Fluid Mechanics

Lecture no. 3

Department of Oil & Gas Production Engineering

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 Fluid Properties

The engineering science of fluid mechanics has developed because

of an understanding of fluid properties. The properties of density
and viscosity play principle roles e.g. in open and closed channel
flow. Surface tension effects are important e.g. in the formation of
droplets, and in situations where liquid-gas-solid or liquid-liquid-
solid interface occurs. The property of vapor pressure, becomes
important when reduced pressures are encountered.

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 Viscosity

A fluids viscosity is a significant property in the study of fluid flow.

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.

Absolute (Dynamic)
Viscosity
Kinematic

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 Absolute Viscosity

Newton's law of viscosity (Equation 4.1) states that for a given

rate of angular deformation of fluid the shear stress is directly
proportional to the viscosity.

du
  4.1
dy

Molasses and tar are examples of highly viscous liquids; water

and air have very small viscosities

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 Absolute Viscosity

The viscosity of a gas increases with temperature, but the

viscosity of a liquid decreases with temperature.

The resistance of a fluid to shear depends upon:

• its cohesion

• its rate of transfer of molecular momentum.

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 Absolute Viscosity

A liquid, with molecules much more closely spaced than a gas, has
cohesive forces much larger than a gas. Cohesion appears to be the
predominant cause of viscosity in a liquid, and since the cohesion
decreases with temperature, the viscosity does like wise.

A gas on the other hand, has very small cohesive forces. Most of its
resistance to shear stress is the result of the transfer of molecular
momentum, and since molecular activity increases with
temperature, the viscosity of a gas also increases with temperature.

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 Absolute Viscosity

For ordinary pressures viscosity is independent of pressure and

depends upon temperature only, For very great pressures, gases
and most liquids have shown erratic variations of viscosity with
pressure.

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 Absolute Viscosity

The dimensions of viscosity can be expressed as ML-1T-1. The

SI unit of viscosity is Newton-second per square meter
(N.s/m2) or Kilograms per meter-second (kg/m.s)

A common unit of viscosity is the cgs unit, called the poise

(P); it is 1 dyn.s/cm2. or 1 g/cm.s

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 Kinematic Viscosity

The viscosity  Is referred to as the absolute or dynamic

viscosity, however, v is the kinematic viscosity which is the ratio
of absolute viscosity to mass density:

 4.2
v

The dimensions of Kinematic viscosity are L2T-1. The SI unit of v
is 1 m2/s, and the cgs unit, called the stoke (St), is 1 cm2/s.

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 Density or Mass Density
Defined as the ratio of the mass of a fluid to its volume. Adding heat to
a volume of most fluids will decrease the density. For a gas the
relationship between density and temperature is also dependent upon
the state of pressure.

Mathematically, mass density is written as:

Mass of fluid
 4.3
Volume of fluid

The dimensions of Mass density are ML-3. The value of density of

water at standard pressure and 4 oc is 1000 kg/m3 or 1gm/cm3.

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 The specific Gravity
The Specific Gravity – SG or sp. gr. - is a dimensionless unit defined as
the ratio of density of the material to the density of water at a specified
temperature. Specific Gravity can be expressed as
SG = ρ / ρH2O
where
SG = specific gravity
ρ = density of fluid or substance (kg/m3)
ρH2O = density of water (kg/m3)
It is common to use the density of water at 4 C as reference - at this
point the density of water is at the highest - 1000 kg/m3.

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 Vapour Pressure

Liquids evaporate because of molecules escaping from the liquid

surface. The vapor molecules exert a partial pressure in the space,
known as vapor pressure.

Since this phenomenon depends upon molecular activity, which is

a function of temperature, the vapor pressure of a given liquid
depends upon temperature and increases with it.

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 Vapour Pressure

When the pressure above a liquid equals the vapor pressure of the liquid,
boiling occurs.
Boiling of water, for example, can occur at room temperature if the
pressure is reduced sufficiently.
Cavitation (the formation and subsequent collapse of vapor bubbles) can
occur In situations that the flow of liquids are involving at pressures
equal or less than vapor pressure.
Cavitation affects the operating performance of hydraulic pumps
And turbines and can result in erosion of the metal parts In the region of
cavitation.

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 Bulk Modulus of Elasticity
For most purposes a liquid can be considered as incompressible but
for situations involving either sudden or great changes in pressure its
compressibility becomes important.

If the pressure of a unit volume 

of a liquid is increased by dp ,it will
cause a volume decrease  d ; the
ratio  dp / d is the bulk modulus of
elasticity k for any volume  of
liquid.
dp
k 4.4
d / 
k is expressed in units of  since d/  is
dimensionless
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 Surface Tension

At the interface between a liquid and a gas, or two immiscible liquids,

a film or special layer seems to form on the liquid. Apparently owing
to attraction of liquid molecules below the surface.
The formation of this film can be visualized on the basis of surface
energy or work per unit area required to bring the molecules to the
surface. The surface tension is then the stretching force required to
form the film.
The surface tension of water varies from about 0.074 N/m at 20 oC to
0.059 N/m at 100 oC.

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 Surface Tension

Capillary attraction is caused by surface tension and by the

relative value of adhesion between liquid and solid to cohesion of
the liquid.

water

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