CHAPTER 1 - BASIC CONCEPTS AND
PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS
Course Contents
Properties of Fluids
Introduction
Types of Fluids
Mass Density
Weight Density or Specific
Weight
Specific Volume
Specific Gravity
Viscosity
Kinematic Viscosity
SOLVED PROBLEMS
PROBLEM FOR PRACTICE
OBJECTIVES:
When you finish reading this chapter, you should be able to:
■ Have a working knowledge of the basic properties of fluids and understand the
continuum approximation.
■ Define the importance of density, specific weight, specific volume, specific gravity and
viscosity.
■ Have a working knowledge of viscosity and the consequences of the frictional effects it
causes in fluid flow
In this chapter we discuss a number of fundamental properties of fluids.
An understanding of these properties is essential for us to apply basic
principles of fluid mechanics to the solution of practical problems.
Introduction:
Fluid mechanics and hydraulics represent that branch of applied mechanics that deals
with the behavior of fluids at rest and in motion. In the development of the principles of
fluid mechanics, some fluid properties play principle roles, others only minor roles or no
roles at all.
In fluid statics, specific weight or (unit weight) is the important property, whereas in fluid
flow, density and viscosity are predominant properties. Where appreciable
compressibility occurs, principles of thermodynamics must be considered.
FLUID MECHANICS is a physical science dealing with the action of fluids at rest or in
motion, and with applications and devices in engineering using fluids. Fluid mechanics
can be subdivided into two major areas:
Fluid Statics which deals with fluids at rest
Fluid Dynamics which is concerned with fluid in motion.
The term Hydrodynamics is applied to the flow of liquids or to low-velocity gas flows
where the gas can be considered as being essentially incompressible.
HYDRAULICS deals with the application of fluid mechanics to engineering devices
involving liquids, usually water or oil. Hydraulics deals with such problems as the flow of
fluids through pipes or in open channels, the design storage dams, pumps, and water
turbines, and with other devices for the control or use of liquids, such as nozzles, valves, jets
and flowmeters.
TYPES OF FLUIDS
Fluids are generally divided into two categories: IDEAL FLUIDS AND REAL FLUIDS.
IDEAL FLUIDS
Assumed to have no viscosity (and hence, no resistance in shear)
Incompressible (example: Gas)
Have uniform velocity when flowing
No friction between moving layers of fluid
No eddy currents or turbulence
REAL FLUIDS
Exhibit infinite viscosities
Non-uniform velocity distribution when flowing
Compressible (example:Liquids (Water) )
Experience friction and turbulence in flow.
Real fluids are further divided into Newtonian fluids and non-Newtonian fluids
NEWTONIAN a real fluid, in which the shear stress is directly proportional to the rate of
shear strain (or velocity gradient)
Example: Water, Air, Thin Motor Oil
Non-NEWTONIAIN a real fluid, in which the shear stress is not proportional to the rate of
shear strain (or velocity gradient)
Example: Toothpaste
IDEAL-PLASTIC FLUID in which shear stress is more than the yield value and shear stress is
proportional to the rate of shear strain.
Example: Sewage Sludge
Most fluid problems assume real fluids with Newtonian characteristics for convenience.
This assumption is appropriate for water, air, gases, steam, and other simple fluids like
alcohol, gasoline, acid solutions, etc. However, slurries, pastes, gels, suspensions may
not behave according to simple fluid relationships.
IDEAL
TYPES REAL
OF
FLUID NEWTONIAN
NON-NEWTONIAN
IDEAL PLASTIC
`
FIGURE JM-01
The fluid is a substance which deforms continuously (change in shape due to relative
motion) under the action of shear force, no matter how small.
PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS
There are five properties of fluids and those are:
1. Density or Mass Density
2. Weight Density or Specific Weight
3. Specific Volume
4. Specific Gravity
5. Viscosity
Density or Mass Density, ρ (rho)
The mass density or density of a fluid is defined as the ratio of a mass of fluid to its a
volume of the fluid.
