National Ribat University

Faculty of Technology and Applied Sciences Department of Anesthesia

Semester 1- Physics –FLUID MECHANICS MODULE

FLUID FLOW

2.1 FLUIDS FLOW

 Flow is defined as the quantity of a fluid passing a point in unit time.

 Q is the flow, V&M is the quantity of fluid mass or volume, t is the time

Fluid Motion
In order to derive a fluid into tube a pressure difference must be present at the ends

2.2 TYPES OF FLOW

 Consider that the fluid consists of lamina or layers, so we can represent each layer
by line called a streamline.
 Stream line describes the flow of the fluid and its direction.

LAMINAR AND TURBULENT FLOW

Figure [1]

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2.2.1 LAMINAR FLOW

 A fluid moves in a steady manner and there are no eddies or turbulence.

 Normally present in smooth tubes at low flow rates

 Although all the molecules are moving in straight lines they are not all uniform in their

velocity.

 The flow is greater at the center, being about twice the mean flow, as illustrated as large

arrows in the figure. As the side of the tube is approached, the flow becomes slower until

it approaches zero at the wall.

Figure [2]

 There is a linear relationship under laminar flow, flow is directly proportional to pressure
∆𝑃
𝑅=
𝑄
 Ratio R, is constant known as resistance of the apparatus or tube
 Blood flow through capillary is laminar
 Occur in anaesthetic apparatus such as breathing systems, air ways and circulations
 Flow depends on
128 P.d 4
Q
  .l

Hagen-Poiseuille equation

 Shows that “Pressure drop in a fluid in laminar flow flowing through a long
cylindrical pipe depends on diameter”

128   l.Q
P
 d4
 F is the flow, P is the pressure across the tube, η is the viscosity of the fluid and l is
the length of the tube

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2.2.2 TURBULENT FLOW

 Fluid no longer a flow in smooth fashion but swirls in eddies and the resistance is higher
than for the same laminar flow.

 Laminar flow may change to turbulent flow if constriction is reached which results in the
fluid velocity increasing.

 This flow is no longer directly proportional to the pressure

Figure [3]

WHEN DOES TURBULENT FLOW OCCUR?

2. Sharp bends or irregularity

3. high velocity,

4. In large diameter tubes

5. when fluids at high density

6. Also, low viscosity of a fluid leads to turbulent flow.

These factors may be combined to give an index known as Reynolds number

2.3 RYENOLDS NUMBER

 This number is calculated from an equation that contains the factors that determine the
critical point
𝜗𝜌𝑑
Reynolds’ number =
𝜂
v = velocity of fluid flow
ρ = density of fluid
d = diameter of tube
η = viscosity of fluid
 Reynolds number does not have any associated unit

 It is a dimensionless number

 Perform analysis in fluid dynamics.

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2.4 FLUID FLOW AND THE CONTINUITY EQUATION

 It states that “the product of the area and the fluid speed at all points along a pipe is
constant for an incompressible fluid”.
 Consider a hose with decreasing diameter along its length, as shown in the figure

Fin=Fout

 The volume of the water flowing through the hose per unit time or the flow rate at the left
must equal to the flow rate at the right, or anywhere in the hose

Δ𝑉
𝑄= = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑠𝑛𝑡
Δt
Exercise

How many cubic meters of blood does the heart pump in a 75-year lifetime, assuming the
average flow rate is 5.00 L/min? (1L=10-3m3)

Q = V/t → V = Q . t

 The flow rate is measured in the units of volume per unit time, m3/s
𝐴Δ𝑥
𝑄= = 𝐴𝜈 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
Δ𝑡
𝐴1 𝜐1 = 𝐴2 𝜐2
 take 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2 , so the continuity equation can be written as
𝑟12 𝑣1 = 𝑟22 𝑣2
 this means that the speed of flow increases by decrease of the diameter of the tube

Exercise
1) A water pipe leading up to a hose has a radius of 0.01m, water leaver the hose at a
rate of 5m3 /s.
a) Find the velocity of water at the pipe
b) The hose has a radius of 0.05m, what is the velocity of the water in the hose?
2) How many cubic meters of blood does the heart pump in a 75-year lifetime, assuming
the average flow rate is 5.00 L/min? (1L=10-3m3)

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 2.4 BERNOULLI’S EQUATION
 Bernoulli derived an important equation to describe the flow of
fluids.
 This equation is stated that “the work done on a fluid as it flows
from one place to another is equal to the change in its mechanical
energy”

1 1
𝑃1 + 𝜌𝑣12 + 𝜌𝑔𝑦1 = 𝑃2 + 𝜌𝑣22 + 𝜌𝑔𝑦2
2 2
1
𝑃 + 𝑣 2 + 𝜌𝑔𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
2
 This equation is true for incompressible fluid, non-viscous fluids,
laminar flow and for steady state flow

CLOGGING
 Bernoulli's principle can explain the clogging of arteries when the blood flows through an
artery section of smaller cross sectional area.
 According to Bernoulli the pressure of blood within this section will drop inside
the arterial wall, and on the other hand the pressure on the outside arterial wall will
be larger than inside causing the clogging of the blood vessel.

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APPLICATION OF BERNOULLI
MANOMETER

 A manometer consists of a U shaped tube of glass filled with some liquid.

 Typically, the liquid is mercury because of its high density.

 With both ends of the tube open, the liquid is at the same height in each leg.

 When positive pressure is applied to one leg, the liquid is forced down in that leg and up

in the other.

 The manometer is a part of a device called a sphygmomanometer

EXERCISE|:

 The diameter of a horizontal blood vessel is reduced from 12 to 4 mm, what is the flow

rate of blood in the vessel, if the pressure at the wide part is 8 kPa, and velocity of 0.05m/s

and 4 kPa at the narrow one. (Take the density of blood to be 1060 kgm-3.)

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2.5 VENTURI EFFECT

 The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows

through a constricted section of pipe.

• Venturi effect is based on the Bernoulli’s principle., it is the movement of fluid (gas or

liquid) due to the drop in pressure

• When a fluid flows through a constriction in the tube there is reduction in fluid pressure

the fluid velocity correspondingly increases

APPLICATION OF VENTURI EFFECT

 Venturi masks used for oxygen therapy.

 Nebulisation chambers.

 Atomizers that disperse perfumes or spray paints.

 Water aspirators.

 Foam firefighting nozzles and extinguishers.

 Modern vaporizers.

REFERENCES
 Basic Physics and measurements in Anaesthesia, Paul D Davis, Gavin N C
Kenny
 Physics , A first course, Tom Hsu, PhD
 Advanced level physics, Necklon & Parke

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