CHAPTER 1

FLUID
CHARACTERISTICS
FLUIDS MECHANICS
Fluid mechanics is that branch of science which
deals with the behavior of the fluids at rest as well
as in motion and the subsequent effect of the fluid
upon the boundaries which may be either solid
surface or interfaces with other fluids.
The field of fluid mechanics has been divided into
branches, fluid statics and fluid dynamics.
Fluid statics is concerned with the behavior of a
fluid at rest.
Fluid dynamics is concerned with the behavior of a
fluid at motion.
DEFINITION OF FLUIDS
A fluid as a substance
that deforms
continuously when
subjected to shear
stress, however, small
the shear stress may be.
A fluid may be either a
liquid or a gas.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIQUID AND GAS
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIQUID AND GAS
Liquid Gas
 A given of a liquid has a definite  A given mass of gas has no
volume independent of the size and fixed volume.
shape of the container.
 A free surface is formed if the volume  No free surface is formed.
of the container is greater than that of
the liquid.
 Liquids can be regarded as  Gases are readily
incompressible. compressible.

 Properties do not get affected due to Properties get affected due

change in temperature. to change in temperature.
FLUID PROPERTIES
Density or Mass Density, 
Density or mass density of a fluid is
defined as the ratio of the mass of a fluid
to its volume.
The unit of mass density in SI unit is kg
per cubic metre (kg/m3).

𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒎
 = =
𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝑽
FLUID PROPERTIES
Specific Weight or Weight Density, 
Specific weight or weight density of a fluid is the
ratio between the weights of a fluid to its
volume.
The unit of specific weight in SI unit is N per
cubic metre (N/m3).

𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑾 𝒎𝒈
 = = = = 𝝆𝒈
𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝑽 𝑽
Conversion Tips
 Weight to Mass

g= 9.81

 Cubic metre to litre

FLUID PROPERTIES
Specific Gravity (Relative Density), s
Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the
weight density (or density) of a fluid to the
weight density (or density) of a standard fluid.

𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝝆
𝑠 = =
𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘
FLUID PROPERTIES
Specific Volume, Vs
Specific Volume of a fluid is defined as the
volume of a fluid occupied by a unit mass or
volume per unit mass of a fluid is called specific
volume.
𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅
𝑽𝒔 =
𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅
𝟏 𝟏
= =
𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝝆
𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆
EXAMPLE 1.1
Calculate the specific weight, density and specific gravity of one
litre of a liquid which weight 7N. (7000N/m3, 713.5kg/m3, 0.713)

EXAMPLE 1.2
A container of volume 3.0m3 has 15.5kN of an oil. Calculate
specific weight, density and specific gravity. (5166.7N/m3,
526.67g/m3, 0.527)

EXAMPLE 1.3
Calculate density, specific weight and weight of one litre of
petrol of specific gravity = 0.7. (700kg/m3, 6867N/m3, 6.867N)
 Solution 1.1
Calculate the specific weight, density and specific gravity of one
litre of a liquid which weight 7N. (7000N/m3, 713.6kg/m3, 0.714)

Solution : (given Weight (W)=7N, Volume (V) =1L)

i)Specific Weight (⍵) ii) Density (⍴) iii) Specific gravity
(s)
⍵ = W/V ⍴ = ⍵/g
s = ⍴ / ⍴w
= 7N / (1x10-3) = 7000 / (9.81)
= 713.558 / 1000
= 7000 N/m3 = 713.558 kg/m3
= 0.714
 Solution 1.2
A container of volume 3.0m3 has 15.5kN of an oil. Calculate
specific weight, density and specific gravity. (5166.7N/m3,
526.67g/m3, 0.527)

Solution : (given V =3.0m , W = 15.5kN)

3

i)Specific Weight (⍵) ii) Density (⍴) iii) Specific gravity

(s)
⍵ = W/V ⍴ = ⍵/g
s = ⍴ / ⍴w
= 15.5x103/ 3.0 = 5166.7 / (9.81)
= 526.67 / 1000
= 5166.7 N/m3 = 526.67 kg/m3
= 0.527
EXAMPLE 1.4
One litre of crude oil weight 15.5N. Calculate its specific weight,
density, specific gravity and specific volume. (15500N/m3,
1580.02kg/m3, 6.330x10-4m3/kg)

EXAMPLE 1.5
Mass of a liquid is 56.55kg and 3300litre respectively.
Determine; weight, density and specific volume. (554.756N,
17.136kg/m3, 0.058m3/kg)
VISCOSITY IN FLUID FLOWS
Viscosity is defined as the resistance of fluid to flow and
resistance to the movement of an object through a fluid.
The viscosity of a fluid determines the amount of resistance
to shear force.
Viscosities of liquids decrease as temperature increases and
are usually not affected by pressure changes.
There are two related measures of fluid viscosity;
o Dynamic (or absolute)
o Kinematic
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
Dynamic viscosity states that the shear stress (𝜏) is proportional
to the rate of shear deformation (or shear strain).

A shearing stress (force per unit area) is created whenever a

tangential force acts on a surface.
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
Shear stress (𝜏), mathematically can be expressed as;

𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢
𝜏 ∞ or 𝜏 = 𝜇
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦

Where the constant of proportionality  is know as the dynamic

viscosity or simply the viscosity of the fluid.

Rate of deformation is different, based on fluid’s

viscosity. Fluid with high viscosity deform slowly.
 DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
Velocity

Shear
stress
-cause by
distance of
layers &
dragging
effect of layes

where;
𝒅𝒄
𝝉 = 𝝁 τ = Shearing stress (Ns/m2)
𝒅𝒚 μ = Dynamic viscosity (Ns/m2)
KINEMATIC VISCOSITY
Kinematic viscosity is defined as the ratio of
dynamic viscosity to density of liquid.

𝝁
𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝝑 =
𝝆
Where;

 = Dynamic viscosity (Ns/m2)

 = Density of liquid (kg/m3)
TYPE OF FLUIDS
Ideal Fluid
A fluid, which is incompressible and is having no viscosity, is
known as an ideal fluid. Ideal fluid is only imaginary fluid as all
the fluids, which exist, have some viscosity.

Real Fluid
A fluid, which possesses viscosity, is known as real fluid. All
the fluid, in actual practice, which exist, have some viscosity.

Newtonian Fluid
A real fluid, in which the shear stress is directly, proportional
to the rate of shear strain (or velocity gradient), is known as a
Newtonian Fluid.
TYPE OF FLUIDS
Non Newtonian Fluids
A real fluid, in which the shear stress is not proportional to
the rate of shear strain(or velocity gradient), known as a
Non-Newtonian fluid.

Ideal Plastic Fluid

A real fluid, in which the shear stress is more than the yield
value and shear stress is proportional to the rate of shear
strain (or velocity gradient), is known as ideal plastic fluid.
TYPE OF FLUIDS
The fluid may be classified into the following five
types;

Ideal Fluid
Real Fluid
Newtonian Fluid
Non Newtonian
Fluids
Ideal Plastic Fluid