MEC241 Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 1: Introduction and Basic Concepts (3 hours)

CO1: PO1 Explain the basic concepts and fundamental principles of

fluid mechanics.

*Please do not be afraid to ask any questions.

By: MiqdadKOS UiTM PG
 Chapter Content & Objectives
1.1 Characteristics of fluids and the
continuum model
1.2 Fluid properties
1.3 Scope and classification of fluid flow
• Understand the basic concept of fluid
mechanics
• Able to determine basic properties
associated with the study of fluid
mechanics
• Able to identify the scope and classification
of fluid flow.
1.1 Characteristics of fluid and the continuum model
• The term fluid is used to refer substance
which are either in liquid or gas phase.

• Fluids are viewed as a continuum model.

Solid Fluid (liquid or gas)
• The difference between a solid and fluid is
its ability to resist deformation when
force (shear) is applied.
• disregard to atomic nature of the fluid and
view it as a continuous, homogenous matter
(with no holes)
• Continuum → continuous + medium
• Most engineering work is concerned with
macroscopic (bulk) behavior of a fluid rather
microscopic (molecular) behavior.

What are other difference between solid and fluid?

 1.2 Fluid properties
• A fluid can also be characterized by its Density, ρ
properties.
• Defined as mass per unit volume
• Basic properties with regards to a fluid are: For liquids; 𝝆=
𝒎
(kg/m3)
𝑽
• Density, ρ
• Specific volume, v
• Specific gravity, SG For gases; P𝑉 = 𝑚𝑅𝑇
• Specific weight, γ
𝒎
• Viscosity: 𝑷= 𝑹𝑻 = 𝝆𝑹𝑻
𝑽
• Dynamic viscosity, μ
Where:
• Kinematic viscosity, ν
• P = absolute pressure (kPa)
• V = volume (m3)
• m = mass (kg)
• R = gas constant (kJ/kg.K)
• T = temperature (K)
1.2 Fluid properties
Specific volume, v Specific weight, γ
• Reciprocal of density • Defined as the weight of a unit volume of a
• Defined as volume per unit mass; substance.
𝟏 𝑽 𝜸 = 𝝆𝒈 (N/m3)
𝒗= = (m3/kg)
𝝆 𝒎
Specific gravity, SG
• Also known as relative density
• Defined as the ratio of the density of a
substance to the density of some standard
substance at a specified temperature
(usually water at where ρw = 1000kg/m3)
𝝆
𝑺𝑮 =
𝝆𝒘
 1.2 Fluid properties
Example Solution:
A fluid occupies a volume of 32L and weighs Step 1: Sketch the schematic diagram
at 280N. Determine the following properties
by taking the gravitational acceleration as
9.81 m/s2 Step 2: Write what is required/equation
a) The fluid mass, kg 𝑊
a) 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔 → m =
b) The fluid density, kg/m3 𝑔
𝑚
c) The fluid specific weight, N/m3 and b) 𝜌 = 𝑉
d) The fluid specific gravity (SG)
c) 𝛾 = ρ𝑔
𝜌
d) 𝑆𝐺 = 𝜌
𝑤
1.2 Fluid properties
Exercise
Step 3: Determine the properties/values
Compressed air with pressure of 300kPa is stored
V = 32 L = 32/1000 = 0.032 m3 in a cylindrical tank at temperature of 30°C. The
ρw = 1000 kg/m3 tank diameter and height are 0.3m and 1.5m
respectively. Estimate the density, mass, and
Step 4: Substitute and solve specific weight of the compressed air if the gas
𝑊 280 constant, R is 0.287 kJ/kg. K (Ans: 3.45kg/m3,
a) m = = = 𝟐𝟖. 𝟓𝟒𝟐kg 0.366kg, 33.845N/m3)
𝑔 9.81
𝑚 28.542
b) 𝜌 = = = 𝟖𝟗𝟏. 𝟗𝟑𝟖kg/m3
𝑉 0.032

c) 𝛾 = ρ𝑔 = 891.938 9.81
= 𝟖, 𝟕𝟒𝟗. 𝟗𝟏𝟐N/m3
𝜌 891.938
d) 𝑆𝐺 = = = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟗𝟐
𝜌𝑤 1000
1.2 Fluid properties
Dynamic viscosity, μ • Rearranging the equation to determine the
• Defined as the internal resistance of a fluid dynamic viscosity,
to motion. 𝝉
𝝁=
• Relation for dynamic viscosity can be 𝒅𝒖 (N.s/m2, Pa.s, kg/m.s )
obtain when considering a fluid layer 𝒅𝒚
between two parallel plates.
𝒅𝒖
• Where is the velocity gradient obtain by
𝒅𝒚
differentiating the velocity profile/distribution
𝒖(𝒚)
• Velocity profile/distribution can be either
linear or non-linear. For linear velocity
• If the upper plate moves at a constant profile:
velocity, V , a shear stress, τ will be 𝒅𝒖 ∆𝑽
developed. Its magnitude depends on the =
𝒅𝒚 ∆𝒉
viscosity of the fluid. Hence,
𝒅𝒖 V → velocity, m/s
𝝉=𝝁 h → height/thickness of fluid flim, m
𝒅𝒚
1.2 Fluid properties
kinematic viscosity, ν Example:
• Defined as the ratio of dynamic viscosity to The specific gravity of a fluid is 1.35 and its
the density of a substance. dynamic viscosity is 1.70Pa.s. Estimate its:
𝝁 i. Density, kg/m3
𝒗= (m2/s ) ii. Specific weight , N/m3
𝝆
Shear force, F iii. Kinematic viscosity, m2/s
• Force required to move the upper plate for
fluid flow between two parallel plates.
𝒅𝒖
𝑭 = 𝝉𝑨 = 𝝁𝑨
𝒅𝒚

