Lecture 14

Cone and Plate viscometer

A cone and plate viscometer consists of a stationary flat plate and an inverted cone, whose
apex just contact at center of the plate. The liquid whose viscosity is to be measured is placed
in the gap between the cone and plate. The cone is rotated at known angular velocity  , and
the torque Tz is measured, required turning the cone. Find an expression for the viscosity of
fluid in terms of , Tz, and ψ0 between the cone and plate. For commercial instrument, ψ0 is
about 1 degree.

Fig 18.2 Cone and plate viscometer

Formulate the problem for determining viscosity

Assumptions:
 Constant density, viscosity and steady state
 Laminar flow (simple shear flow)
 Newton’s low is applicable
 No slip boundary condition
Non- zero velocity profile:
Liquid is rotating in  direction which will depend upon r and 

So non- zero velocity is

(18.16)
Now applying equation of continuity for spherical coordinates
 (18.17)

(18.18)
Equ.(1) shows that v is not depend on .

(18.19)
Here velocity is depending on two direction  and r. So we can use other approach to solve
this problem. This is the limiting case where cone angle ψ is very small (which is true for real
viscometers) so we can assume that ψ is negligible therefore problem converted to circular
flow between two parallel plates. But in this case also non-zero velocity v depends on  and
r. Therefore we use a further simplification. We assume that the effect of curvature is
negligible and solve this problem for flow between two parallel plates in rectangular
coordinates and then convert it in spherical coordinates.

Fig 18.3 Cone and plate viscometer in cartesian coordinate

(neglecting curvature effect)

Here fluid is present in between two parallel plates and above plate is moving a constant
velocity v in x direction so non zero velocity profile is

(18.20)

Use Navier stokes equ.

 (18.21)

(18.22)

Boundary condition:
y = 0, vx = 0
c2 = 0
(18.23)
y = b, vx = v
c1 = v/b
(18.24)
By substituting boundary conditions in equation (18.22)

(18.25)

Convert equation (18.25) in spherical coordinate

(18.26)

(18.27)

(18.28)

(18.29)
Substituting equation (18.26) – (18.29) in equation (18.25) which leads to the solution
 (18.30)
Calculation for shear stress:

(18.31)
Since  is closed to /2 so sin is closed to unity

(18.32)

(18.33)
The torque required to rotate the cone can be measured by force times entire area of plate.

(18.34)

By plotting the angular velocity  vs. torque Tz. Viscosity can be determined

Radial flow between parallel discs

A part of lubrication system consists of two circular discs between which lubricant flows
radially. The flow takes place because of modified pressure difference (P1-P2) between the
inner and outer radii r1 and r2 respectively. Formulate problem for velocity profile and mass
flow rate.

Fig 19.1 Radial flow in space between two parallel circular disc

Assumptions:
 Constant density, viscosity and steady state
 Laminar flow (simple shear flow)
 Newton’s low is applicable
 No slip boundary condition
Non- zero velocity profile:
Fluid is flowing in r direction due to differential area in r direction and solid boundary in z
direction. It will depend upon r and 

So non- zero velocity is

(19.1)

Apply equation of continuity for cylindrical coordinates

(19.2)

(19.3)
 (19.4)

(19.5)
Since rvr is constant
Use Navier – stokes equation for r component in cylindrical co-ordinate systems.

(19.6)

From equation (19.5) rvr is constant. Therefore

(19.7)

Equation (19.7) is nonlinear differential equation and cannot solve analytically. We can solve
this problem for limiting case when flow is very low (Creeping flow problem). In this case,
we can neglect convective term in equation (19.7).

(19.8)

Multiply r to both sides

(19.9)

In equation (19.9), both terms are separate to each other so they should equal to constant.
 (19.10)

(19.11)

From equation (19.10)

(19.12)

(19.13)

Substituting equation (19.11) to equation (19.13)

(19.14)
 (19.15)

Boundary condition:

(19.16)

And at z = 0,

(19.17)

Therefore

(19.18)

This leads to solution

 (19.19)

(19.20)

(19.21)

The mass rate of flow at any cylindrical surface in the system must be the same. Select the

surface at r = rz and obtain

After solving above equation

(19.22)
Parallel – disc viscometer

A fluid which viscosity is to be measured is placed in the gap of thickness B between the two

parallel discs of radius R. Lower plate is stationary and upper plate is rotating with an angular

velocity. Formulate problem for determining viscosity at low shear rate.

Fig 19.2 Front view of two plate viscometer

Assumptions:
 Constant density, viscosity and steady state
 Laminar flow (simple shear flow)
 Newton’s low is applicable
 No slip boundary condition
Non- zero velocity profile:
Fluid is rotating in  direction so v is non-zero component which can be depends on r, z and

Apply equation of continuity for cylindrical coordinates

(19.23)
 (19.24)

So v is not depends on.

(19.25)
For simplifying problem further, we can assume that

Now for low shear rate.

Use Navier – stokes equation for  component in cylindrical co-ordinate systems.

(19.26)

(19.27)

(19.28)

(19.29)

(19.30)
 (19.31)

Boundary Conditions are:

At z = 0, v = 0, rf(z) = 0

(19.32)

f(z) = 0

This leads to solution that c2 = 0

(19.33)

This leads to solution

(19.34)

(19.35)
 (19.36)

Now the z-component of the torque exerted on the fluid by the upper rotating disc.

