FLUID MECHANICS

Fluid Mechanics is basically a study of:

Physical behavior of fluids and fluid systems and

laws governing their behavior.

Action of forces on fluids and the resulting flow

pattern.
Fluid is further sub-divided in to liquid and gas.

The liquids and gases exhibit different characteristics

on account of their different molecular structure.
Spacing and latitude of the motion of molecules is
large in a gas and weak in liquids and very strong in
a solid.

It is due to these aspects that solid is very compact

and rigid in form

liquid accommodates itself to the shape of the

container, and gas fill up the whole of the vessel
containing
Fluid mechanics cover many areas like:

- Design of wide range of hydraulic structures (dams,

canals, weirs etc) and machinery (Pumps,
Turbines etc).

- Design of complex network of pumping and pipe

lines for transporting liquids. Flow of water through
pipes and its distribution to service lines.

- Fluid control devices both pneumatic and hydraulic.

- Design and analysis of gas turbines and rocket
engines and air–craft.

- Power generation from hydraulic, stream and Gas

turbines.

- Methods and devices for measurement of

pressure and velocity of a fluid in motion.
Units and Dimensions:

A dimension is a name which describes the measurable

characteristics of an object such as mass, length and
temperature etc. a unit is accepted standard for measuring
the dimension. The dimensions used are expressed in four
fundamental dimensions namely Mass, Length, Time and
Temperature.

Mass (M) – kg
Length (L) – m
Time (T) – s
Temperature (t) – 0C or K (Kelvin)
Density: Mass per unit volume = kg/m3

Newton: Unit of force expressed in terms of mass and

acceleration, according to Newton’s 2nd law motion.
Newton is that force which when applied to a mass of 1
kg gives an acceleration 1m/sec2
F = ma = kg – m/sec2 = N

Pascal: A Pascal is the pressure produced by a force of 1

Newton uniformly applied over an area of 1 m2

Pressure = F / A = N / m2 = Pascal or Pa
Joule: A joule is the work done when the point of
application of force of 1 Newton is displaced
Work = F x d = N - m = J or Joule.

Watt: A Watt represents a work equivalent of a Joule

done per second.
Power = Work done per unit time = J/sec = W or
Watt.
Density or Mass Density:
The density or mass density of a fluid is defined as the ratio
of the mass of the fluid to its volume.

ρ =, (density of water = 1000 kg/m3 )

Specific weight or Specific density:

It is the ratio between the weights of the fluid to its
volume.
The weight per unit volume of the fluid

= , = mg/k, k=9.81 kg-m/kgf-s2

 
Specific volume:
It is defined as the volume of the fluid occupied by a
unit mass or volume per unit mass of fluid. (commonly applied
to gases )

= = ,

 
Specific Gravity:
- It is defined as the ratio of the Weight density (or
density) of a fluid to the Weight density (or density) of a
standard fluid.
For liquids the standard fluid taken is water and for
gases the standard liquid taken is air.
The Specific gravity is also called relative density. It is a
dimensionless quantity.

s.g. == = 1000 kg/m3

1.225 kg/m3 @ 15 0C
s.g =

 
Example:

1.) The specific gravity of mercury is 13.6, Find the density of

mercury.

= 13.6 ×1000kg/m3 = 13600 kg/ m3

2.) A gas has a specific gravity of 0.001. What is its density,

specific weight, and specific volume in SI units?

s.g. = ,
a.) = (s.g.)(H₂O ) = ( 0.001)(1000 kg/m3) = 1 kg/m3

 
b.) = = = g = 1 kg/m3)(9.81 m/s2) = 9.81 N/m3

c.) = = = = 0.001 m3/kg

 
VISCOSITY

The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to

shear or angular deformation.

liquids
as the temperature increases viscosity decreases.

gas
viscosity increases with an increase in temperature.
 𝝉 𝜶
 

When the two layers of a fluid move one over the other at
different velocities, the viscosity together with relative velocities
causes a shear stress acting between the fluid layers.
The top layer causes a shear stress on the adjacent lower
layer while the lower layer causes a shear stress on the adjacent
top layer.
This shear stress is proportional to the rate of change of
velocity with respect to y.
Shearing Stress

= Newton’s equation of viscosity

=
= shear stress, N/m2 ( Pa)
= viscosity of the fluid

( absolute viscosity, coefficient of viscosity, dynamic

viscosity or viscosity )

 
= = =
unit:
(S.I. unit)
(English unit)
poise ( dyne-s/cm2)
1 N = 105 dyne

= rate of shear strain, rate of shear deformation

= velocity gradient

 
KINEMATIC VISCOSITY:

It is defined as the ratio between dynamic viscosity and density

of fluid.

unit:
m2/s, cm2/sec(S.I. unit)
ft2/s ( English unit)
stoke ( 1 stoke = 1 cm2/sec)

 
IDEAL FLUID
may be defined as one in which there is no friction, its
viscosity is zero (0).The internal forces at any internal section are
always normal to the section even during motion. Such fluid does
not exist in reality.

NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
all liquids and gases that do not behave according Newton’s
law of viscosity.
(Pastes, slurries, blood, high polymers)

NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
(water, air, gasoline, some oils)
 IDEAL FLUID
NEWTONIAN

du/dy NON-NEWTONIAN

IDEAL PLASTIC

ELASTIC SOLID

Characteristics of a Newtonian fluid as to compared to Non-

Newtonian fluid
Example:
1.) The density of an oil is 850 kg/m3. Find its relative density
and kinematic viscosity if the dynamic viscosity is
5x10-3 kg/m-s

solution:
850 kg/m3

a.) s.g. = = 0.85

b.) = = 5.8x10-6 m2/s

 
2.) A fluid with absolute viscosity of 0.98 N-s/m2 and kinematic
viscosity of 3 m2/s. Determine the density of fluid?

Solution:

μ = 0.98 N-s/m2 ( Absolute viscosity )

= 3 m2/s ( kinematic viscosity)

ν = μ/ρ

ρ = 3 m2/s /(0.98 N-s/m2)

ρ = 3.0612 kg/m3

 
3.) The velocity distribution of a viscous liquid (dynamic viscosity,
= 0.9 N-s / m2) flowing over a fixed plate is given by
= 0.68y – y2 (is velocity in m/s and y is the distance from the
plate in m).
What are the shear stresses at the plate surface and at y = 0.34 m

= 0.68y – y2, = 0.68 - 2y

@ the face plate y = 0 m

= 0.68 – 2 (0) = 0.68

Shear stress at the face plate

= ( ) = 0.9 N-s / m2 ( 0.68 ) = 0.612 N/m2

 
@ y = 0.34 m

= 0.68 – 2 (0.34) = 0

Shear stress

= ( ) = 0.9 (0) = 0

 
Assignment:

1.) The absolute viscosity of water, air, and glycerine at 200C

       are 1 cP, 0.018 cP and 1.5 cP respectively and their
       corresponding densities are 1000 kg/m3, 1.22 kg/m3, and
       1260 kg/m3. Compute their viscosities in SI units and
       also determine the kinematic viscosity of these fluids.