Properties of Fluids

By
S K Mondal
Definition of fluid

A fluid is a substance that deforms
continuously in the face of tangential or shear
stress, irrespective of the magnitude of
shear stress .This continuous deformation
under the application of shear stress constitutes
a flow.

In this connection fluid can also be defined as
the state of matter that cannot sustain any
shear stress.


Fig 1.2 Shear stress on a fluid body
Fig 1.3 Deformation of a Solid Body
Characteristics of fluid
1. It has no definite shape of its own, but conforms
to the shape of the containing vessel.
2. Even a small amount of shear force exerted on
a fluid will cause it to undergo a deformation
which continue as long as the force continues to
be applied.
3. It is interesting to note that a solid suffers strain
when subjected to shear forces whereas a fluid
suffers Rate of Strain i.e. it flows under similar
circumstances.
Concept of Continuum
The concept of continuum is a kind of idealization of the
continuous description of matter where the properties of
the matter are considered as continuous functions of
space variables.


A dimensionless parameter known as Knudsen number, K n = / L, where is
the mean free path and L is the characteristic length. It describes the degree of
departure from continuum.
Usually when K n> 0.01, the concept of continuum does not hold good.
Beyond this critical range of Knudsen number, the flows are known as
slip flow (0.01 < K n < 0.1),
transition flow (0.1 < K n < 10) and
free-molecule flow (Kn > 10).
However, for the flow regimes considered in this course , K n is always
less than 0.01 and it is usual to say that the fluid is a continuum.
Ideal and Real Fluids
1. Ideal Fluid
An ideal fluid is one which has
no viscosity
no surface tension
and incompressible
2. Real Fluid
An Real fluid is one which has
viscosity
surface tension
and compressible
Naturally available all fluids are real fluid.


Viscosity
Definition: Viscosity is the property of a fluid which
determines its resistance to shearing stresses.
Cause of Viscosity: The causes of viscosity in a
fluid are possibly attributed to two factors:
(i) intermolecular force of cohesion
(ii) molecular momentum exchange
Newtons Law of Viscosity: It states that the
shear stress () on a fluid element layer is
directly proportional to the rate of shear strain.
The constant of proportionality is called the co-efficient of viscosity.
Fig 1.7 Movement of fluid molecules between
two adjacent moving layers

Animation
Velocity Variation near a solid boundary

dy
du
dy
du
t
dy
du
. t =

When two layers of fluid, at a distance dy apart,

=
dy
du
t

As
Thus viscosity may also be defined as the shear stress required to
produce unit rate of shear strain
Units of Viscosity
S.I. Units: Pa.s or N.s/m
2

C.G.S Unit of viscosity is Poise= dune-sec/cm
2

One Poise= 0.1 Pa.s

1/100 Poise is called centipoises.

Dynamic viscosity of water at 20
0
C is approx= 1 cP
Kinematic Viscosity
It is the ratio between the dynamic
viscosity and density of fluid and denoted
by
Mathematically

v = =
Density
ity vis Dynamic cos
Units of Kinematic Viscosity
S.I units: m
2
/s
C.G.S units: stoke = cm
2
/sec
One stoke = 10
-4
m
2
/s

Thermal diffusivity and molecular diffusivity have
same dimension, therefore, by analogy, the
kinematic viscosity is also referred to as the
momentum diffusivity of the fluid, i.e. the ability
of the fluid to transport momentum.
Classification of fluids
1. Newtonian Fluids
These fluids follow Newtons viscosity equation.
For such fluids viscosity does not change with rate of deformation
2. Non- Newtonian fluids
These fluids does not follow Newtons viscosity equation.
Such fluids are relatively uncommon e.g. Printer ink, blood, mud,
slurries, polymer solutions.

Figure 2.1 Shear stress and deformation rate relationship of different fluids
Effect of Temperature on Viscosity
With increase in temperature
Viscosity of liquids decrease
Viscosity of gasses increase

Note: 1. Temperature response are neglected in case of Mercury
2. The lowest viscosity is reached at the critical temperature.
Fig 1.8: Change of Viscosity of Water and Air under 1 atm
Effect of Pressure on Viscosity
Pressure has very little effect on viscosity.

But if pressure increases intermolecular gap decreases then cohesion
increases so viscosity would be increase.
Surface tension
Cohesion
Surface tension is due to cohesion between particles
at the surface.
Adhesion
Capillarity action is due to both cohesion and
adhesion.
Surface tension
The tensile force acting on the surface of a liquid in
contact with a gas or on the surface between two
immiscible liquids such that the contact surface
behaves like a membrane under tension.
Figure 2.3 The intermolecular cohesive force field
in a bulk of liquid with a free surface
Pressure Inside a curved surface
For a general curved surface with radii of
curvature r
1
and r
2
at a point of interest

a. Pressure inside a water droplet
b. Pressure inside a soap bubble
c. Liquid jet.

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
2 1
1 1
r r
P o
d
P
o 4
=
d
P
o 8
=
d
P
o 2
=
Capillarity

A general term for phenomena observed in
liquids due to inter-molecular attraction at
the liquid boundary, e.g. the rise or
depression of liquids in narrow tubes. We
use this term for capillary action.
Capillarity rise and depression phenomena
depends upon the surface tension of the
liquid as well as the material of the tube.

Fig 2.4 Phenomenon of Capillarity
General formula

For water and glass = 0
o


For mercury and glass = 138
o

(h is negative indicates capillary depression)

Note: If adhesion is more than cohesion, the wetting tendency is
more and the angle of contact is smaller.
gd
h

u o cos 4
=
gd
h

o 4
=
gd
h

o 42 cos 4
=
Bulk Modulus and Compressibility
( )

d
dp
strain Volumetric
V
dV
pressure of increase dp
K Modulus Bulk =

=
) (
) (
,
The pressure required to bring about a reduction in the volume of water is
approximately 15000 times the pressure required for the same percentage
reduction in the volume of air.
K
ility Compressib
1
=
Elasticity of fluid is measured in terms of Bulk Modulus of elasticity
Vapour Pressure
If the pressure on the liquid surface is
lower than or equal to the saturation
vapour pressure, boiling takes place.
Vapour pressure increases with the rise of
temperature.
Mercury has a very low vapour pressure
and hence, it is an excellent fluid to be
used in a barometer.
Figure 2.5 To and fro movement of liquid molecules from an interface in a confined space as a
closed surrounding
Animation
Discussion
Thanks