Fluid Mechanics and

Hydraulics
Fluid Mechanics is a physical science dealing with the
action of fluids at rest or in motion, and with the
application and devices in engineering using fluids.

Hydraulics deals with the application of fluid

mechanics to engineering devices involving liquids,
usually water or oil. It deals with such problems as
flow of fluid through pipes or in open channel, the
design and storage dams, pumps, water turbines,
and with other devices for the control or use of
liquids, such as nozzles, valves, jets, and flowmeters.

FMH-CECS-Rev2
 𝑀 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑
Mass Density, ρ= =
𝑉 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
English: slugs/ft3
SI: kg/m3
water at 4°C has density of 1000 kg/m3 = 1.94slugs/ft3 *1kg=0.0685 slugs
1
Specific Volume, Vs =
ρ
𝑊 𝑚𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑
Unit weight or Specific weight, ϒ = = =
𝑉 𝑉 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
w=mass*(acc. Due to gravity)= mg therefore ϒ = ρg
where g = 9.81m/s2= 32.2ft/s2
ϒwater = 9.81kN/m3 = 62.4lb/ft3
Specific Gravity
ρ 𝑙𝑖𝑞 ρ 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
For liquids and solids: Gs= ρ 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = ρ 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
ρ 𝑔𝑎𝑠
For gases: =
Gs ρ 𝑎𝑖𝑟
FMH-CECS-Rev2
1. A reservoir of glycerin has a mass of 1200kg and a
volume of 0.952cu.m. Find
a. weight
b. unit weight
c. mass density in slugs/ft3
d. specific volume
e. specific gravity

FMH-CECS-Rev2
2. What is the weight of the boulder if it is brought to a place where
the acceleration due to gravity is 395m/s per minute?
3. If the specific volume of a certain gas is 0.7848m3/kg, what is its
specific weight?
4. The unit weight of water at 50°F is 62.4pcf. If the volume of the
vessel that contains water is 3.50ft3.
a. what will be the change in volume when it is heated to 160°F (unit
weight of water is 61pcf at 160°F)
b. compute the percentage of volume.
c. what weight of water must be removed to maintain the original
volume.

FMH-CECS-Rev2
Bulk Modulus of Water (E)
∆𝑃
E= - ∆𝑉
𝑉1
Where ∆𝑃 = change in pressure, P2-P1
∆𝑉 = change in volume, V2-V1
Coefficient of compressibility (β)
1
β=
𝐸

Velocity of Sound (Celerity)

𝐸
V= =m/s
ρ

FMH-CECS-Rev2
1. A liquid which is compressed in a cylinder has a volume of
1000cu.cm. at 2MPa and a volume of 990cu.cm at 2.5MPa.
a. compute the bulk modulus of elasticity
b. compute the percentage of volume decreased
c. compute the coefficient of compressibility
2. A rigid container is partly filled with a liquid at 1520 kPa. The
volume of the liquid is 1.232 L. at a pressure of 3039kPa, the volume
of the liquid is 1.231L.
a. compute the average bulk modulus of elasticity
b. compute the coefficient of compressibility
c. if the liquid has a density of 1593kg/m3, what is the speed
of sound in the medium?

FMH-CECS-Rev2
Height of Capillary rise/depression in a tube
4σ cos Ө 2σ cos Ө
h= =
ϒ𝑑 ρ𝑔𝑟
Where : d= diameter, r= radius
σ = surface tension = N/m
Ө = angle of wetting ( 0° for H20, 130° for Hg)
Force due to surface tension, F
F = πd σ cos Ө
Pressure inside the droplet
4σ
P=
𝑑

FMH-CECS-Rev2
1. The radius of the tube as shown in the figure is 1mm. The
surface tension of water at 20°C is equal to 0.0728N/m. for
water-glass interface Ө=0°.
a. compute the capillary rise in a tube
b. compute the total force due to surface tension
c. compute the weight of water above the surface due to
surface tension

2. a. Find the depression h of the mercury in the glass capillary tube

having the diameter of 2mm if the surface tension 0.514N/m for
Ө=40°.
b. Compute the force caused by surface tension
c. Determine the density of the mercury

