Fluid

Mechanics:
Introduction
Prepared by: R. Tavares, RME
PLM ‘85
FLUID MECHANICS

COURSE SYNOPSIS
• Elements of fluid statics, density, pressure, surface tension,
viscosity, compressibility etc. hydrostatic forces on submerged
surfaces due to incompressible fluid. Static forces on surface
stability of floating bodies.
• Introduction to fluid dynamics – conservation laws. Introduction
to viscous flows. Fluid friction, friction factor and its relation to
pipe losses; pipes in parallel and series. Fluid flow measurements,
venturi meter.
DEFINITIONS
• FLUID MECHANICS – the branch of science dealing with
the behavior of fluids (liquids or gases) both at rest and in
motion or the branch of science dealing with the static,
kinematics and dynamics of fluids.
• FLUID STATICS – the study of fluids at rest
• FlUID KINEMATICS – the study of the fluids in motion where
pressure forces are not considered.
• FLUID DYNAMICS – the branch of science dealing with
fluids in motion where pressure forces are considered.
DEFINITIONS
Fluid: A fluid is a material substance, which cannot sustain
shear stress when it is at rest. In other words, a fluid is a
substance, which deforms continuously under the action of
shearing forces, however small they may be.

The major differences between liquids and gases are:

• Liquids are practically incompressible whereas gases are
compressible
• Liquids occupy definite volumes and have free surfaces
whereas a given mass of gas expands until it occupies all
portions of any containing vessel.
PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS

• DENSITY, 𝜌 – the ratio of a fluid’s mass to its volume.

𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠,𝑚 𝑘𝑔 𝑙𝑏
𝜌= , 𝑜𝑟
𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒,𝑉 𝑚3 𝑓𝑡 3

For water: 𝜌 = 1 gm/cm3 = 1000 kg/m3

• SPECIFIC WEIGHT OR WEIGHT DENSITY, 𝛾 – the ratio of a fluid’s
weight to its volume.

𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡, 𝑊 𝑚𝑥𝑔 𝑔 𝑁 𝑙𝑏𝑓

𝛾= = = 𝜌 𝑥 , 3 or 3
𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑉 𝑘𝑥𝑉 𝑘 𝑚 𝑓𝑡
For water: 𝛾 = 9810 𝑁/𝑚3
PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS
• SPECIFIC VOLUME, 𝜈 – the volume of a fluid occupied by a
unit mass, commonly used for gases.
𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑉 𝑚3 𝑓𝑡 3
ν= , 𝑜𝑟
𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠, 𝑚 𝑘𝑔 𝑙𝑏

• SPECIFIC GRAVITY, 𝑆𝐺 – the ratio of a fluid’s weight density

(density) to weight density (density) of a standard fluid.
𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝛾 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝜌
For liquid: 𝑠𝑔 = =
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟,𝛾𝑤 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝜌𝑤
𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝛾 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝜌
For gases: 𝑠𝑔 = =
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟, 𝛾𝑎 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜌𝑎
Illustrative Samples
1. Calculate the specific weight, density and specific gravity of a liter of liquid
weighing 7 N.
Given: W = 7 N ; V = 1 l = 0.001 m3
Req’d: 𝛾, 𝜌, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑
Sol’n:
𝑊 7𝑁 𝑁
𝛾= = = 7000
𝑉 0.001 𝑚3 𝑚3

𝑚
𝑔 𝑘 𝑁 1 𝑘𝑔 −
2 /𝑁 𝑘𝑔
𝛾=𝜌𝑥 ] 𝜌 = 𝛾 𝑥 = 7000 3 𝑥 𝑠 = 713.557
𝑘 𝑔 𝑚 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2 𝑚3

𝛾 7000 𝑁/𝑚3
𝑠𝑔 = = = 0.713557
𝛾𝑤 𝑁
9810 3
𝑚
2. Calculate the density, specific weight and weight of a liter of petrol of
specific gravity of 0.7.
Given: sg = 0.7 ; V = 1 l = 0.001m3
Req’d: 𝛾, 𝜌, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑊 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑
Sol’n:
𝛾 𝑁 𝑁
𝑠𝑔 = ] 𝛾 = 0.7 𝑥 9810 3 = 6 867 3
𝛾𝑤 𝑚 𝑚

𝑊 𝑁
𝛾= ] 𝑊 = 6 867 3
𝑥 0.001 𝑚3 = 6.867 𝑁
𝑉 𝑚

𝑚
𝑔 𝑘 𝑁 1 𝑘𝑔 −
2 /𝑁 𝑘𝑔
𝛾 =𝜌𝑥 ] 𝜌 = 𝛾 𝑥 = 6 867 3 𝑥 𝑠 = 700
𝑘 𝑔 𝑚 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2 𝑚3
PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS
• VISCOSITY – the property of a fluid which offers resistance to the
movement of one layer of fluid over another adjacent layer of the fluid.
𝑑𝑢
𝜏 ∝ 𝑑𝑦
(Newton’s Law of Viscosity)
𝑑𝑢
𝜏= 𝜇 ∙ 𝑦
𝑑𝑦

where:
𝜏 = shear stress
𝑢 + 𝑑𝑢
𝜇 = coefficient of dynamic viscosity 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑢
𝑢
= rate of shear strain 𝑦 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑦

