the nuclear industry. His current activi-
ties include risk assessment, consequence modeling, hazard analy-
sis, and the development of safety cases for the petrochemical,
offshore, and nuclear industries.
density, that is, specific volume (m3/kg)
1
vC
:
Shear force: The component of total force, F, in a direc-
tion tangential to the surface of a body is called the shear
force. Similarly, the component perpendicular to the tan-
gent is called the normal force. Force is measured in new-
tons (N, or 1 kg m/s2).
Shear stress: The shear stress, <, at a point is defined as
the limiting value of shear force per unit area as the area
is reduced to a point, or
shear force
<C
area
Pressure: The pressure, P, at a point in a fluid is defined
as the limiting value of normal force to area as the area is
reduced to the point, or
normal force
PC
area
where the units are N/m2, or pascals (Pa).
Viscosity: All real fluids offer some resistance, however
small, to applied shear stresses. This resistance results
from the property of the fluid called viscosity. According
to Newton’s law, the rate at which a fluid element de-
forms for a given shear stress is inversely proportional to
the fluid viscosity.
For a two-dimensional flow between two parallel
plates, the rate of deformation is the rate of change of x-
component of velocity, u, with y-direction, that is, Ùu/Ùy.
If < is the frictional shearing stress, then according to the
above definition
Ùu
<ä (1)
Ùy

1–1