LECTURE 1

Introduction and
Fluid Properties

John Kenneth B. Musico

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I Water Resources & Coastal Eng’g Group

Institute of Civil Engineering
 Learning
Outcomes
At the end of the 1. Describe the scope of fluid
lecture, the student mechanics
should be able to: 2. Define a fluid and differentiate it
with a solid
3. Characterize the different properties
of a fluid
4. Solve problems involving different
properties of a fluid
2 CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I
Outline I. Fluid Mechanics
A. Introduction
B. Fluids vs. Solids
C. Fluid as a Continuum
D. Units of Measurements
II. Fluid Properties
A. Density, Specific Weight, and Specific
Gravity
B. Viscosity
C. Bulk Modulus of Elasticity, Surface
Tension, and Vapor Pressure
III. Examples
3 CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I
 LECTURE 2

Introduction and
Fluid Properties

FLUID
MECHANICS
CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 4
Introduction

Fluid Mechanics
▪ the study of effects of forces (mechanics) on liquids or
gasses (fluids) which are at rest (static) or in motion
(dynamic)

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 5
Introduction
Sources of Photos (from left to right):
- httpwww.nature.orgcsgroupswebcontent@web@lakesriversdocumentsmediailiamna-lake-ak-splash.jpg
- httpsnorthwatch.files.wordpress.com201208sanroque.jpg

Engineering Applications
- httpsanatate.bzi.ropublicuploadphotos215circulatie_sange_3.jpg
- httpwww.boeingblogs.comrandyimageslightning2.jpg
- httpwww.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au~mediaNPWSImagesParksCoffs-Coast-Regional-
Parkbackgroundsolitary-islands-coastal-walk-hero.ashx

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 6
Fluids vs. Solids

Fluid
▪ any substance that deforms continuously when subjected to
shear stress (gasses and liquids)

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 7
Fluids vs. Solids

Typical Visualization

Solid Liquid Gas

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 8
Fluids vs. Solids
Sources of Photos (from left to right):
-httpwww.nature.orgcsgroupswebcontent@web@lakesriversdocumentsmediailiamna-lake-ak-splash.jpg
- httpgreencross.com.phwp-contentuploads201409greencross-alcohol12.png

Example of Fluids
- httpwww.nutriasia.comcataloglocalgolden-fiesta-palm-oil-010.jpg
- httpwww.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au~mediaNPWSImagesParksCoffs-Coast-Regional-
Parkbackgroundsolitary-islands-coastal-walk-hero.ashx
- httpsupload.wikimedia.orgwikipediacommons999Pouring_liquid_mercury_bionerd.jpg

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 9
Fluid as a Continuum

Continuum
▪ a field comprised of continuous matter that is infinitely
divisible into smaller and smaller parts

Fluid as a Continuum
▪ fluids are aggregates of molecules that have the same
molecular behavior
▪ no discontinuities within the fluid field
▪ limit concepts can be applied from differential calculus

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 10
Units of Measurements

Dimension Primary Dimensions

▪ a category that represents a physical
quantity
Unit
▪ a measure of a specific dimension

Unit Systems
▪ SI (System Internationale d’Unites)
▪ USCS (US Customary System)
Derived Quantities
▪ force in N (MLT-2)
▪ Other: BG, EE, mks, cgs
▪ energy in J (ML2T-2)

CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 11
 LECTURE 2

Introduction and
Fluid Properties

FLUID
PROPERTIES
CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I 12
Fluid Properties

Mass Density, 𝝆
▪ mass per unit volume
▪ unit: kg/m3
▪ common values @ 4oC and 1 atm
▪ Water, 𝜌𝐻20 = 1000 kg/m3
▪ Mercury, 𝜌𝐻𝑔 = 13590 kg/m3
▪ Air, 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 1.269 kg/m3
▪ gasses: varies with pressure, temperature, and altitude
▪ liquids: nearly constant (incompressible) for constant temperature

Specific Volume
▪ volume per unit mass, 1/ρ

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Fluid Properties

Specific Weight, 𝜸
▪ weight per unit volume
▪ unit: N/m3
𝜸 = 𝝆𝒈
where 𝑔 is the gravitational acceleration = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠2
▪ common values @ 4oC and 1 atm
▪ Water, 𝛾𝐻20 = 9810 N/m3
▪ Mercury, 𝛾𝐻𝑔 = 133.32 kN/m3
▪ Air, 𝛾𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 12.45 N/m3