(velocity gradient or rate of 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑒

shear deformation)
𝑢
• VISCOSITY
𝜏
𝜇=
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑦
𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
dimension check: 𝜇=
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 2 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑥 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑁 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝜇= = = = 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 1 (𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ) 2 𝑚 2
𝑥
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒𝑠 −𝑠𝑒𝑐
CGS System: 𝜇 = = 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑐𝑚2
• KINEMATIC VISCOSITY – the ratio between the dynamic viscosity and the density of
a fluid.
𝜇
𝜈= 𝜌

where:
𝜈 = kinematic viscosity
𝜇 = fluid viscosity
𝜌 = fluid density
𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑥 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑥 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑥 (𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ)2 𝑚2
(𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ)2 (𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒) 2 (𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ)2
dimension check: 𝜈= 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
= 𝑠𝑒𝑐
(𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ)3 (𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ)3

𝑐𝑚2
𝜈= = 1 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑒
𝑠𝑒𝑐
VARIATION OF VISCOSITY WITH TEMPERATURE

• Liquid viscosity decreases with an increase in temperature.

1
𝜇 = 𝜇0
1 + 𝛼𝑡 + 𝛽𝑡 2
where: 𝜇 = viscosity of liquid at toC, in poise
𝜇0 = viscosity of liquid at 0oC, in poise
𝛼, 𝛽 = constants for the liquids
For water: 𝜇0 = 1.79 x 10-3 poise, 𝛼 = 0.03368, 𝛽 = 0.000221
• Viscosity of gases increases with an increase in
temperature.
VARIATION OF VISCOSITY WITH TEMPERATURE

• Viscosity of gases increases with an increase in

temperature.
𝜇 = 𝜇0 + 𝛼𝑡 − 𝛽𝑡 2
for air: 𝜇0 = 0.000017, 𝛼 = 0.000000056, 𝛽 = 0.1189 x 10-9
FLUID CLASSIFICATION

1. IDEAL FLUID, a fluid that is incompressible and having no

viscosity.
2. REAL FLUID, a fluid having viscosity.
3. NEWTONIAN FLUID, a fluid whose shear stress is directly
proportional to its velocity gradient.
4. NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID, a fluid opposite of a Newtonian
fluid.
5. IDEAL PLASTIC FLUID, a fluid in which shear stress is more
than the yield value and shear stress is proportional to the
rate of shear strain (or velocity gradient).
FLUID CLASSIFICATION

Shear stress
Ideal Solid

Ideal Fluid

Velocity gradient, du/dy

Illustrative Sample: Viscosity
2
1. If the velocity distribution over a plate is given by 𝑢 = 𝑦 − 𝑦 2 in
3
which 𝑢 is the velocity in m/s at a distance 𝑦 meter above the plate,
determine the shear stress at 𝑦 = 0 and 𝑦 = 0.15 m. Take dynamic
viscosity of fluid as 8.63 poise.
2
Given: velocity, 𝑢 = 𝑦 − 𝑦2
3

Req’d: shear stress, 𝜏, at y = 0 and y = 0.15 m

𝑑𝑢
Sol’n: Re: 𝜏 = 𝜇 ∙
𝑑𝑦

• Take the derivative of the velocity u with respect to y.

𝑑𝑢 2
= − 2y
𝑑𝑦 3
• Solve for the velocity gradient with the given conditions.
𝑑𝑢 2 2
with 𝑦 = 0: = −2 0 =
𝑑𝑦 3 3

3 𝑑𝑢 2 3 11
with 𝑦 = 0.15 = : = −2 =
20 𝑑𝑦 3 20 30

• Calculate the shear stress at the corresponding conditions.

1 𝑃𝑎−𝑠𝑒𝑐 2
With 𝑦 = 0: 𝜏 = 8.63 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑥 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 = 0.57533 Pa
10 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 3

1 𝑃𝑎 −𝑠𝑒𝑐 11
With 𝑦 = 0.15: 𝜏 = 8.63 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑥 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 = 0.31643 𝑃𝑎.
10 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 30
2. A plate, 0.025 mm distant from a fixed plate, moves at 60 cm/s and
requires a force of 2 N per unit area, i.e., 2 N/m2 to maintain this
speed. Determine the fluid viscosity between the plates.
Given: dy = 0.025 mm = 0.025 x 10-3 m; u = 60 cm/s = 0.60 m/s

𝑢 = 60 𝑐𝑚/𝑠 𝑁
𝜏=2
𝑚2
dy 0.025 mm

Fixed plate
Req’d: fluid viscosity between the plates, 𝜇
Sol’n:
• Solve for the required viscosity of the fluid.
𝑑𝑦 𝑁 0.025 x 10−3 m 10𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝜇= 𝜏 ∙ = 2 𝑚2 ∙ 0.60m = 8.333 x 10−5 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠 𝑥 = 8.333 x 10−4 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑑𝑢 𝑃𝑎−𝑠
s
3. A flat plate of area 1.5 x 106 mm2 is pulled with a speed of 0.4 m/s
relative to another plate located at a distance of 0.15 mm from it. Find the
force and power required to maintain this speed, if the fluid separating them
is a fluid with a viscosity of 1 poise.

