FLUID MECHANICS

Is a branch of physical science which deals with the mechanics of liquids and gases, and is based on
the same fundamental principles that are employed in the mechanics of solid.

BRANCHES OF FLUID MECHANICS

1. Fluid Statics – is the study of mechanics of fluids at rest.

2. Fluid Kinematics – deals with velocities and streamlines without considering forces or energy.
3. Hydrodynamics – is concerned with the relations between velocities and accelerations and the
forces exerted upon fluids in motion.

FLUIDS

Fluids are substances capable of flowing. They possess particles which easily move and change their
relative position without separation of the mass, and they offer practically no resistance to change in
form.
Ideal or Perfect Fluid is one in which there is no friction nor viscosity.

CLASSIFICATION OF FLUIDS

1. Gases - are fluids which have little resistance to change either in form or volume and occupies
all the space in which it is contained.
2. Liquids - are fluids which offer great resistance to change in volume and occupies a definite
portion in which it is contained.

PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS

1. Specific weight is the weight per unit volume of a substance

W
γ= γ =ρg
V

where:
γ = specific weight
W = weight
V = volume

2. Mass is the quantitative measure of the amount of matter in a given body.

W
m= m=ρV
g
where:
m = mass
W = weight

(
g = acceleration due to gravity 9.81
m
s 2
ft
∨32.2 2
s )
 3. Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance
m
ρ=
V
where:
ρ = density
m = mass
V = volume

4. Specific Gravity also known as “Relative Density”, is the ratio of density or specific weight of a
substance to the density or specific weight of some other standard substance (i.e. water @ 4°C
or 15.6°C for fluids).

ρf γ f
Specific Gravity= = SG ( mercury )=13.6
ρs γs
SG ( ocean )=1.03
where: SG ( water )=1
ρ f =density of any fluid∨substanceρ s=density of standard subtance
γ f =specific weight of any fluid∨substanceγ s =specific weight of standard substance

Note:
The standard values of the density and specific weight of water @ 4°C for Physicists and 15.6°C for
engineers are the following;
kg lb kN
ρwater =1000 3 =62.4 3 γ water =9.81 3
m ft m

5. Specific Volume is the volume per unit mass of a substance. It is the reciprocal of mass
density.

V 1
v= =
m ρ
where:
v=specific volumem=massW =weight ρ=density

6. Viscosity – is the property of a fluid which determines the amount of its resistance to shear
forces. Dynamic Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid to shear or angular
deformation.
 τ
μd =
dV
dy

Where:
dV
=velocity gradient
τ =shearing stress ( Pa )
dy
m
( )
μ =absolute∨dynamic viscosity ( Pa∙ s )
s d
y=distancce between plates(m)

Unit of Viscosity:
s cm
2
m
2
1 poise=1 dyne ∙ 2
=0.10 Pa ∙ s 1 stoke=1 =0.0001
cm s s

7. Kinematic Viscosity – is the ratio of dynamic viscosity to the density of a substance.

μ
μk = d
ρ
Where:
μk =kinematic viscocityμd =dynamic viscosity ρ=density

8. Surface Tension – is the effect of cohesion between particles of the liquid at its free surface.
The surface tension in the film is the ratio of the surface-tension force (F) to the length (L)
along which the force acts.

F F
σ= (surface tension) σ= ( for L=2 x ) → length film
L 2x

PR
PR σ= (liquid drop)
σ= ( soap bubble) 2
4
Where:
σ = surface tension
F = force
L = length
R = radius of the bubble or drop

Note: σ of water @ 0°C = 0.076 N/m

σ of water @ 100°C = 0.059 N/m

9. Capillarity – is the property of the liquid due to both cohesion and adhesion.
Note:
 The liquid will rise at the point where it comes in contact with another body, if ADHESION has
greater effect than COHESION.
 The will be depressed if cohesion is prevalent.
 The liquid (mercury) is non-wetting when the contact angle (θ) is greater than 90°

10. Bulk Modulus of Elasticity – it expresses the compressibility of fluid. It is the ratio of the change
in unit pressure to the corresponding volume change per unit of volume.

