FLUID MECHANICS

BASIC PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS

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FLUID MECHANICS Is the science of the mechanics of fluids (liquids and gases) and is based on the
same fundamental principles that are employed in the mechanics of solids.
It parti- cularly deals with the actions of fluids at rest or in motion and with the
applications of devices in engineering using fluids.

*Mechanics is the study of the behavior of a physical system under the action of forces.

Three (3) branches of Fluid Mechanics:

1. Fluid Statics -- Is the study of fluids at rest.

2. Fluid Dynamics -- Is the study of fluids in motion and deals with the velocities
(or Kinematics) and streamlines without considering the
forces that causes them to move.

3. Hydrodynamics -- deals with the forces exerted upon liquids in motion including
the relations between velocities and accelerations
involved in such fluid that is in motion.

3.1 Hydraulics -- deals with the application of fluid mechanics to engineering

devices involving liquids usually water or oil. It deals with such
problems as the flow of fluids through pipes, or in open
channels, the designs of storage dams, pumps, and water
turbines. Or with any other devices for the control or
use of liquids such as nozzles, valves, jets, and flow meters.

*** Fluids are substances which owing to the nature of their internal structure offer
comparatively little resistance to a change in form and are divided into liquids
and gases.

MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LIQUIDS AND GASES:

FOR LIQUIDS:
1. They are incompressible. As for water, a pressure of 312 ksi (312,000 psi) is actually needed
to compress it. Referring to the magnitude, water just like any other types of liquids are
virtually incompressible. Also for water, there are approximately 1 x10 21 no. of molecules/
mm3.
2. Have a free surface, which is that portion of a liquid that is not in contact with the confining
walls of the vessel/ reservoir where it is to be stored/ kept.
3. They maybe confined either in an open-top or closed vessel.
4. A given mass occupies a given space/ volume without automatically filling the said space/
volume.
FOR GASES:
1. They are compressible. As for air, a pressure of only 20.6 psi is needed in order to start its
compression where there are 1 x1018 no. of molecules/ mm3.

2. Does not have a free surface, as gases tend to fill all the space/ volume of its confining
vessel/ reservoir.
3. To be contained, a closed vessel is required as any form of opening no matter how small
would cause the gas to evacuate (due to pressure disparity in the outside and inside).
4. A given mass no matter how small occupies the whole space/ volume.

**INCOMPRESSIBILITY -- is the ability to retain its shape/ volume under the application forces
(loads)/ pressure.
-- Prime examples are liquids as well as certain types of solids such as cast-
iron, which does not easily deform under compression.
**COMPRESSIBILITY -- is the ability to reduce its shape/ volume under the application of
forces (loads)/ pressure
Prime examples are gases which are easily compressed as well as certain
types of solids that are elastic/ plastic (elasticity/ plasticity).

DISTINCTION BETWEEN A SOLID AND A FLUID:

All basic phases of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) are composed of molecules that are
always in motion and in collision with each other of varying degree for as long as the
temperature is above ABSOLUTE ZERO** (temperature in which the motion of the molecules
ceases).

1. For solids, the molecules are much closer or tighter. With the forces of attraction being
greater in between molecules, this results in an ability to maintain a definite shape and
volume. The molecular motion in solids is described as “VIBRATORY”…
2. In liquids, the distance between molecules are farther apart and can move from place to
place within the substance. While it has a definite volume, it does not have a definite shape.
The reason being the forces of attraction between molecules are less stronger than those in
solids. It takes the shape of the vessel/ container it is to be confined. The molecular motion
in liquids is “TRANSITIONAL”…
As for gases, the distance between molecules are larger (farther) compared to its actual size.
And that the forces of attraction between their molecules are very small, thus making them
easy to be moved. The molecular motion in a gas is described as “RANDOM”… A gas neither
has any shape nor volume, but only assumes those of the vessel/ reservoir it is to be
confined.

“ The distinction is that any fluid no matter how viscous , would yield in time to the slightest
stress. But a solid no matter how plastic, requires a certain magnitude of stress to be exerted
before it will flow”….

MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF A LIQUID:

1. DENSITY (MASS DENSITY) defined as the ratio between mass and volume.

in units of : lbm/ f3; kgm/ m3; slug/ f3

2. SP. WEIGHT (UNIT WEIGHT defined as the ratio between weight and volume.
or WEIGHT DENSITY)

in units of : lbf/ f3; kgf/ m3; N/ m3

MASS DENSITY OF WATER (H20) AT STP:

1000 kgm /m3 = 62.427 lbm / f3 = 1 gmm / cm3

where: F or Wt -- force or weight
m -- mass
go -- observed gravitational acceleration

MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES

 If not given use std. gravitational acceleration, gs:
gs -- std. gravitational acceleration
= 9.806 m/ s2 = 32.174 f/ s2
gc -- gravitational constant
= 32.174 lbm-f/ lbf-s2 = 9.806 kgm-m/ kgf-s2
2
= 1 kgm-m/ N -s
3. Specific Volume is the volume occupied by a unit mass of fluid. It may
also be considered as the reciprocal of the mass
density value.

in units of : f3 / lbm; m3 / kgm

4. Sp. Gravity or Relative Density is the ratio of the mass density of fluid in question to
the mass density of an equal volume of water.

5. Bulk Modulus of Elasticity it is a material property characterizing the

compressibility of fluids – how easy a unit/ portion of

that fluid’s volume can be changed when changing the
working p ressure applied to it. A
LARGE BULK MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
indicate a relatively incompressible fluid.

ΔP -- Change in Pressure, ksi, psf, MPa, GPa

ΔV -- Change in volume, f3, m3
V -- Original volume, f3, m3

6. Viscosity is considered as the property of a fluid which determines its

resistance to shearing stress. Ofentimes, it is also
called as coefficient of viscosity, absolute viscosity, or
dynamic viscosity.

= In units of Pascal-seconds Pa – s

7. Kinematic Viscosity is the ratio of the dynamic viscosity to its corresponding density.

= dynamic viscosity / mass density m2/ s; f2/ s

LIQUID PRESSURE Patm

The liquid pressure at any point is equal to the

product of the weight density of the liquid and
the depth of the point in question. That it increases
as the depth also increases..

Patm + ρgh ρgh

With and without atmospheric pressure effect
MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES

** Equivalent Pressure Head two pressure heads are said to be equivalent if they cause the
same intensity of pressure/ are caused by the same intensity of
pressure. From the liquid pressure formula and by the said definition….

PA = PB
δA HtA = δB Ht B
sg A δw HtA = sg B δw Ht B

Sp. Gravity A ( Ht A ) = Sp. Gravity B ( Ht B )

Absolute pressures, Gage pressures, vacuum pressures:

P abs = P atm + P gage

P abs = P atm - P vacuum

LAYERS IN THE EARTH”S ATMOSPHERE:

THERMOSPHERE/ IONOSPHERE: A very hot layer

measuring in thousands of degrees and extends 80 km from the
earth’s atmosphere.

MESOSPHERE: A cold layer above the stratosphere and is 30

km deep (from 50 km to 80 km) and slows down meteors thus
burning them up leaving fiery trails above.

STRATOSPHERE: Layer above the troposphere and is 35 km

deep (from 15 km to 50 km) and contains the protective layer of
our planet from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation… It holds
24% of the remaining atmospheric air.

TROPOSPHERE: Layer that is closest to the earth’s surface

extentending 10-15 km from the ground and accounts for 75% of
atmospheric air (78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen with traces of water
vapour, carbon dioxide, and other gases….

STD. REFERENCE FOR ATMOSPHERIC OR BAROMETRIC PRESSURE (BASED ON SEA LEVEL):

1 atm 1.0332 bar 1.0332 kg/ cm2 14.696 psi

101.325 kPa 760 mm Hg 76 cm Hg 760 torr
33.934 f H2O 29.92 in Hg

MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES

 The standard atmospheric pressure
Patm changes from 101.325 kPa at
sea level to the following
elevations:

5.530 kPa at 20,000 m

26.50 kPa at 10,000 m

54.05 kPa at 5000 m

79.50 kPa at 2000 m

89.88 kPa at 1000 m

LOCATION OF ZERO (0) ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE:

MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES

Conversion factors or equivalent identities of units:
1 newton = 1 kgm – m / s2 1 dyne = 1 gramm – cm / s2
1 poise = 1 dyne-s/ cm2 1 lb = 444,800 dynes
1 bar = 100 KPa 1 poise = 0.10 Pa-s
= 0.9869 atm
1 mm Hg = 1 torr

Basic Constants for volume:

1 cu. f. = 7.482 gal 1 drum = 55 gal (petroleum, unrefined)
1 gal = 3.7854 Li 1 barrel = 42 gal ( refined petroleum products and other liquids)
1 cu.m. = 1000 Li 1 stoke = 1 cm2/ s

