CHAPTER-1
Fundamentals
of Fluid-
Mechanics
Prepared By: Ahmed k Samara
University
Learning Objective
To know about:
Definitions of fluid mechanics and
hydraulics
❑The objectives and applications of
hydraulics
❑The historical developments of
hydraulics
2.1 General description
∞ Matter can be distinguished by the
physical form of its existence
(phases) as solid, liquid and gases,
∞ for example water appears in liquid,
solid (Snow and ice), or gaseous
(moisture or water vapor) form
depending on the extent of
hydrogen bonding.
∞ Fluids are substances, which
deform continuously under the
application of a shear force, no
∞ The properties of fluids can be
divided in to two broad categories:
∞ Extensive properties, which depend
on the size of a sample of matter;
∞ Intensive properties, which are
independent of the sample size.
∞ Examples of extensive property are
mass and volume as the amount of
a substance increases; its mass and
volume also increase.
∞ Intensive properties include
∞ The properties of fluids, we also
distinguish between physical and
chemical properties.
∞ A physical property can be
specified with out reference to any
other fluid.
∞ Density, mass volume, colour etc
are all examples of physical
properties.
∞ A chemical property on the other
hand states some interaction
between chemical substances.
∞ The principal physical properties of
fluids are described as follows.
1. DENSITY
There are three forms of density
1.1 Mass Density
It is defined as the mass per unit
volume.
Denoted by ρ (Greek, rho)
SI unit
Dimensionally ML-3
For an incompressible fluid, ‘ρ’ is
constant.
1.2. Specific weight / unit weight /
unit gravity force /
It is defined as weight per unit
volume.
It is denoted by γ.
Its SI unit is .
1.3. SPECIFIC VOLUME (Vs)
It is the volume occupied by a
unit mass of fluid or simply the
reciprocal of density.
2. Specific gravity (S) or
relative density (rl. dn.)
It is defined as the ratio of mass
of a body to mass of an equal
EXAMPLE: 1
Calculate the specific weight,
specific mass, specific volume and
specific gravity of a liquid having a
volume of 6 and weight of 44kN.
3. BULK MODULUS OF ELASTICITY OR
COMPRESSIBILITY, K (KAPPA)
The property of fluids undergo a
change in volume under the
action of external pressure is
known as COMPRESSIBILITY.
It decreases with the increases in
pressure of fluid as the volume
The variation in volume of water
with variation of pressure is so
small that for all practical
purpose it is neglected.
For most practical purposes
liquids may be regarded as
incompressible.
However, there are certain cases,
such as water hammer, where
the compressibility should be
taken into account.
Elasticity of fluid is measured in
terms of bullk modulus of
elasticity (K).
It is defined as the ratio of
compressive stress to volumetric
strain.
Compressibility is the reciprocal
of bulk modulus of elasticity.
The bulk modulus of elasticity (K)
of a fluid is not constant , but it
increases with increase in
pressure.
The bulk modulus of elasticity (K)
of the fluid is affected by the
for water, K is approximately
2150 at normal temperatures and
pressures.
EXAMPLE: 2
When the pressure of liquid is
increased from 3.5 MN/ to 6.5MN/
its volume is found to decrease by
0.08 percent. What is the bulk
modulus of elasticity of the liquid?
4. VISCOSITY
It may be defined as the property
of fluid which determines its
resistance to shearing stresses.
It is a measure of internal friction
which causes resistance to flow.
It is primarily due to cohesion and
molecular momentum exchange
between fluid layers, and as flow
occurs these effects appear as
shearing stress between the
moving layers of fluid..
A. Absolute / Dynamic Viscosity
(μ)
The resistance to flow because of
internal friction is called viscous
resistance.
The property, which enables the
fluid to offer resistance to relative
motion between adjacent layers,
is called the viscosity of liquid.
If a proportionality constant μ,
Heavy oils have greater viscosity
than water and water is more
viscous than air.
All real fluids posses' viscosity,
though to varying degrees.
There can be no shear stress in a
fluid, which is at rest.
The SI unit of μ is or Pa.s (kg/m.s).
EXAMPLE:- 3
A plate 0.05mm distance from a
fixed plate moves at 1.2m/s and
requires a force of 2.2 N/ to
maintain this speed. Find the
viscosity of the fluid between the
plates.