Given: flat plate area, 𝐴 = 1.5 𝑥 106 𝑚𝑚2 ; relative speed, du = 0.4 m/s

plate distance, dy = 0.15 mm; 𝜇 = 1 poise = 0.10 Pa - sec

Req’d: force and power required to maintain this speed

𝑑𝑢
Sol’n: Re: 𝜏 = 𝜇 ∙ 𝑑𝑦

• Calculate the shear stress resulting from the fluid viscosity.

𝑚
0.40 𝑠
𝜏 = 0.10 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠 ∙ = 266.667 𝑃𝑎
0.15 𝑚𝑚
𝑚𝑚
1000 𝑚
3. A flat plate of area 1.5 x 106 mm2 is pulled with a speed of 0.4 m/s
relative to another plate located at a distance of 0.15 mm from it.
Find the force and power required to maintain this speed, if the fluid
separating them is a fluid with a viscosity of 1 poise.

• Solve for the required force and power.

2
𝑁 1 𝑚
𝐹 = 𝜏 𝑥 𝐴 = 266.667 2 𝑥 1.5 𝑥 106 𝑚𝑚2 𝑥 = 400 𝑁
𝑚 (1000)2 𝑚𝑚2
𝑚
𝑃 = 𝐹 𝑥 𝑣 = 400 𝑁 𝑥 0.4 = 160 𝑊
𝑠
4. Determine the intensity of shear of an oil having viscosity of 1 poise. The oil is
used for lubricating the clearance between a shaft of diameter 10 cm and
its journal bearing. The clearance is 1.5 mm and the shaft rotates at 150 rpm.

Given: 𝜇 = 1 poise = 0.10 Pa – s; shaft ∅ = 10 cm = 0.10 m

c = 𝑑𝑦 = 1.5 mm; shaft rotational speed, n = 150 rpm

Req’d: 𝜏

Sol’n:

• Determine the linear velocity of the shaft.

𝜋 𝑥 0.1 𝑚 𝑥 150 /𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑚
𝑣 = 𝜋𝐷𝑛 = = 0.785 = 𝑑𝑢
60 𝑠𝑒𝑐/𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑠

• Solve for the resulting shear intensity of the oil.

𝑚
𝑑𝑢 0.10 𝑁 −𝑠𝑒𝑐 0.785 𝑠
𝜏= 𝜇 ∙ = ∙ = 52.33 𝑃𝑎
𝑑𝑦 𝑚2 0.0015𝑚
5. Calculate the dynamic viscosity of an oil, which is used for lubrication between a
square plate of size 0.8 m x 0. 8 m and an inclined plane with angle of inclination
30o as shown in the figure. The weight of the square plate is 300 N and it slides down
the inclined plane with a uniform velocity of 0.3 m/s. The thickness of oil film is 1.5
mm.

Given: plate area, A = 0.82 = 0.64 m2; plate weight, W = 300 N; u = 0.30 m/s

Req’d: 𝜇

Sol’n:

• Calculate the horizontal component of the plate weight. 30o W = 300 N

𝐹 = 𝑊ℎ = 300 sin 30 = 150 𝑁

• Determine the shear stress exerted by the sliding plate on the oil.
𝐹 150𝑁
𝜏= = = 234.375 𝑃𝑎
𝐴 0.64𝑚2
𝑚
0.30
• Solve for the viscosity of the oil. 234.375 𝑃𝑎 = 𝜇 ∙ 𝑠
= 1.172 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠 =
𝑜..0015 𝑚

11.72 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒
6. The space between two square flat parallel plates is filled with oil. Each side of the plate
is 60 cm. The thickness of the film is 12.5 mm. The upper plate moves at 2.5 m/s requiring
98.1 N to maintain the speed. Determine (a) the dynamic viscosity of the oil in poise;
and (b) the kinematic viscosity of the oil in stokes if the specific gravity of the oil is 0.95
𝑚
Given: 𝑑𝑢 = 2.5 ; 𝐹 = 98.1 𝑁; 𝑑𝑦 = 12.5 𝑚𝑚; 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛: 0.60 𝑥 0.60 − 𝑚
𝑠

Req’d: (a) μ and (b) 𝜈

Sol’n:

• Calculate the dynamic viscosity of the oil.

𝑑𝑦 0.0125 𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝜇= 𝜏 ∙ = 98.1𝑁/(0.60)2 𝑚2 ∙ 𝑚 = 1.3625 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠 𝑥 10 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠 = 13.625 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑑𝑢 2.5 1
𝑠

• Solve for the kinematic viscosity of the oil.

𝑁−𝑠 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝜇 1.3625 2 𝑥1 𝑚2 (100)2 𝑐𝑚2
𝑚 𝑁
𝜈= = = 0.001434 𝑥 = 14.34 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑠
𝜌 0.95 𝑥 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 𝑠 1 𝑚2
END OF LECTURE 1