CH 2001 Fluid Mechanics Lecture Notes

Instructor: Dr. Sreenivasula Reddy Ramireddy

Module: 5. Characterization of fluid flow based on viscosity and turbulence

Objectives
• Newton’s law of viscosity
• Newtonian fluids
• Non-Newtonian fluids
• Rheological properties of fluids
• Power law equation
• Laminar flow
• Turbulent flow

1. What is the basic difference in fluid flow in case of water, tooth paste and honey?
Water flows quickly or at a faster rate compared to honey and toothpaste. This is
because water is less viscous than honey, which in turn is less viscous than
toothpaste.
2. Consider fluid flow in a circular pipe, velocity of the fluid near the walls of the
pipe is almost zero and reaches a maximum at the center line as represented in
the following figure.
3. Consider a stationary and moving plate between which velocity varies from zero
at the stationary plate to the maximum just below the moving plate. Assume
velocity doesn’t vary in the direction of the fluid but only in the direction vertical to
the stationary plate towards moving plate.
4. If u is the velocity and y is the distance from stationary plate, the velocity gradient
is given by du/dy
5. Newton’s law of viscosity: Shear stress is directly proportional to shear rate.
du
τ yx = µ
dy
τyx is the shear stress acting on y plane in x-direction, du/dy is the velocity gradient or
shear rate, µ is the viscosity of the fluid. When fluids are stationary, viscous effects can
be treated as negligible. However, while in motion, this is the most important property
because of which we noticed significant difference behavior of fluids: water, honey
and toothpaste.
6. Classification of fluids: Newtonian or Non-newtonian fluids: Ignoring the effects
of temperature on viscosity, based on Newton’s law of viscosity, those obeying this
law are called Newtonian fluids and those do not are known as non- Newtonian
fluids.
Newtonian fluids: e.g. Gases, most simple liquids

Non-newtonian fluids again are classified into time dependent or time-independent.

The behavior of time-independent fluids in one-dimensional is given by the power-law
model of the form
n
⎛ du ⎞
τ yx = k ⎜ ⎟
⎝ dy ⎠
This is also known as Ostwald-de Waele equation
k= flow behavior index
n=flow consistency index

Writing this equation in the form of Newton’s law of viscosity,

n −1
⎛ du ⎞ du du
τ yx = k ⎜ ⎟ =η
⎝ dy ⎠ dy dy
n −1
From the analogy, we find that η ⎛ du ⎞ is similar to µ and thus η is called as
= k⎜ ⎟
⎝ dy ⎠
apparent viscosity.
Non-newtonian time-independent fluids are defined and categorized based on how
apparent viscosity changes with deformation or shear rate ( See figures 5.1 a and 5.1b).

Bingham plastics: After certain threshold stress, these behave as newtonian fluids. Thus
their behavior can be represented as

du
τ = τ0 + µ
dy

where τ 0 is the threshold shear stress.

Examples: Toothpaste, sewage sludge
Pseudo plastics: The curve in figure 5.11. (Shear stress and shear rate or deformation
rate) is concave downwards at low shears and becomes linear at high shears.
The apparent viscosity (and also shear stress) decreases as the shear rate increases (
figure 5.1b) (n<1 in power law model). These are also called as shear thinning fluids.
e.g: Rubber latex, polymer solutions, colloidal suspensions, paper and pulp in water
 Figure 5.1b. Apparent viscosity vs Shear rate
Figure 5.1a. Shear stress vs Shear rate

Dilatant fluids: Apparent viscosity ( and also shear stress) increases with increase in deformation
rate, n>1. Shear thickening occurs
e.g. wet beach sand, Corn flour-sugar solutions, starch in water

Time-dependent behavior: Apparent viscosity depends on time( duration).

Thixotropic fluids: Under the application of a constant shear stress, the apparent viscosity
decreases with time, in fact duration of the shear. Shear thinning occurs.
e.g. many paints are thixotropic, some polymer solutions
Rheopectic fluids: Under the application of a constant shear stress, the apparent viscosity increases
with time, in fact duration of the shear. Shear thickening occurs.
e.g. Gypsum suspensions, Bentonite clay suspensions
Visco-elastic: These fluids return to their original shape after the applied stress is released.
e.g. Biological fluids, flour dough.

Effect of temperature on Viscosity:

Gases: viscosity increases with temperature as

µ ⎛ T ⎞
n

=⎜ ⎟
µ0 ⎝ 273 ⎠
µ0 is viscosity at 00C, n is constant for a particular gas
Liquids: Well below boiling point, viscosity decreases with temperature as

ln µ = A + B / T
Units and Dimensions for Viscosity:

Dimensions:

τ yxMLt −2 / L2
µ= = = ML−1 t −1
⎛ du ⎞ −1
Lt / L
⎜ dy ⎟
⎝ ⎠
Units:
SI System: Kg/m/see,
CGS system: g/cm/sec=poise
Units and Dimensions for kinematic viscosity (ν):

µ ML−1 t −1
υ= = = L2 t −1
ρ M/L 3

Units: m2/sec, cm2/sec

Characterization of Fluids based on Turbulence:
Reynolds Number (Re): DVρ/µ, dimensionless number
Laminar flow: Fluid flow occurs in layers.
There is no lateral mixing
Turbulent Flow: There is lateral mixing
For pipe flow,
Re<=2100------Laminar flow
2100<Re<4000------Transition region (depends how well disturbances are controlled), if no
disturbances, flow could be laminar
Re>4000----Turbulent
Notes: In the video lecture while discussing the rheology of non-Newtonian fluids, the term viscosity was
used, please understand that it is apparent viscosity that changes with shear rate. Viscosity is constant
(ignoring temperature effects).
Reading assignment:
Appendix A-3 from the text book. Pages 701-704.
In-class exercise: 1.
Source: Exercise problem. 2.32. from the text book.
Note: Refer Appendix A.3 in your text book. Hint: You can use MS-EXCEL to solve this
problem.
In-class exercise: 2.
Source: Exercise problem. 2.33. from the text book.

Hint: You can use MS-EXCEL to solve this problem.

References:
1. Chapter 3, Pages 45-53, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by W.L.
McCabe, J.C.Smith & Peter Harriot, McGraw- Hill, 7th Edition
2. Chapter 2: section 2-4 from the text book