• Fluid Properties

Fluid Mechanics • Basic Concepts

Engr. Andrew Jay N. Mugot

andrewjay.mugot@g.msuiit.edu.ph
Fluid Properties

• Density
• Specific Volume
• Specific Weight
• Specific Gravity
• Viscosity
• Surface tension
• Vapour Pressure
• Capillarity
 
 
 Specific Volume ( v )
 
 Specific Weight ( γ )
 
 Specific Gravity (SG)

 
Example 1
A reservoir of glycerin has a mass of 1200 kg and a volume of 0.952 m. Find the
glycerin’s weight (W) mass density (ρ), specific weight (γ) and specific gravity (SG).
Example 2

A certain gasoline weighs 46.5

3
lb/ft .What are its mass density, specific
volume and specific gravity?
 Viscosity (μ)

• Describes the “fluidity” of the fluid

• It is defined as the property of a fluid which offers resistance to the movement of one
layer of fluid over another adjacent layer of the fluid. Viscosity can be considered to
be the internal stickiness of a fluid.

• The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its “resistance to deformation.” δ

 v=0

The more viscous a fluid is, the more the layers want to cling together, and the more it
resists this shearing. The resistance is due the frictional forces between the layers as the
slides past one another. Note, there is no friction occurring at the tube’s surface since
the fluid there is essentially still.
• Velocity gradient (du/dy) is developed
in the fluid between the pates.

• as the shearing stress, τ, is increased by

increasing P(recall that τ = P/A), the rate
of shearing strain is increased in direct
proportion
 Newton’s Law of Viscosity
It states that the shear stress on a fluid element layer is directly proportional to the rate of shear
strain (small angular displacement).

the shearing stress and rate of shearing strain (velocity gradient) can be related with a
relationship of the form

τ = μ du/dy
Where τ = shear stress
du/dy = Velocity Gradient
μ = coefficient of viscosity (absolute viscosity/dynamic viscosity/viscosity)
The constant of proportionality is called the coefficient of viscosity.
Kinematic Viscosity

It is defined as the ratio between the dynamic viscosity and density of the fluid.
 NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
Example 1:

Suppose that the fluid

being sheared in the
figure on the right is
SAE 30 oil at 20°C.
Compute the shear
stress in the oil if V =
3 m/s and h =2 cm.
Example 2

A piston of weight 21 lb slides in

lubricated pipe as shown in the
figure. The clearance between
piston and pipe is 0.001 in. If the
2
piston decelerates at 2.1 ft/s
when the speed is 21 ft/s, what is
the viscosity of the oil?
 Vapor Pressure

• Vapor pressure: pressure exerted by a vapor over a

liquid

Vapor pressure ↑ when temperature increases

At atmospheric pressure, water at 100°C will boil
Water can boil at lower temperatures if the pressure
is lower
When vapor pressure > the liquid’s actual pressure
It will boil.
 Surface Tension

What is surface tension?

An effect within the surface layer of a liquid that causes that layer to behave as elastic
sheet.

What causes surface tension?

The intermolecular forces between the liquid molecules
Water beading on flowers
 Insects walking on water

 Surface Tension
B
• Molecules in the interior of a liquid is under attractive
force in all direction.
• However, a molecule at the surface of a liquid is acted on liquid
by a net inward cohesive force that is perpendicular to the
surface.
• Hence it requires work to move molecules to the surface
against this opposing force and surface molecules have
more energy than interior ones A

• Higher forces of attraction at surface

• Creates a “stretched membrane effect”
 Differences Between Adhesive & Cohesive

• The force of attraction between unlike charges in the atoms

or molecules of substances are responsible for cohesion and adhesion.
• Cohesion is the clinging together of molecules/atoms within a substance. Ever
wonder why rain falls in drops rather than individual water molecules? It’s because
water molecules cling together to form drops.
• Adhesion is the clinging together of molecules/atoms of two different substances.
Adhesive tape gets its name from the adhesion between the tape and other objects.
Water molecules cling to many other materials besides clinging to themselves.
 Capillary Action
Capillary action is the ability of a fluid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance
of, and in opposition to, external forces like gravity.

The ability of a substance to draw another substance into it depends on the relative magnitudes of the
cohesion of the liquid and the adhesion of the liquid to the walls of the containing vessel
Liquids rise in tubes if they wet
(adhesion > cohesion)

Liquids fall in tubes if they do not wet

(cohesion > adhesion).
 Capillary Effect

Capillary rise, h can be calculated

using the equation:

h = height of capillary rise

σ = surface tension
θ = contact angle
γ = specific weight
 Capillary Action
How do trees pump water hundreds of feet from the ground to their highest leaves? Why do paper
towels soak up spills? Why does liquid wax rise to the tip of a candle wick to be burned? Why must
liquids on the space shuttle be kept covered to prevent them from crawling right out of their containers?!
These are all examples of capillary action--the movement of a liquid up through a thin tube. It is due to
adhesion and cohesion.

Capillary action is a result of adhesion and cohesion. A liquid that adheres to the material that makes up
a tube will be drawn inside. Cohesive forces between the molecules of the liquid will “connect” the
molecules that aren’t in direct contact with the inside of the tube. In this way liquids can crawl up a
tube. In a pseudo-weightless environment like in the space shuttle, the “weightless” fluid could crawl
right out of its container.
θ is zero – Perfect wetting
(liquid spreads as a thin film over the surface of the solid)
– E.g.:water on clean metal

θ = 180o – Case of no wetting

– E.g.: Mercury on clean glass
Example 1

What diameter of clean glass tubing is

required so that the rise of water at
o
20 C in a tube due to capillary action
(as opposed to pressure in the tube) is
less than h =1.0 mm?
Example 2

o
Determine the capillary rise of water at 10 C in
a tube if the tube diameter is 1 mm.

What will happen if the tube diameter

increases by 50%?

Data: σ of water @ 10oC = 0.00742 N/m

 Seatwork

1. The volume of a rock is found to be 0.00015 m3 . If the specific gravity of the rock
is 2.60, determine its mass and specific weight.

2. A water at 20 degrees Celsius is poured into a glass. In order to study capillarity, a

metal tube is inserted which caused the water to rise to a height of 1.5 mm. if the
diameter of the metal tube is 2 mm, find the surface tension of the water.