Density is called a Mass per unit volume of a fluid.
This is denoted by symbol ρ (rho) and the unit of mass density is (kg/m3).
The density of liquid may be constant but the density of gases changes with the
variation of temperature and pressure.
Note: The Density of water is 1000 kg/m3 or we can say 1 g/cm3.
𝑴
ρ (rho)=
𝑽
where:
M = mass of fluid, kg
V = volume of fluid, m3
ρ = density or mass density, kg/m3 or gram/cm3
for an ideal gas, its density can be found from the specific gas constant and
ideal gas law:
𝒑
ρ=
𝑹𝑻
where:
p = absolute pressure of gas in Pa
R = gas constant Joule/kg - ᵒK
For air:
R = 287 J/kg - ᵒK
R = 1,716 lb-ft/slug- ᵒR
T = absolute temperature in ᵒKelvin
ᵒK = ᵒC + 273
ᵒR = ᵒF + 460
Table JM-01: Approximate Room-Temperature Densities of Common Fluids
FLUID ρ in kg/m³
Air (STP) 1.29
Air (21ᵒF, 1 atm) 1.20
Alcohol 790
Ammonia 602
Gasoline 720
Glycerin 1,260
Mercury 13,600
Water 1,000
Some Additional Information:
At 4ᵒC density of H2O is 1000 kg/m3 and this is maximum.
As T increases the molecule will move away and density increases .
Weight Density or Specific Weight or Unit Weight, γ (gamma)
Weight density or specific density of a fluid is defined as the ratio of the weight of
the fluid to its volume of the fluid.
Weight density is called Weight per unit volume of a fluid. This is denoted by symbol ' γ '
and the unit of mass density is (N/m3) or (kN/m3).
𝑾
γ=
𝑽
γ =𝛒𝐠
Where:
W = weight of fluid, N or Kn
W = Mg
M= mass of fluid, kg
g = acceleration due to gravity, m/s2
V = volume of fluid, m3
Some Additional Information:
The value of weight density or specific weight for water is 9.81kN/m3
The value of weight density or specific weight for water at 20°C is 9.79kN/m3
The specific volume of a fluid is defined as the ratio of the volume of fluid to the
mass of fluid. or
Specific Volume, Vs
The volume of a fluid occupied by a unit mass or volume per unit mass of a fluid
is called Specific volume.
The unit of Specific volume is m³/kg and This is commonly applied to Gases.
𝟏
Vs =
𝝆
Specific volume is the reciprocal of Mass Density as seen from the formula we
got.
Specific Gravity, S.G
This is defined as the ratio of the Density or weight density of a fluid to density or
weight density of a standard fluid.
We know the Standard fluid is water so for liquid the water is standard fluid and
For gases, the Standard fluid is taken as Air.
Most important The specific gravity is called Relative Density. This is denoted by
the symbol 'S.G' and this is dimensionless because the upper unit and lower units
get canceled.
𝝆𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝜸𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅
S.G = or S.G =
𝝆𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝜸𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓
In gases, the standard reference to calculate the specific gravity is the density
of air,
𝝆𝒈𝒂𝒔
S.G =
𝝆𝒂𝒊𝒓
for water at 4°C:
γ = 62.4 lb/ft3 = 9.81 kN/m 3
ρ = 1.94 slugs/ft3 = 1000 kg/m 3
S.G =1.0
Viscosity, μ (mu)
The property of a fluid which determines the amount of its resistance to shearin
forces. A perfect fluid would have no viscosity. Or
Viscosity is defined as resistance to flow deformation. It is an internal resistance
between two particles.
The reciprocal of the viscosity is called the fluidity.
Consider two large, parallel
plates at a small distance
“y” apart, the space
between them being filled F
MOVING Plate
with a fluid. Consider the
upper plate to be subject to
a force “F”so as to move
with a constant velocity “U”.