(A = contact area between plate and fluid, m2)

 1.2 Fluid properties
Solution: Step 3: Determine the properties/values
Step 1: Sketch the schematic diagram SG = 1.35
μ = 1.70 Pa.s
Step 2: Write what is required/equation ρw = 1000 kg/m3
𝜌 Step 4: Substitute and solve
i. 𝑆𝐺 = 𝜌 → 𝜌 = 𝑆𝐺(𝜌𝑤 )
𝑤
i. 𝜌 = 𝑆𝐺(𝜌𝑤 ) = 1.35 1000 = 1350kg/m3
ii. 𝛾 = ρ𝑔
𝜇
ii. 𝛾 = ρ𝑔 = 1350 9.81 = 13,243.5N/m3
iii. 𝑣 = 𝜌 𝜇 1.70
iii. 𝑣 = 𝜌 = 1350 = 0.001259𝑚2 /𝑠
1.2 Fluid properties
Example:
A thin 0.25m x 0.25m flat plate is pulled by a
force, F of 100N at constant velocity, V that
moves at 9km/hr shown in figure given. The
moving wall is separated from the fixed wall
by thick oil layer about 0.3cm in height, h. Solution:
Given the specific gravity, SG of the oil is
0.89, determine: Step 1: Sketch the schematic diagram
i. The dynamic viscosity of the oil, kg/ms.
ii. The kinematic viscosity of the oils, m2/s. Step 2: Write what is required/equation
𝜏
i. 𝜇 = 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑦

𝜇
ii. 𝑣 = 𝜌
1.2 Fluid properties
Step 3: Determine the properties/values Exercise:
F =τA → τ = F/A A layer of fluid SG = 0.8 flows across a flat
τ = (100)/(0.25x0.25) = 1600N/m2 surface with a velocity profile as shown in the
𝑑𝑢 ∆𝑉 2.5−0 figure. The velocity and the height of the fluid
= = = 833.33s-1 are 2m/s and 0.1m respectively. Determine the
𝑑𝑦 ∆ℎ 0.003−0
dynamic viscosity, and kinematic viscosity if the
magnitude of the shearing stress that the fluid
Step 4: Substitute and solve exerts on the flat surface is 0.0448N/m2
𝜏 1600
i. 𝜇 = 𝑑𝑢 = 833.33 = 1.92kg/m.s
𝑑𝑦
𝜇 1.92
ii. 𝑣 = 𝜌 = = 2.157 × 10−3 𝑚2 /𝑠
890
1.3 Scope and classification of fluid flow
• There is a wide variety of fluid flow problems encountered in practice and it is convenient
to classify them based on some common characteristics. Here are some general
classifications of fluid flows.
• Viscous or Inviscid Regions of Flow - Regions exist as a result of inserting a flat plate parallel
into a fluid stream of uniform velocity. Due to the no-slip condition, the fluid sticks to the
plate on both sides.
• Viscous flow region – thin boundary layer in which the viscous effect are significant near the plate surface.
• Inviscid flow region – the region of flow on both sides away from the plate and largely unaffected by the presence of
the plate
1.3 Scope and classification of fluid flow
• Internal or external flow - A fluid flow is
classified as being internal or external,
depending on whether the fluid flows in a
confined space or over a surface.
• Internal flow – fluid flow is bounded by
solid surfaces as in flow in a pipe or
duct.
• External flow – Flow of an unbounded
fluid over a surface such as a plate, a
wire, or a pipe.
Internal flow
• Compressible or Incompressible Flow
• Compressible flow – density of the fluid
changes during flow (usually all types of
gasses).
• Incompressible flow – density of the flowing
fluid remains nearly constant (usually all
types of liquid) during flow.
• Natural/Unforced or Forced Flow - A fluid
flow is said to be natural or forced,
depending on how the fluid motion is
started.
• Natural Flow – fluid motion is due to natural
means such as buoyancy effect.
• Forced flow – a fluid is forced to flow (by
external means such as a pump or a fan)
over a surface or in a pipe.
1.3 Scope and classification of fluid flow
• Some flows are smooth and orderly while some are rather chaotic.
• Laminar flow – fluid motion characterized by smooth layers of fluid.
• Turbulent flow – highly disordered fluid motion that typically occurs at high velocities and is
characterized by velocity fluctuations.
• Transitional flow - flow that alternates between laminar and turbulent is called transitional.
• To determine whether flow is laminar or turbulent the Reynolds Number (Re)
needs to be determined.
1.3 Scope and classification of fluid flow
• Steady or Unsteady Flow
• The term steady means that there is no change in properties, velocity, and
temperature at a point with time.
• The opposite of steady is unsteady meaning there at changes to those parameters
with respect to time
• One-, Two-, and Three-Dimensional Flows
• A flow field is best characterized by its velocity distribution. If flow velocity varies
in one, two, or three dimensions, a flow is said to be one-, two-, or three-
dimensional, respectively.
• Fluid flow in all three dimensions may vary because it depends on the geometry.
Dimensionality of the flow depends on the choice of coordinate system and its
orientation. All three-dimensional flows may be is rectangular (x, y, z) or cylindrical
(r, ϴ, z) coordinates.
End of chapter 1.
Thank you for your attention.
Next: Chapter 2 Pressure and Fluid statics