ME 223
FLUID MECHANICS &
MACHINERY
LECTURE 2
FLUID PROPERTIES
Priom Das
Lecturer
Dept. of ME, BUET
2 PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS
➢ Though each fluid is different from others in terms of composition and
specific qualities, there are some properties which every fluid shares.
➢ These properties can be broadly categorized under:
i. Kinematic Properties
ii. Thermodynamic Properties
iii. Miscellaneous properties
3 KINEMATIC PROPERTIES
➢ These properties are related to fluid motion like velocity and
acceleration.
4 THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
➢ These are the properties which describe the thermodynamic state of a
fluid. These include temperature, pressure, density, internal energy, specific
entropy, specific enthalpy, etc.
➢ The three most common thermodynamic properties of a fluid are
Pressure (𝑝), Density (𝜌), and Temperature (𝑇)
➢ Four another important properties when work, heat and energy balance
are taken into consideration
Internal energy (𝑢), Enthalpy (ℎ), Entropy (𝑠), and Specific heats
(𝑐𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑣)
5 THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
➢ The two transport properties of a fluid are
Coefficient of viscosity (𝜇), and Thermal conductivity (𝑘)
➢ Specific weight
This is the weight of fluid per unit volume. It is denoted by 𝛾 as
𝛾 = 𝜌𝑔
➢ Specific gravity
Specific gravity, denoted by SG, is the ratio of a fluid density to a
standard reference fluid, water (for liquids), and air (for gas).
6 THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
➢ Potential and Kinetic Energies
In thermostatics the only energy which is stored in a substance by
molecular activity and molecular bonding forces is known as internal energy.
This energy is defined by 𝑢. The total energy of a fluid thus becomes
1 2
𝑒 = 𝑢 + 𝑣 + 𝑔𝑧
2
7 MISCELLANEOUS PROPERTIES
➢ The properties which do not fall into either of the above categories.
➢ Viscosity: a measure of the importance of friction in fluid flow. Consider,
for example, simple shear between two plates. Consider a fluid in 2-D
steady shear between two infinite plates, as shown in the sketch.
8 VISCOSITY
➢ The bottom plate is fixed, while the upper plate is moving at a steady
speed of V.
➢ It turns out that the velocity profile, u(y) is linear, i.e. u(y) = Vy/h. Also
notice that the velocity of the fluid matches that of the wall at both the
top and bottom walls.This is known as the no slip condition.
➢ The top plate will experience a friction force to the left, since it is doing
work trying to drag the fluid along with it to the right. The fluid at the top
of the channel will experience an equal and opposite force (i.e. to the
right).
9 VISCOSITY
➢ Similarly the bottom plate will experience a friction force to the right,
since the fluid is trying to pull the plate along with it to the right. The fluid
at the bottom of the channel will feel an equal and opposite force, i.e. to
the left. In fluid mechanics, shear stress, defined as a tangential force per
unit area, is used rather than force itself.
10 VISCOSITY
➢ In a simple 2-D shear flow such as this, the shear stress is directly
proportional to the slope of the velocity profile.
➢ Mathematically,
➢ Kinematic Viscosity: This is simply defined as the viscosity divided by
density, i.e.
11 PROBLEM 01
A 60-cm-wide belt moves as shown in fig. below. Calculate the horsepower
requirement assuming a linear velocity profile in the 10°C water. (Take
viscosity as 1.308× 10−3𝑁𝑠/𝑚2)
12
Md. Rakib Hossain, Assistant Professor, Dept. of ME, BUET 11/30/2023
13 PROBLEM 02
A 1.2 m long, 2 cm diameter shaft rotates inside an equally long cylinder
that is 2.06 cm in diameter. Calculate the torque required to rotate the
inner shaft at 2000 rpm if SAE-30 oil at 20ºC fills the gap. (Use viscosity
value of 0.4 𝑁𝑠/𝑚2 ) Also, calculate the horsepower required. Assume
symmetric motion.
14
15
16 SURFACE TENSION
➢ This is a property of liquids which is felt at the interface between the
liquid and another fluid (typically a gas) or a solid. Surface tension has
dimensions of force per unit length, and always acts parallel to the
interface. Surface tension causes the molecules at the interface to repel
each other.
17 SURFACE TENSION
➢ For example, a meniscus occurs when the surface of a liquid touches a
solid wall, as most readily noticed when a capillary tube is placed in a
liquid. Consider a glass capillary tube inserted into a liquid, such as water.
The water will rise up the tube to a height, h, because surface tension
pulls the surface of the water towards the glass, as shown. The meniscus is
the curved surface at the top of the water column.
18 CONTACT ANGLE
➢ The contact angle is defined as the angle between the liquid and solid
surface, as shown in the sketch.
19 CONTACT ANGLE
➢ Contact angle depends on both the liquid and the solid. If theta is less
than 90o, the liquid is said to "wet" the solid. However, if theta is greater
than 90o, the liquid is repelled by the solid, and tries not to "wet" it. For
example, water wets glass, but not wax. Mercury does not wet glass.
20 VAPOR PRESSURE
➢ This is defined as the pressure at which a liquid will boil (vaporize). Vapor
pressure rises as temperature rises.
➢ Vapor pressure is important to fluid flows because, in general, pressure in
a flow decreases as velocity increases. This can lead to cavitation, which is
generally destructive and undesirable. In particular, at high speeds the local
pressure of a liquid sometimes drops below the vapor pressure of the
liquid. In such a case, cavitation occurs. In other words, a "cavity" or
bubble of vapor appears because the liquid vaporizes or boils at the
location where the pressure dips below the local vapor pressure.