The fluid in contact with the
FIXED Plate
upper plate will adhere to it
and will move with the same
velocity “U” while the fluid in
contact with the fixed plate
will have a zero velocity. For
small values of U and y, the
velocity gradient can be
assumed to be straight line
and F varies as A, U and y
as:
FIGURE JM-02
AU F U
F∝ or A ∝
𝑦 𝑦
U dV
But = (from the figure)
𝑦 𝑑𝑦
F
= Shearing Stress, τ
𝐴
dV dV
τ ∝ 𝑜𝑟 τ = k
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Where the constant of proportionality k is called the dynamic of absolute
viscosity denoted as μ.
dV
τ=μ
𝑑𝑦
τ
μ=
𝑑𝑉/𝑑𝑦
where:
τ = shear stress in lb/ft2 or Pa
μ = absolute viscosity in lb-sec/ft2 (poises) or Pa-sec.
y = distance between the plates in ft or m
U = velocity in ft/s or m/s
Kinematic Viscosity, 𝛎 (nu)
Kinematic viscosity is the ratio of the dynamic viscosity of the fluid, 𝛍, to its mass
density, ρ.
μ
ν=
𝜌
Where:
μ = absolute viscosity in lb-sec/ft2 (poises) or Pa-sec
ρ = density or mass density, kg/m3
TABLE JM-02: Common Units of Viscosity
System Absolute, 𝛍 Kinematic, 𝛎
English lb-sec/ft2 ft2/sec
(slug/ft-sec)
Metric dyne-s/cm2 cm2/s
(poise) (stoke)
S.I Pa-s m2/s
(N-s/m2)
Example No.1 The volume of tetrachloride having a mass of 1200 kg is 0.952 m 3.
Compute the following:
a. Mass density
b. Specific weight
c. Specific gravity
Example No.2 A certain liquid has a unit weight of 56 kN/m 3.
a. Compute the mass density
b. Compute its specific volume
c. Compute its specific gravity
Example No.3 Air is kept at a pressure of 200 kPa absolute and a temperature of
30 °C in 500-liter container. What is the mass of air?
Example No.4 A cylindrical tank 80 cm in diameter and 90 cm high is filled with a
liquid. The tank and the liquid weighed 420 kg. The weight of the empty tank is
40 kg. What is the unit weight of the liquid in kN/m 3.
Example No.5 A 10 m. diameter cylindrical tank has a height of 5 m and is full of
water at 20°C (unit weight of water = 9.789 kN/m 3). If the water is heated to a
temperature of 50°C (unit weight of water = 9.689 kN/m 3).
a. Compute the weight of water
b. What is the final volume when heated to a temperature of 50°C.
c. Determine the volume of water that will spill over the edge of the tank.
Example No. 6 Two large plane surfaces are 25 mm apart and the space
between them is filled with a liquid of viscosity μ = 0.958 Pa-s. Assuming the
velocity gradient to be a straight line, what force is required to pull a very thin
plate of 0.37 m 2 area at a constant speed of 0.3 m/s if the plate is 8.4 mm from
one of the surfaces?
Example No.7 A cylinder of 125 mm radius rotates concentrically inside a fixed
cylinder of 130 mm radius. Both cylinders are 300 mm long. Determine the
viscosity of the liquid which fills the space between the cylinders if a torque of
0.88 N-m is required to maintain an angular velocity of 2𝜋 radians/sec. Assume
the velocity gradient to be a straight line.
Example No. 8 An 18-kg slab slides down a 15° inclined plane on a 3 mm-thick
film of oil with viscosity μ = 0.0814 Pa-sec. If the contact area is 0.3 m 2, find the
terminal velocity of the slab. Neglect air resistance.
Prepared by:
Engr. JOHN MICHAEL B. CASIBANG, CE, MST
Faculty, Civil Engineering Department
Head, Technical Working Group – Infrastructure
CSU – Carig Campus