(19.37)

From equation (19.37), the slope of  Vs. Tz gives the viscosity.

Non-Newtonian Fluids

Non-Newtonian fluids are the fluid which does not obeys Newton’s law of viscosity. For
describing Non-Newtonian fluids, let’s assume a hypothetical experiment. There are two
initially long parallel plate situated at distance h to each other. One plate is stationary and
other is moving as shown in diagram.
 Fig 20.1 Non-Newtonian flow between two parallel plates

If force is required to move plate is F and plate velocity is v then xy = F/A

(20.1)

Now take the reading at different forces and measure associated velocity. Calculate and

, and plot curve as given below

Fig 20.2 Shear stress vs. shear strain diagram for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids

If fluids shows curve like (1) then it is Newtonian fluids. But all other fluids are non-

Newtonian fluids. Curve (2) is pseudo plastic fluid Curve (3) is dilatant fluid and curve (4) is

Bingham plastic fluid.

These are called non-Newtonian fluids. There are several Theoretical and empirical models
available to describe Rheological behavior of non-Newtonian fluids. Here we have discussed
some of them which comes under the group of generalized Newtonian model. Basic equation
for generalized non-Newtonian fluids are given below

(20.2)

Here  is apparent viscosity. This is changing with shear rate Therefore,

If  is increasing with shear rate then fluid is dilatant fluid. If  is decreasing with

increasing shear rate then fluid is pseudo plastic.

If  is the function of plus some constant then fluid is Bingham plastic

(I) Power Law Or Ostwald De Warle Model
Power low or Ostwald de warle model is most generalized model for non-Newtonian fluids.
This is given as below

(20.3)

 is

Apparent viscosity

(20.4)

This is two parameter model where m and n are two parameters. n is called power law index.
If n = 1 Then
 = m (constant)
(20.5)
Therefore m is the viscosity of fluid and fluid is Newtonian fluid.
If n > 1 then
 will increases with shear rate and fluid is dilatant fluid.
If n < 1 then
 will decrease which shear rate and fluid is pseudo plastic fluid.
Modulus Sign
In power law model, modulus sign can be removed according to value of shear rate.
If

If is positive.

(20.6)

If is negative.

(20.7)

Several fluids do not show single type of Rheological behavior. They show Newtonian
behavior for some value of shear stress and non Newtonian behavior for some other shear
stress. Several different models have been suggested for these types of fluids.

(II) Eyring Model

Eyring model is also two parameter model. The equation of Eyring model is as follow

(20.8)

Where A, B are the two parameters.

In Eyring model if yx  0 which means if shear force are very low

(20.9)

As yx  0, fluid shows Newtonian behavior

Therefore for low shear stress
Eyring model convert to

(20.10)

This is same as Newtonian law where (A/B) is viscosity of fluids.

If yx is very large, fluid shows Non Newtonian behavior.

Fig 20.3 Shear stress vs. shear strain diagram for Eyring model

Therefore Eyring model is true for fluid which shows Newtonian behavior at low shear rate
or low flow and non- Newtonian behavior at high shear rate or high flow.

(III) Ellis Model

Ellis model is a three parameter model. The equation of Ellis model is as follow

(20.11)

Here 0, 1,  are the three parameters

In Ellis model
If 1 = 0,

(20.12)

(20.13)
This is same as Newton’s law of viscosity where (1/0) is viscosity of fluid.
If 0 = 0,

(20.14)
this equation is similar to Power law model
If  > 1 and yx is small then second term of Ellis model will be zero.
Now equation will be

(20.15)
This is again similar to Newton’s law of viscosity
If  < <1 and yx   (very large)
Then again second term will be negligible. Therefore it again shows same equation

Therefore Ellis model are true for the fluids which follow Newton’s model at very low shear
stress and very high shear stress but non Newtonian behavior at intermediate shear stress.

Fig 20.4 Shear stress vs. shear strain diagram for Ellis model

This type of behavior is shown by most of the melt polymers

(IV) Reiner Philippoff Model
This is also three parameter model

(20.16)

0,  and s are the three parameters.

In Reiner Philippoff model,
If yx is very large
The equation turns to

(20.17)

Same as Newton’s law

If yx is very small then equation will be

(20.18)

This is also same as Newton’s low of viscosity

Therefore Reiner Philippoff model is true for fluid which shows Newtonian Behavior at very
low and very high shear stress. But it is non Newtonian behavior for shear stress where 0 and
 are the viscosity of fluid at very low and very high shear stress respectively.
(V) Bingham Fluid Model
Bingham fluid is special type of fluids which require a constant shear stress to start flow.
In equation of Bingham fluid model is as follows
 =  if |yx|<0

(20.19)

where

(20.20)

Therefore, if shear stress is less than a fixed value 0 there will be no shear rate and fluid is
flowing as plug flow. And if |yx|>0, fluid shows Newtonian type behavior. This
phenomenon can be explained by shear stress vs. shear rate diagram.

Fig 20.5 Shear stress vs. shear strain diagram for Bingham model