VISCOSITY

ME130 FLUID MECHANICS

ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Viscosity ()

The property of viscosity is important to engineering practice
because it leads to significant energy loss when moving fluids
contact a solid boundary, or when different zones of fluid are
flowing at different velocities.

Viscosity (also called dynamic viscosity, or absolute viscosity) is
a measure of a fluids resistance to deformation under shear
stress.
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Viscosity ()

In Solid Mechanics, Shear stress (), is the ratio of force/area on a
surface when the force is aligned parallel to the area. Shear strain
is a change in an interior angle of a cubical element, , that was
originally a right angle. The shear stress on a material element in
solid mechanics is proportional to the strain, and the constant of
proportionality is the shear modulus:

Shear Stress = Shear Modulus Shear Strain

s
= S
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Viscosity ()

In fluid flow, however, the shear stress on a fluid element is
proportional to the rate (speed) of strain, and the constant of
proportionality is the viscosity:

Shear Stress = Viscosity Rate of Strain

s
= (/t)






ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Viscosity ()







y
t V
A
A A
~ Au
y
V
t A
A
~
A
Au
: Rate of Strain
y
V
t
y
t
A
A
=
A
Au
A
A
0
0
lim
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Viscosity ()

the rate of strain is related to the velocity gradient by







dy
dV
= u
dy
dV
t =
dy
dV
A
F
s
=
2
2
) ( m
s N
m s m
m
N

= =
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Viscosity ()

Other units for Viscosity:








SI (MKS) CGS English










2
m
s N
=
s m
kg

=
s Pa =
2
cm
s dyne
=
Poise =
2
ft
s lb
=
s ft
slug

=
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Kinematic Viscosity (v)

Many equations of fluid mechanics include the ratio /. Because
it occurs so frequently, this ratio has been given the special name
kinematic viscosity. The symbol used to identify kinematic
viscosity is v. Units of kinematic viscosity v are m
2
/s, as shown.






s
m
m kg
m s N
v
2
3
2
=

ME130 FLUID MECHANICS

Kinematic Viscosity (v)

Other units for Kinematic Viscosity:




SI (MKS) CGS English







s
ft
2
=
stoke
s
cm
=
=
2
s
m
2
=
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Temperature Dependency

The effect of temperature on viscosity is different for liquids and
gases. The viscosity of liquids decreases as the temperature
increases, whereas the viscosity of gases increases with
increasing temperature; this trend is also true for kinematic
viscosity



ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Temperature Dependency

An equation for the variation of liquid viscosity with temperature
is:



where C and b are empirical constants that require viscosity data
at two temperatures for evaluation.




T b
Ce =
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Temperature Dependency

Even when the liquid is at rest, the molecules are in constant
motion, but confined to cells, or cages. The cage or lattice
structure is caused by attractive forces between the molecules.
The cages may be thought of as energy barriers. When the liquid
is subjected to a rate of strain and thus caused to move, there is a
shear stress, , imposed by one layer on another in the fluid. This
force/area assists a molecule in overcoming the energy barrier,
and it can move into the next hole. The magnitude of these
energy barriers is related to viscosity, or resistance to shear
deformation. At a higher temperature the size of the energy
barrier is smaller, and its easier for molecules to make the jump,
so that the net effect is less resistance to deformation under shear.
Thus, an increase in temperature causes a decrease in viscosity
for liquids.



t
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Temperature Dependency




t
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Temperature Dependency

An estimate for the variation of gas viscosity with temperature is
Sutherlands equation:





where 0 is the viscosity at temperature T
0
, and S is Sutherlands
constant. All temperatures are absolute. Sutherlands constant for air
is 111 K. Using Sutherlands equation for air yields viscosities with
an accuracy of 2% for temperatures between 170 K and 1900 K. In
general, the effect of pressure on the viscosity of common gases is
minimal for pressures less than 10 atmospheres.
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
S T
S T
T
T
0
2
3
0 0

ME130 FLUID MECHANICS

Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids

Fluids for which the shear stress is directly proportional to the rate of
strain are called Newtonian fluids.

For some fluids the shear stress may not be directly proportional to
the rate of strain; these are called Non - Newtonian fluids.
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids

Real Fluid
Newtonian










Non - Newtonian
Pseudoplastic
Shear thinning fluid
Stress Resistance
Dilatant
Shear thickening fluid
Stress Resistance
Bingham
Small Shear acts like solid
Higher Shear acts like
liquid
ME130 FLUID MECHANICS
Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids