30-Sep-24

Fluid Mechanics-I
Lecture-1
Instructor: Engr. Zeeshan Akbar Mahar
Lecturer (Department of Civil Engineering)
Superior University Lahore

BACKGROUND
FLUID
A fluid is a substance that can flow and adopt to the shape of its
container. This includes liquids and gases.
LIQUIDS
The state of matter which have specific volume, don’t have
specific shape, and adopt shape of the container.
GASES
The state of matter which don’t have specific volume and specific
shape and adopt the volume and shape of the container.

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BACKGROUND
FLUID MECHANICS
Fluid mechanics deals with the study of:
• How fluids behave under various conditions,
• How they flow,
• How they exert forces on surfaces (fluid statics), and
• How they respond to external forces such as pressure or
temperature changes.
Properties such as viscosity, density, and compressibility play
important roles in determining the behavior of fluids in different
situations.
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BACKGROUND
FLUID STATICS
The study of fluids (liquid & gas) at rest is known as fluid statics.
i. Hydrostatic (Liquid) ii. Aerostatic (Gaseous)
FLUID KINEMATICS
The study of fluid (liquid & gas) in motion without considering the
pressure forces is called fluid kinematics.
FLUID DYNAMICS
The study of fluid (liquid & gas) in motion by considering the
pressure forces is called fluid dynamics.

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FLUID PROPERTIES
1. DENSITY (MASS DENSITY) (ρ)
Fluid density refers to the mass per unit volume of a fluid. It is a
fundamental property of fluids and is typically denoted by the
symbol ρ (rho). The density of a fluid is influenced by factors such
as temperature, pressure, and composition.
Mathematically, fluid density is expressed as: ρ = m/V (kg/m )
Where:
ρ (rho) is the density of the fluid,
m is the mass of the fluid, and
V is the volume occupied by the fluid.
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FLUID PROPERTIES
1. DENSITY (MASS DENSITY) (ρ)

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FLUID PROPERTIES
2. UNIT WEIGHT/SPECIFIC WEIGHT/WEIGHT DENSITY (γ)
Unit weight refers to the weight per unit volume of a fluid. It is a
also a fundamental property of fluids and is typically denoted by
the symbol γ (gamma). The weight density of a fluid is influenced
by factors such as temperature, pressure, and composition as ρ.
Mathematically, weight density is expressed as: γ = W/V (kN/m )
Where:
γ (gamma) is the unit weight of the fluid (9.81kN/m or 62.4lb/ft ),
W is the weight of the fluid (W=mg), and
V is the volume occupied by the fluid.
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FLUID PROPERTIES
3. SPECIFIC VOLUME (υ)
It refers to the volume of a fluid occupied by unit mass of the
fluid. It is typically denoted by the symbol υ (meu). The specific
volume of a fluid is also influenced by factors such as
temperature, pressure, and composition.
Mathematically, it is expressed as: υ = V/m (m /𝑘𝑔)
Where:
υ (meu) is the density of the fluid,
V is the volume occupied by the fluid, and
m is the mass of the fluid.
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FLUID PROPERTIES
4. SPECIFIC GRAVITY (𝐆𝒔 )
It is the ratio of unit weight (or density) of any fluid to the unit
weight (or density) of standard fluid (water or air) at a
temperature of highest density (4 𝐶 for water)
S.G (for liquids) is expressed as: G = =
( ) ( )

S.G (for gases) is expressed as: G = =

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EXAMPLE 1.1
Calculate the specific weight, density and specific gravity of one
liter of a liquid which weighs 7N.

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EXAMPLE 1.2
Calculate the density, specific weight, and weight of one liter of
petrol having specific gravity of 0.7.

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VISCOSITY
DEFINITION (η)
Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. It describes
the internal friction within a fluid as it flows.
It is the resistance to the movement of one layer of a fluid over
adjacent layer.
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY or ABSOLUTE VISCOSITY (μ)
This measures the resistance to flow when the fluid is in motion.
It is often measured in units of Pa·s or poise.

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VISCOSITY

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VISCOSITY
KINEMATIC VISCOSITY (𝝊)
This is the ratio of dynamic viscosity to fluid density. It is a
measure of how easily a fluid can flow in response to an applied
force. Kinematic viscosity is typically measured in units of square
meters per second (m²/s) or centistokes (cSt).

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VISCOSITY
NEWTON’s LAW of VISCOSITY
The law states that the shear stress (τ) experienced by a fluid is
directly proportional to the velocity gradient (or shear rate) within the
fluid. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
τ=μ
In simpler terms, Newton's Law of Viscosity states that the force
required to move one layer of fluid relative to another layer (i.e., shear
stress) is directly proportional to the velocity gradient between the
layers. This means that the greater the viscosity of the fluid, the
greater the force needed to move it at a certain rate of deformation.
(If follows Newtonian otherwise Non-Newtonian)

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FLUID
1. IDEAL FLUIDS
An ideal fluid is a theoretical concept characterized by
incompressibility, irrotational flow, and zero viscosity.
2. REAL FLUIDS
Real fluids exhibit viscosity, compressibility, and deviations from
ideal behavior.
3. NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
If shear stress is directly proportional to shear strain (du/dy) for a
fluid, then the fluid is called Newtonian Fluid.

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FLUID
4. NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
If shear stress is NOT directly proportional to shear strain (du/dy)
for a fluid, then the fluid is called Newtonian Fluid.
5. IDEAL PLASTIC FLUIDS
A fluid in which shear stress is more that the yield value of shear
stress and shear stress is directly proportional to shear strain is
known as ideal plastic fluid.

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EXAMPLE 1.3
The velocity distribution for the flow over a flat plate is given by
𝑢 = 𝑦 − 𝑦 in which u is the velocity in m/s at a distance y
meters above the plate. Determine the shear stress at y = 0 and y
= 0.15m. Take dynamic viscosity of the fluid as 8.63 poises.

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EXAMPLE 1.3

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EXAMPLE 1.4
A plate 0.025 mm distant from a fixed plate moves at 60 cm/s and
requires a force of 2 N per meter square to maintain its speed.
Determine fluid viscosity between the plates.
SOLUTION

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COMPRESSIBILITY AND K
1. COMPRESSIBILITY
Compressibility is a measure of how much a substance
decreases in volume under an increase in pressure.
2. BULK MODULUS (K)
The bulk modulus, often denoted by (K), quantifies a substance's
resistance to volume change under pressure and is the reciprocal
of compressibility. It represents the proportionality between the
pressure applied to a material and the resulting fractional volume
change.

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SURFACE TENSION
Surface tension is a property of a liquid that describes the force
acting on the surface of the liquid, tending to minimize its surface
area. It arises due to the cohesive forces between the molecules
within the liquid, causing the surface to behave like a stretched
elastic membrane.

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CAPILLARITY
Capillarity, also known as capillary action or capillary
phenomenon, is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces or
against gravity due to surface tension and adhesive forces
between the liquid and a solid surface. This phenomenon is
particularly noticeable in thin tubes (capillaries), where the liquid
may rise or fall depending on the relative strengths of cohesive
and adhesive forces.

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VAPOUR PRESSURE
In fluid mechanics, vapor pressure refers to the pressure exerted
by the vapor phase of a liquid when the liquid and vapor are in
equilibrium at a given temperature.

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CAVITATION
Cavitation is a phenomenon in fluid mechanics where rapid
changes in pressure cause the formation and subsequent
collapse of vapor bubbles within a liquid. This collapse generates
intense shockwaves and can lead to damage in machinery,
erosion of surfaces, or noise. Cavitation commonly occurs in
areas of high fluid velocity or low pressure, such as in pumps,
propellers, or hydraulic systems.

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