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Fluid Properties

Specific Gravity, SG
▪ ratio of specific weight of a given fluid to the specific weight of water at
4oC (reference specific weight)
𝜸𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝝆𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅
𝐒𝐆 = =
𝜸𝑯𝟐𝟎 𝝆𝑯𝟐𝟎
▪ dimensionless quantity
▪ Typical values of SG of common fluids
▪ water, SG = 1.0
▪ seawater, SG = 1.03
▪ mercury, SG = 13.6
▪ oil, SG ~0.8
▪ alcohol, SG ~ 0.8

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Fluid Properties

Viscosity
▪ Measure of a fluid’s resistance to deform when subjected to shear stress.
▪ Absolute or dynamic viscosity, 𝝁, units in Pa-s
▪ Kinematic viscosity, 𝝂, units in m2/s
▪ Note: 𝝂 = 𝝁/𝝆

𝑑𝑢
Newton’s Law of Viscosity 𝜏=𝜇
𝑑𝑦

Ideal Fluid
▪ Incompressible and inviscid
Source:
httpsupload.wikimedia.orgwikipediacommonsthumb993Lam
inar_shear.svg350px-Laminar_shear.svg.png

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Fluid Properties

Bulk Modulus of Elasticity, 𝜿

▪ measure of compressibility of a fluid
▪ relates changes in pressure to changes in volume
𝒅𝒑 𝚫𝒑
𝜿=− =−
𝒅𝑽/𝑽 𝚫𝑽/𝑽
where 𝑑𝑝 or Δ𝑝 = change in pressure, in Pa
𝑑𝑉 or Δ𝑉 = change in volume, m3
𝑉 = initial volume, m3
▪ unit: Pa
▪ important when the fluid is subjected to sudden or great changes in
pressure or when temperature changes are involved
▪ for water, κ = 2.2 GPa

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Fluid Properties
Capillary Action
𝟒𝝈𝐜𝐨𝐬𝜽
Surface Tension, 𝝈 𝒉=
𝜸𝒅
▪ a material property whereby a where ℎ = capillary rise/depression, in m
liquid at material interface exerts a 𝜃 = contact angle
force per unit length along the 𝑑 = diameter of the tube, m
surface
▪ unit: N/m
𝑭𝝈 = 𝝈𝑳
where 𝐹𝜎 = force due to surface tension, in N
𝐿 = length of surface in contact, in m

Source:
httpwww.portageinc.comcommunityppimagesmilk3.jpg

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Fluid Properties
Vapor Pressure
▪ the pressure at which a liquid will
vaporize (or boil) at a given
temperature
▪ unit: Pa
Source (top):

▪ increases with temperature

httpwww.portageinc.comcommunityppimagesmilk3.jpg
(bottom): httpwww.corvexpumps.comimagescavitation-
centrifugal-pumps.jpg

Cavitation
▪ phenomenon where vapor bubbles
start to form in localized low-
pressure zones of flowing fluids

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 Example 1-1

A cylindrical tank 80 cm in diameter and 90 cm high is

filled with a certain liquid. The tank and the liquid
weighed 420 kg and the weight of the empty tank is 40
kg. What is the specific gravity of the liquid?
SG = 0.84

20 CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I
 Example 1-2

A pressure of 2 MPa is applied to a mass of water that

initially filled a 2000 cm3 volume. Calculate its volume
after the pressure is applied.
Vf = 1998.18 cm3

21 CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I
 Example 1-3

Determine the pressure increase that must be applied to

water to reduce its volume by 2%.
p = 44 MPa

22 CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I
 Example 1-4

A glass capillary tube, 2-mm in diameter, is placed on

top of a mercury layer (SG = 13.6). Calculate the height
of the capillary depression for mercury. The surface
tension of mercury is 0.514 N/m and its angle of contact
with the glass is 130o.
h = (-)4.95 mm

23 CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I
References

1. Streeter, V.L., et al., Fluid Mechanics, 9th ed., McGraw-

Hill International, 1998

2. Crowe, C.T., et al., Engineering Fluid Mechanics, 9th

ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009

3. Alejandrino, A.A., Lecture Notes in Fluid Mechanics,

National Hydraulic Research Center, 1989
24 CE 15 Fluid Mechanics I