FLUID MECHANICS

Prepared by: ENGR. MEGAN P. GAMET

 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics

Fluid mechanics in turn is part of a larger discipline called continuum

mechanics, which also includes the study of stressed solids.
Fluid mechanics has two branches important to the study of unit
operations: fluid statics, which treats fluids in the equilibrium state of no
shear stress, and fluid dynamics, which treats fluids when portions of the
fluid are in motion relative to other parts.
The branch of engineering science that has to do with the behavior of
fluids-and fluids are understood to include liquids, gases, and vapors-is
called fluid mechanics.
 UNIT SYSTEMS
SI Units
The official international system of units is the
SI system (Systeme International d'Unites).
Strong efforts are underway for its universal The SI system covers the entire field of
adoption as the exclusive system for all science and engineering, including
engineering and science, but older systems, electromagnetics and illumination.
particularly the centimeter-gram-second (cgs)
and foot-pound-second (fps) engineering DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
gravitational systems, are still in use and
probably will be around for some time.
This method is called dimensional analysis,
which is an algebraic treatment of the
Physical Quantities symbols for units considered independently of
Any physical quantity consists of two parts: a magnitude. It drastically simplifies the task of
unit, which tells what the quantity is and gives fitting experimenta
the standard by which it is measured, and a l data to design equations;
number, which tells how many units are
needed to make up the quantity.
 NATURE OF FLUIDS

A fluid is a substance that does not If the density changes only slightly with
permanently resist distortion. An attempt to moderate changes in temperature and
change the shape of a mass of fluid results in pressure, the fluid is said to be
layers of fluid sliding over one another until a incompressible; if the changes in density
new shape is attained. are significant, the fluid is said to be
compressible. Liquids are generally
considered to be incompressible and gases
At a given temperature and pressure, a fluid compressible.
possesses a definite density, which in
engineering practice is usually measured in
kilograms per cubic meter or pounds per
cubic foot.
 Types of Fluid Flow
Fluid flow has of the following types: Viscous or Non-Viscous Flow

1.Steady or unsteady Liquid flow can be viscous or non-viscous.

2.Compressible or incompressible The resistance offered by a fluid to flow is known
3.Viscous or non-viscous, and as viscosity. A fluid that offers high resistance to
4.Rotational or irrotational. flowing is known as a viscous fluid and its flow is
said to be viscous.

Steady or Unsteady Flow

Rotational or Irrotational

The flow of fluid can either be steady or unsteady,

The difference between rotational and irrotational
depending on the velocity of the fluid:
flow: fluid elements in a rotational region of the flow
Steady: In steady fluid flow, the fluid’s density rotate, but those in an irrotational region of the flow
remains constant at every point. do not. and disintegrate (average size is referred to
Unsteady: During the unsteady flow, the fluid’s as the scale of turbulence)
velocity differs between any two points.
 Types of Fluids
Ideal Fluid Non-Newtonian Fluid
An ideal fluid is incompressible and it is an A fluid not obeying Newton’s law of viscosity is said
imaginary fluid that doesn’t exist in reality. Also, it to be a Non-Newtonian fluid. E.g., cornflour and
doesn’t have viscosity. In the real world, ideal fluid water
does not exist. Incompressible Fluid
Ideal plastic Fluid When the density of the fluid remains invariant with
When the shear stress becomes proportional to the the application of external force, it is said to be an
velocity gradient and more than the yield value, the incompressible fluid. E.g., The stream of water
fluid is said to be the ideal plastic fluid. E.g., Water flowing at high speed from a garden hose pipe
suspension of clay and fly ash Compressible Fluid
Real Fluid When the density of the fluid varies with the
Fluids having viscosity are real fluids. E.g., petrol application of external force, it is a compressible
Newtonian Fluid fluid. E.g., gas, steam, etc.
A fluid obeying Newton’s law of viscosity is known
as a Newtonian fluid. E.g., glycerol thin motor oil.
 Common Applications of Fluids
Hydroelectric Power Plants Refrigerators and Air Conditioners
In hydroelectric power plants, water is used to This is another important area where fluids play a
generate electricity on a large-scale basis. Water crucial role. In refrigerators and air-conditioners,
stored in the dam possesses potential energy, the fluids are known as refrigerants.
which is converted into the electrical energy in the Thermal Power Plants
power generation unit of the plan In thermal power plants, water is used as the
Hydraulic machines working fluid. After getting heated in a boiler, water
Machines that operate on a fluid like water and oil is converted into superheated steam which is
are called hydraulic machines. The fluid as the passes through the blades of turbines, thus rotating
capacity to lift heavy loads and exert extremely them.
high pressures. Some hydraulic machines are used Nuclear power plants
to perform various machining operations Water is again a crucial power plant component.
Automobiles Here it is both the working fluid and a coolant. In
No automobile can run without fluid. Fluids perform some nuclear power plants, heat produced within
three crucial operations in automobiles: generation the nuclear reactor is used to directly heat water,
of power, lubrication, and cooling of the engine. which is converted into steam.
Petrol or diesel generates power on combustion in
the engi
Fluids as a Renewable Energy Source Heat Engines
There are number of fluids that are being used as a In previous heat engine designs, air was used as a
renewable energy source. Air or wind is one of the fluid to generate power in automobiles. Earlier it
most popular sources of renewable energy. Wind is was thought that the efficiency of an engine is
used for generation of electricity on a small as well dependent on the type of fluid used, but later it was
as large scale basis shown by Sadi Carnot, that the efficiency of an
Operating Various Instruments engine is not dependent on the type of the fluid, but
Compressed air is used for the operation of various rather, the temperature of the fluid.
types of instruments and automatic valves. These
valves can be activated and deactivated by
applying the pressure of compressed air.
 PROPERTIES OF FLUID

PRESSURE
VISCOSITY
REYNOLD’S NUMBER
DENSITY
 PRESSURE CONCEPT
The basic property of a static fluid is pressure.
Pressure is familiar as a surface force
exerted by a fluid against the walls of its
container. Pressure also exists at every point
within a volume of fluid.

HYDROSTATIC EQUILIBRIUM

In a stationary mass of a single static fluid,

the pressure is constant in any cross
section parallel to the earth's surface but
varies from height to height.
 VISCOSITY
What is viscosity? Dynamic Viscosity vs. Kinematic Viscosity

Viscosity is the resistance of a fluid (liquid or gas) Dynamic viscosity is a measure of force, while
to a change in shape or movement of neighbouring
kinematic viscosity is a measure of velocity.
portions relative to one another. Viscosity denotes
opposition to flow.
That’s the difference. If you divide kinematic
viscosity by the fluid density, you get absolute
viscosity.
Around 1840, a French mathematician named
Jean Leonard Marie Poiseuille conducted tests
involving the flow of blood through small glass
tubes. Poiseuille found that different blood flowed
at different speeds through the glass tubes with the
same amount of force.
UNITS USED FOR VISCOSITY
 REYNOLD’S NUMBER

REYNOLD’S NUMBER
DENSITY