FMH-CECS-Rev2
Specific density of air and gasses:
𝑃
ρ=
𝑅𝑇
Where P = absolute pressure = Pgage + Patm
R = gas constant = 287 Joule/kg – K === 1716 lb-ft/slug – R
T = absolute temperature
Kelvin, K = °C + 273°
Rankine, R = °F + 460°

1. A gas having a volume of 40L has a pressure of 0.24MPa

at 24°C. if the gas constant R is equal to 212N.m/kg- K,
compute
a. density of gas
b. mass of gas
c. weight of gas
FMH-CECS-Rev2
Pressure Measurement
Pabs=Patm + Pgage
1 atm = 101.325 kPa
= 2166 lb/ft2 =14.7 lb/in2
=760mm Hg
1 bar = 100 kPa (sometimes being used as 1 atm)

Difference in pressure between 2 points:

P1-P2 = ϒh
𝑃
Pressure head (m) h=
ϒ
Equivalent pressure head in another fluid: S1h1=S2h2

FMH-CECS-Rev2
1. A gage in elevation 12m at the side of the tank containing
liquid reads 100kPa. Another gauge at elevation 7m reads
140kPa.
a. compute the specific weight of the liquid
b. compute the density of the liquid
c. compute the specific gravity of the liquid
2. A tank contains oil sp.gr=0.80, gasoline 0.90 and water with sp
gr= 1.03. if the depths of the liquid are 0.5m, 0.8m, and 1m for
oil, gasoline and water respectively.
a. find the pressure at 1.2m depth
b. find the pressure at a depth of 1.8m
c. what is the pressure at the bottom in mmHg? In bars? in psi?
c. what is the equivalent height if it use water to attain the
same pressure at the bottom of the tank?

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3. A closed compartment shown contains water 3m
deep water at the left and 5m deep on the right. If the
pressure at A is 98kPa abs, ρair=1.2kg/m3,
ϒair= 0.0118kN/m3.
a. what is the abs pressure at B considering the
specific wt of air?
b. what is the abs pressure at B neglecting the
specific wt of air?
c. compute the percentage of error.
4. Oil of sp.gr. 0.750 flows through nozzle shown and
deflects the mercury in the U-tube gage.
a. Determine the value of h if the pressure at A is
142kPa.
b. what is the pressure at B
c. if the diameter at A is 200mm, compute the
velocity at A if oil flows at a rate off 36000 L/min
FMH-CECS-Rev2
5. A typical hydraulic jack is shown on the
figure. The 9.81kN weight is supported by
the 75mm diam piston and the hydraulic
jack is filled with oil having a unit weight of
8.8 kN/m3. The handle of the hydraulic jack
is connected at a pivot point A, and also with
a 25mm diameter piston.
a. Compute the pressure under the 75mm
diam piston.
b. Compute the force exerted by the 25mm
diam piston.
c. What force F is required to support the
weight neglecting the weight of the two
pistons?

FMH-CECS-Rev2
General ideal gas Law:
𝑃𝑉 𝑃1𝑉1 𝑃2𝑉2
K= or =
𝑇 𝑇1 𝑇2

Boyle’s Law:
P1V1= P2V2

𝑉1 𝑉2
Charle’s Law: =
𝑇1 𝑇2

P = Pressure
V = Volume
T= Temperature
FMH-CECS-Rev2
1. Find the approximate height of water upstream of
the dam or the headwater in meters, such that an
air bubble, upon reaching the water surface has a
volume 3 times than it had at the bottom?

2. A cylinder glass tubing 2.8cm inside diameter and

90cm long with one end closed is immersed vertically
with the open end down into a tank of cleaning solvent
(sp.gr. = 0.73) until only 5cm of its length remaining
above the liquid surface. If the barometric pressure is
1kg/cm2 and neglecting water vapor, how high will the
fluid rise in the tube?

FMH-CECS-Rev2
Viscosity
1. Absolute or Dynamic Viscosity, μ (Pa-s)
τ
μ = 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
ℎ
Where τ = shear stress = F/A
𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
= rate of deformation
ℎ
h= distance between plates
2. Kinematic Viscosity, υ (m2/s)
μ
υ=
ρ

Values: 0.1 Pa-s = 1 Poise

1 dyne-s/cm2 = 1 Poise
1 dyne = 10 -5 N
1 stoke = 10-4 m2/s
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