VISCOSITY
Real fluid exhibits infinite viscosities and can be observed
through its behavior while flowing. Fluids with low viscosity are
said to be “thin” like water while fluids with high viscosity are
said to be “thick” like honey. Viscosity plays an important role
in different applications such as in machineries where
lubricants can affect friction and heat to the equipment. It also
considered in different industries like manufacturing and
medicine.
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
Viscosity is the property of fluid that determines the amount of its resistance to a
shearing stress. This is due to the cohesive interaction between fluid molecules and
during a motion, it causes shear stresses between moving layers of fluid.
At the figure below, consider two plates with contact area A, closely spaced at a
distance Y separated by a fluid. The upper plate is moving with velocity U, subjected to
a force F while the lower plate is fixed. The friction between the moving plate and the
fluid causes shear. The applied force to the upper plate is directly proportional to the
contact area and velocity gradient in the fluid and inversely proportional to the
thickness of fluid or distance between plates.
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
From the relationship mentioned,
𝑢
𝐹 = 𝛍𝐀 𝑦 where μ is the proportionality factor called viscosity. The
expression F/A can be expressed in terms of shear stress, 𝜏, thus making the
equation for shear stress between layers of fluid for parallel and uniform flow:
𝒅𝒖
𝛕 = 𝛍 𝒅𝒚 where τ= shear stress (lb/ft2 .N/m2, Pa)
μ= dynamic/absolute viscosity (lb-s/ft2,Pa-s)
du/dy= velocity gradient (s-1)
u= velocity, (ft/s, m/s)
y= distance between plates (ft, m)
Other units for absolute viscosity is Poise which is equivalent to 0.1 Pa-s
KINEMATIC VISCOSITY
While dynamic viscosity measures the resistance of fluid to shear
due to some external forces applied to it, Kinematic viscosity
measures the resistance of fluid to shear due to gravity. It is the
ratio of dynamic viscosity to the density of the fluid.
𝝁
𝝂= where ν= kinematic viscosity (m2/s)
𝝆
μ= dynamic viscosity (Pa-s)
ρ= density (kg/m3)
Other units for kinematic viscosity is Stoke which is equivalent to
0.0001 m2/s
A moving plate is 2mm from a fixed plate. If F
the moving plate requires a force per unit area
of 12 Pa to maintain a speed of 0.65 m/s,
determine the viscosity (in Pa-s) of the 2mm
substance between the two plates.
Water at 20.5oC has a dynamic viscosity of 0.015 poise and specific gravity of 0.97. Calculate its kinematic
viscosity in stokes.
Determine the specific gravity of the liquid F
between the moving plate which is 1.5mm from
a fixed plate. The 2𝑚2 moving plate requires a 1.5mm
force of 24 N to maintain a speed of 0.60 m/s.
The kinematic viscosity is 0.089 stokes.
Determine the specific volume (𝑚3 /𝑘𝑔) of the F
liquid between the moving plate which is 1mm
from a fixed plate. The 4 𝑚2 moving plate requires
a force of 20 N to maintain a speed of 0.66 m/s. 1mm
The kinematic viscosity is 0.075 stokes.
SURFACE TENSION
In the liquid state, molecules are held together by a weak
attraction that can withstand small tensile stress. The tension of the
surface film of a liquid caused by the attraction of the particles in
the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which tends to
minimize surface area is called surface tension. It is the force in
the surface normal to a line with length drawn on the liquid
surface, thus having a unit of N/m.
CAPILLARY
Capillary action (sometimes capillarity, capillary motion, capillary effect) is the
behavior of a liquid in a thin tube. The rise or fall of a fluid in a capillary tube is
caused by surface tension and depends on the magnitude of cohesion or adhesion
Adhesion- attraction between dissimilar particles
Cohesion- attraction between similar particles
ADHESION > COHESION ( RISE )
ADHESION < COHESION (FALL)
CAPILLARY
Since the system is in equilibrium,
Tvertical –W=0
Tcos ϴ - γV=0
π𝑑2
(σ)( πd)cos ϴ- (γ)( 4 ℎ)=0 therefore;
4𝜎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
ℎ = 𝛾𝑑
where
h= capillary rise or depression, in meter
𝜎 = surface tension, in N/m
𝜃= contact angle in degrees
𝛾= unit weight in N/m3
d= diameter of tube, in meter
For water, contact angle is 0 degrees
PRESSURE INSIDE A DROPLET
A droplet has a spherical shape due to the relationship of the surface tension and the
pressure inside the droplet.
Let p the excess pressure inside the droplet in Pa and σ be the surface tension in N/m.
The surface tension T acts at the circumference while the excess pressure P acts at the
circular projection of the droplet
Since the forces is in equilibrium:
P-T=0
p(πd2/4)- σ(πd)=0
4𝜎
𝑝= where p= pressure, Pa
𝑑
σ= surface tension, N/m
d= diameter,m
The diameter of the tube is 1mm. The surface tension of water at 20° C is equal to 0.0728 N/m.
a. Compute the capillary rise in the tube in mm
b. Compute the force in N due to the surface tension.
The diameter of the tube is 1mm. The surface tension of water at 20° C is equal to 0.0728 N/m.
a. Compute the capillary rise in the tube in mm
b. Compute the force in N due to the surface tension.