−∆ P
Eb =
∆V
V
Where:
∆P = change in pressure (must be gage-pressure)
∆V =change in volume (negative implies decrease)
V = original volume

Note:
The modulus of elasticity or compressibility is temperature dependant.

11. Vapor Pressure – is the pressure exerted by the vapor as evaporation of the liquid takes place
within a closed space.

FLUID STATICS

1. Fluid Pressure – the average pressure intensity is defined as the force exerted on a unit area.

F
P=
A

Where:
 P = pressure
F = force
A = area

2. Pascal’s Law – at any point in a fluid at rest the pressure is the same in all directions.

P x =P y =P z

3. Variation in Pressure – the pressure at any point below the free surface of a liquid is equal to
the product of the unit weight of the liquid and the depth of the point in question.

dP=γ dh

Where:
dP = differential pressure
γ = specific weight
dh = differential elevation

4. Basic equation of fluid statics applied to liquids

P2=P1 + γh

where:
P1=γ h1 P2=γ h2

5. Basic equation of fluid statics applied

to gases

P2=P1−γh

For Isothermal Variation

−h
P2=P1 e RT

Where:
P = pressure (Pa)
h = elevation
R = gas constant
e = 2.718
T = temperature (constant)

6. Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure – is the pressure exerted by the atmosphere on every

surface with which it comes in contact and is measured by barometer.

kg
P=101.325 kPa¿ 14.7 psi¿ 1.032 ¯
2 ¿ 1.0 atm¿ 1.013 ¿ ¿ 760 mm Hg¿ 29.92∈Hg
cm

7. Absolute Pressure – is the pressure measured above absolute zero.

P|¿|= P gage +P atm ¿

Note: under normal condition at sea level P|¿|= P atm ¿

8. Gage Pressure – is the pressure measured by means of gages above or below the atmospheric
level.
Pgage =P|¿|− P ¿ atm

Note: at sea level Pgage =0

9. Pressure Head
P
H=
γ

Where:
P = pressure
H = pressure head
γ = specific weight
γ = SG * γwater

10. Manometer – is a device used in measuring the pressure differences. The difference in height
of the liquid in its arms is measure of the pressure difference.

A. Simple U – Tube Manometer

Using the principle of the pressure at the
horizontal level in continuous fluid is the same
(Pascal’s Law), the pressure at the left and the right
limbs of the manometer at the datum level Z-Z can be
calculated as follows:

P A + γ 1 h1=γ 2 h2 + Patm
 Alternate Formula
ΣP=0 P A + γ 1 h1−γ 2 h2 −Patm =0

Note:
Pressure going up is negative (decreasing) and
going down is positive (increasing).

B. Differential Manometer
 PB + γ 1 h1=γ 2 h2 + γ 3 h3 + P A

HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON PLANE SURFACE

FORMULAS
Ig I h
F=γhA e= y P= o y = I =I + A ( y )2
Ay Ay sin θ o g

Where:
F = hydrostatic force
γ = specific weight
h = distance of the centroid from the liquid surface
A = plane surface area
Ig = moment of inertia to the plane surface
y = distance of the centroid from 0 along the y-axis
θ = angle of the plane with the horizontal
Kapag wala sa given ang theta tapos water yung substance ang value ng theta ay zero.

Kapag naman hindi given ang specific weight pero mercury yung substance kunin ang specific
weight gamit ang SG mercury = 13.6
 Terms Units
N lb
Specific/Unit Weight ( γ ) ,
m3 f t 3
Weight ( W ) N , lb

Mass ( m ) kg , slug
kg slug
Density ( ρ ) 3
, 3
m ft
lb lb N
Pressure ( P ) , ,
¿2 ft 2 m 2
m3 f t 3
Specific Volume ( v ) ,
kg slug
s
Absolute/Dynamic Viscosity ( μd ) 1 poise=1 dyne ∙ =0.10 Pa ∙ s
c m2
2 2
cm m
Kinematic Viscosity ( μk ) 1 stoke=1 =0.0001
s s
N
Bulk Modulus of Elasticity ( E❑b ) ( Pa )
m2
Area ( A ) quadratic

Volume ( V ) cubic
N
Surface Tension ( σ )
m