PROBLEM SOLVING:
1. What is the mass of a liter of saltwater expressed in pounds (lbs m)?.
2. What is the weight of a 45 kg boulder if it is brought to a place where the acceleration due
to gravity is 395 meter per seconds per minute?
3. A cylindrical tank 80 cm in diameter and 90 cm high is filled with a liquid. The tank and the
liquid weighed 420 kgs. The weight of the empty tank is 40 kgs. What is the unit weight of
the liquid?
4. A lead cube has a total mass of 80 kgs. What is the length of its side if the relative density
of lead is 11.3?
5. If the viscosity of water at 70 0C is 0.42 centipoise and its relative density is 0.978,
determine its absolute viscosity in Pa-s and its kinematic viscosity in m 2/ s and in stokes.
(1 stoke = 0.00042 m2/ s)
6. A 10m diameter cylindrical tank has a height of 5m and is full of water at 20 0C. (Unit
weight = 9.879 kN/ cu.m.) If the water is heated to a temperature of 50 0C (Unit weight =
9.689 kN/ cu.m.), solve for:
a. The weight of the water at its initial temperature
b. The volume of the water when heated to its final temperature.
c. The volume of water that will spill over the edge of the tank.
7. Water has a dynamic viscosity of 1 centipoise. Compute its dynamic viscosity in terms of
lbs-s/ sq. f…
8. At what height in meters would a vertical column of water be supported by standard
atmospheric pressure? When mercury was used instead?
9. A cubic meter of air at barometric pressure weighs 12 Newtons. What is its specific
volume?
10. If the pressure 3m below the free surface of a liquid is 14 KPa, what would be its relative
density?
11. Find the Bulk Modulus of Elasticity of a liquid in ksi, if a pressure of 150 psi applied to 10 cu.
f. of the liquid causes a volume reduction of 0.02 cu. Ft.
12. A submarine is cruising 600 f below the ocean’s surface. Determine the absolute pressure
on the submarine’s surface. Assume acceleration due to gravity to be constant even at that
depth.
13. A beer barrel has a mass of 20 lbs and a volume of 5 gallons. Assuming the beer’s density is
like that of water, what would be the total mass and weight of the beer barrel when it is
filled with beer?
14. A city of 6,000 population has an average total consumption per person per day of 100
gallons. Compute the daily total consumption of the city in cu.m. per seconds.
15. A lunar excursion module (LEM) weighs 1500 kg f on earth where go = 9.75 m/ s2. What
would be its weight in the moon’s surface where go = 1.70 m/ s 2?
16. The mass of a given airplane at sea level (g o = 32.1 fps2) is 10 tons. Find its mass in lbs m,
slugs, and gravitational weight when it is travelling at a 50,000 f elevation. The
acceleration of gravity, go decreases by 3.33 x 10-6 for each foot of elevation.
17. A fluid moves in a steady flow manner between two (2) sections in a flowline.
At section 1: A1 = 10 f2 ѵ1 = 100 fpm v1 = 4 f3/ lbm
At section 2:` A2 = 2 f2 ρ2 = 0.20 lbm/ f3

Calculate the mass flow rate and the speed at section 2…..

MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES

18. If a pump discharges 75 gpm of water whose specific weight is 61.5 lb f/ f3 (go = 31.95 fps2),
find (a) the mass flowrate in lbm/min, and (b) the total time required to fill a vertical
cylindrical tank 10 f in diameter and 12 f high.
19. A cargo ship has tanks for carrying fuel oil. The tank dimensions are 1m x 5m x 15m. How
many barrels could be filled by the ship’s tank? In how many gallons.
20. Two liquids of different densities (ρ1 = 1,500 kgm/ m3; ρ2 = 500 kgm/ m3) are poured together
into a 100 li tank, filling it. If the resulting density of the mixture is 800 kg m/ m3, find the
respective amounts of liquids used. Also find the weight of the mixture, local g o = 9.675
m/ s2)
21. A weatherman carried an aneroid barometer from the ground floor to his office atop the
Sears Tower in Chicago. On the ground level, the barometer reads 30.150 in. Hg abs;
topside it reads 28.607 in Hg abs. Assume that the averaged atmospheric air density was
0.075 lbm/ f3, estimate the height of the building.

MEFM 323; FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. G.S. ROBLES