Properties of Fluids

1. Solids and Fluids

Solids Fluids
1. Unconfined unsupported solids maintain 1. A liquid will maintain its volume but freely
their shape indefinitely. changes shape to conform to its container
completely. Gases change volume and shape
to fill its container completely. Liquids are
characterized by the presence of free surface.
2. Very strong intermolecular attractive 2. Intermolecular attractive forces are weaker
forces and molecules are constrained in a in liquids and extremely weak in gases.
rigid lattice like arrangement.
3. If a solid is subjected to shear forces, it 3. A fluid deforms continuously or flows when
has tendency to resist deformation and on shear forces are applied to it and it has no
being deformed within elastic limit, it has a tendency whatsoever to regain its initial state,
tendency to regain its initial state of instead comes to rest as soon as shear forces
equilibrium when the applied shear forces are removed. The state of rest of a fluid thus
are removed. corresponds to absence of shear forces.
4. On the application of a torque on a solid it 4. On the application of a torque, the fluid
is twisted and sustains the torque and merely yields and continues to rotate acquiring
acquires an equilibrium position. an equilibrium rotational velocity.

2. Continuum

The continuum concept assumes a continuous distribution of molecules within the fluid without
any voids and considers only the statistical average effect on certain gross macroscopic
properties of the material. The volume over which average is calculated must contain enough
molecules to give a statistically meaningful average.

3. Density, Specific Weight and Specific Gravity

Density is defined as mass of material per unit volume.

lim m
 (1)
v   v

 is not too small to violate continuum assumption.

Flows in which density remains nearly constant are called incompressible flows and flows in
which density changes are appreciable are called compressible flows.

Specific Weight ( ) = weight per unit volume ( g ) (2)

Specific gravity or Relative Density (s) of a fluid is the ratio of its density to density of a
reference fluid. The reference fluid is water at 4 °C for liquids and either air at 0 °C or hydrogen
at same temperature for gases.

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4. Viscosity

Viscosity is a measure of internal fluid friction which causes resistance to flow. The origin of
viscosity is due to cohesion and molecular momentum transfer. Viscosity of liquids drops with
temperature whereas reverse happens for gases.

du du
Newton’s Law of Viscosity:     (3)
dy dy
 - coefficient of viscosity (absolute viscosity or dynamic viscosity)

Kinematic Viscosity   (4)


5. Surface Tension

In a liquid, molecules confined to a thin layer at the free surface are subjected to a net downward
force. The surface of the liquid is therefore behaves as a stretched membrane under tension.
This is known as surface tension. Surface tension ( ) is expressed as force per unit length
drawn on the free surface or free surface energy per unit area of the surface.

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 4 cos 
h (5)
gd

6. Vapour Pressure

Pressure exerted by the vapour formed at the free surface of a liquid is called vapour pressure.
Vapour pressure of a liquid increases with its temperature. The boiling occurs when vapour
pressure is equal to the pressure above a liquid surface at that temperature.

In liquid flows if the pressure falls up to vapor pressure, the vapour bubbles are released from the
liquid giving rise to cavities or separated flow. These vapour cavities are swept away by the
flow and may collapse in high pressure regions, known as cavitation. The collapse of vapour
bubbles against solid surfaces such as turbine blades may cause serious damage to them.

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