Fluid Properties

• Absolute Pressure (psfa or psia)

• Measure of pressure with respect to a perfect vacuum.
• Perfect vacuum has a pressure of zero atm.

• Gauge Pressure
• Measure of pressure with respect to local atmospheric pressure.
• gauge pressure + local atmospheric pressure = absolute pressure.

• Local Atmospheric Pressure

• 1 atm =101 kpa = 14.7 psi if we are at the sea level. Slide 31
Fluid Properties
1.6 Example
A car tire has a gauge pressure of 32 psi. Calculate the absolute pressure of the
air inside car tire. Make any necessary assumptions.

Slide 32
Fluid Properties
1.6 Solution

Slide 33
Fluid Properties
• Ideal Gas Law
• Density in gas is a function of temperature (𝑇) and pressure (𝑝).
• The governing equation between 𝑇, 𝑝, 𝜌 is called the ideal gas law.
• 𝜌 = 𝑝/𝑅𝑇 where 𝑝 =absolute pressure (Pa or psia); 𝑇 =absolute
temperature (K or °R); 𝜌 =density (kg/m3 or slugs/ft 3 ); 𝑅 = gas
N.m J ft.lb
constant or or .
kg.K kg.K slug.°𝑅

• For R see table 1.6 and 1.7. Slide 34

Fluid Properties
1.7 Example
Some experiments are being conducted in a laboratory in which the air
temperature is 27 °C and the atmospheric pressure is 14.3 psia. Determine the
density of the air. Express your answers in 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔𝑠/𝑓𝑡 3 and in 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 .

Slide 35
Fluid Properties
1.7 Solution

Slide 36
Fluid Properties
1.8 Example
Nitrogen is compressed to a density of 4 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 under an absolute pressure of
400 kPa. Determine the temperature in degrees Celsius.

Slide 37
Fluid Properties
1.8 Solution

Slide 38
Fluid Properties
1.9 Example
A tire having a volume of 3 ft 3 contains air at a gage pressure of 26 psi and a
temperature of 70 °F. Determine the density of the air and the weight of the air
contained in the tire.

Slide 39
Fluid Properties
1.9 Solution

Slide 40
Fluid Properties
• Viscosity (𝜇)
• Internal force between molecules.
• It produces friction when fluid flows.
• It describes how easily the fluid flows.
• Spring Model

Slide 41
Fluid Properties
• Newton’s Law of Friction
• Two parallel plates are filled with the
fluid. Bottom plate is fixed and top
plate will be pulled with velocity U
and force P.
𝑈 Zero velocity due to no-
• 𝑃∝ 𝐴 where 𝐴 =plate surface; slip boundary condition
𝑏

𝑈 =velocity of plate; 𝑏 =fluid

thickness Slide 42
Fluid Properties
𝑈
• 𝑃∝ 𝐴 Eq. I
𝑏

• 𝜏 = 𝑃/𝐴 → 𝑃 = 𝜏𝐴 Eq. II
𝑈
• 𝜏𝐴 ∝ 𝐴 From Eq. I and II
𝑏

𝑈
• 𝜏∝
𝑏

𝑈
• 𝜏=𝜇 where 𝜇 =dynamic viscosity (N. s/m2 or Pa. s or lb. s/ft 2 );
𝑏

𝜏 =shear stress (N/m2 or Pa or lb/ft 2 )

Slide 43
Fluid Properties
• Extension of Newton’s Law of Friction
• Two imaginary planes within a fluid is
considered. The thickness of fluid is 𝑑𝑦.
The velocity of top plane with respect to
𝑑𝑢
bottom plane is 𝑑𝑢. 𝜏 = 𝜇
𝑑𝑦

• 𝜈 = 𝜇/𝜌 where 𝜈 = kinematic viscosity

(m2 /s or ft 2 /s)
Slide 44
Fluid Properties
1.10 Example
A liquid has a specific weight of 59 lb/ft 3 and a dynamic viscosity of 2.75
lb. s/ft 2 . Determine its kinematic viscosity.

Slide 45