B. Kinematic viscosity (v)
It is defined as the ratio between
the dynamic viscosity and density
of fluid.
The SI unit is
Newton’s law of viscosity
It states that the shear stress on
a fluid element layer is directly
EXAMPLE: 4
The space between two rectangles
flat parallel plates is filled with oil.
Each side of the plate is 0.05m
length and 0.07m width. The
thickness of the oil fill is 10mm. The
upper plate, which moves at 4m/s
requires a force of 100N to maintain
the speed. Determine:
a) The dynamic viscosity of the oil
b) The kinematic viscosity of oil if
the specific gravity of oil is 0.90.
5. Surface tension denoted by σ
(Gk. Sigma)
Surface tension is a force, which
exists on the surface of a liquid
when it is in contact with a gas or
Its SI unit is 𝑁⁄𝑚.
another fluid or a solid boundary.
The magnitude of Surface tension
depends up on
Nature of the liquid, and
The surrounding matter which
may be a solid, liquid or a gas,
Kinetic energy and
The temperature of liquid
molecules.
Surface tension for different shape of
liquid Surface
1. For a liquid drop
2. For a hollow or soap bubble
A hollow bubble like a soap bubble
in air has two surfaces in contact
with air, one inside and other out
side. Thus two surfaces are
subjected to surface tension and
given by:
3. For a liquid jet
Consider a liquid jet of diameter d
EXAMPLE: 5
If the surface tension at the soap-air
interface is 0.09N/m, calculate the
internal pressure in soap bubble of
28mm diameter.
5. Capillarity or meniscus effect
Capillarity is a phenomenon by
which a liquid (depending upon its
specific gravity) rises into a thin
glass tube above or below its
general level.
This phenomenon is due to the
combined effect of cohesion and
adhesion of liquid particles
When a tube of small diameter
called capillary tube is inserted in
to a container of liquid, the level
Liquids rise in tubes they wet
(adhesion > cohesion) and fall in
tubes they do not wet (cohesion >
adhesion) see the following figure.
The phenomenon of rise and fall of
liquid in a capillary tube is known
as capillarity.
Capillarity rise or fall of liquid is
given by:
where
h=Capillarity rise or fall height
σ=surface tension of liquid
θ=angle of contact between liquid and
It is to be noted that for 0≤θ≤90ᵒ h
is positive (concave meniscus and
capillary rise) and that for
90≤θ≤180ᵒ h is negative (convex
meniscus and capillary depression).
The value of θ for water is taken
equal to zero and for mercury equal
to 128ᵒ.
EXAMPLE: 6
A clean tube of diameter 2.5mm is
immersed in a liquid with a
coefficient of surface tension=
0.4N/m. the angle of contact of the
liquid with glass can be assumed to
be 135ᵒ. the density of the liquid is
13600kg/m3.
what would be the level of the liquid
in the tube relative to the free
surface of the liquid inside the tube.
Types of fluids
The fluids may be classified into the
following five types:
1. Ideal fluid
A fluid, which is incompressible and
is having no viscosity, is known as
ideal fluid.
Ideal fluid is the only an imaginary
fluid as all the fluids, which exist,
have some viscosity.
2. Real fluid
A fluid, which possesses viscosity,
is known as a real fluid.
All the fluids, in actual practice, are
real fluids.
3. Newtonian fluid
A real fluid, in which the shear
stress is directly proportional to the
rate of shear strain (or velocity
gradient) is known as Newtonian
fluid.
4. Non- Newtonian Fluid
A real fluid in which the shear
stress is not proportional to the rate
of shear strain ( or velocity
gradient), known as non-
Newtonian fluid.
5. Ideal Plastic Fluid
A fluid in which shear stress is more
than the yield value and shear
stress is proportional to the rate of
shear strain ( velocity gradient is
known as ideal plastic fluid.
Th
a
y o nk
u
QUIZ 1 (5%)
1. A real fluid in which the shear
stress is not proportional to the
rate of shear strain ( or velocity
gradient), known as non-
Newtonian fluid.
5. Ideal Plastic Fluid
A fluid in which shear stress is more
than the yield value and shear
stress is proportional to the rate of
shear strain ( velocity gradient is
known as ideal plastic fluid.