7/11/2023

CIV2040S:
Fluid
Mechanics
Lesson 1
Properties of Fluids

Lesson 1 : Lesson Overview

1. Dimensional Homogeneity
2. Introduction
3. Fluid properties
3.1 Density (mass density, weight density, and relative density)
3.2 Bulk modulus
3.3 Viscosity (absolute and kinematic viscosity and Newtonian
fluids)
3.4 Surface tension (capillary effect)
3.5 Vapor pressure

1. Dimensional Homogeneity
• Typical fundamental dimensions include length (L), mass (m),
time (T), etc. and each has unique representation in meters (m),
mass in kilograms (kg) and time (s)
• An equation is dimensionally homogeneous if all groupings have the
same dimensions (often – but not always – indicated by the same
units)
• Constructing equations to describe physical phenomena, ensure
units of measure on both sides of the equation are the same
𝑣 v [L/T] d [L] t[T]

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1.1 Notation and unit

• It is a good idea to put the units in as you go along.
• Lack of attention to units can be costly!
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider).
• Final answers without units will be marked wrong
irrespective of whether you got the numbers correct.
• From now on, marks will be deducted for final answers
giving more than three significant figures.

2. Introduction: States of matter

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.blendspace.com%2Flessons%2FD5EXGRjjta8IEQ%2Fmatter&psig=AOvVaw0fnzKFuJ5cqGSP5XaIUiLj&ust=1674897769588000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwj9iYDGtuf8AhUHAcAKHaKMDOIQjRx6BAgAEAo

2.Introduction: Fluid as continuum

• We can either account for the behaviour of each and every
molecule of fluid
or
• Consider the average effects of molecules in a given volume
In fluid mechanics, most problems use the latter approach. We
regard fluids as a continuum (hypothetically continuous
substance)

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2. Introduction: Flow Classification

Hydrodynamics Gas dynamics

•Flow of fluids with •Fluids which

virtually no density undergo significant
change (e.g., flow of density changes
liquid or flow of gas
at low speeds)
Aerodynamics deals with flow of air past aircrafts or rockets, whether low-speed
incompressible flow or high-speed compressible flow

2.Introduction: Definition of a fluid

• A substance which can readily flow
• Is inelastic in shear and therefore continuously deforms under
shear force without the possibility of returning to its original
form

2. Introduction: Types of fluids

Liquids Gases

• Incompressible • Readily compressible

• Definite volume for a • Will expand to fill a
given mass container
• Defined interface • Exhibit no interface
between liquid and
atmosphere

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2. Introduction: Ideal vs Real Fluids

Ideal fluids Real fluids

• Inviscid – internal frictional • Have viscosity

effects are negligible • Are compressible
• Incompressible i.e. the • Exhibit surface tension
density remains constant
throughout the motion of
flow
• It has no surface tension
Ideal fluids don’t exist in reality!

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2. Introduction: Gases
• Gases are very compressible:
e.g. air is 20,000 more
compressible than water
• Real atmospheric conditions
vary continuously with the
weather
• Temperature and pressure
varies with altitude
Standard atmospheric conditions
assumed for most calculations
Source

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2. Introduction: Ideal Gas

• At low pressure, high temperature the density of a gas
decreases and the gas behaves like an ideal gas (air, nitrogen,
oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide)
• Most gases behave like ideal gases when far from their liquid
states
• However, whilst, water vapour behaves like a perfect gas,
steam at high pressure does not (steam exists at a state near
saturation)

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3. Properties of Fluids
Quantity Description Unit
Density (𝜌 Mass per unit volume kg/m3
Specific weight (𝛾) Force applied by a body of given mass in N/m3
a gravitational field
Specific density 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 Dimensionless
(Relative density) 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 4°𝐶
Viscosity 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 Ns/m2 or
𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 kg/ms
Surface tension Force per unit length N/m
Vapor pressure The pressure at which a liquid boils kPa

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3.1 Density
• Density represents how much mass is contained within a
given volume of the fluid and it is affected by pressure and
temperature.
• Density is an essential parameter in fluid mechanics because
it affects various fluid properties and behaviors. It is used in
calculations related to fluid flow, buoyancy, pressure, and
other fundamental concepts.

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3.1.1 Mass Density

It can be expressed as: mass density or weight density

𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
Mass density =
𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆
( use the 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑘 𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟ℎ𝑜 𝜌)
𝜌 = 1 000, 𝜌 1.29 , 𝜌 7 8000, 𝜌 = 19 300
(kg/m3)

NOTE: Density of water changes with both temperature and

pressure

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3.1.1 Mass Density

(self-study)

NOTE: Density of water

changes with both
temperature and pressure

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3.1.2 Weight Density

weight density is often referred to as specific weight (𝛾)

weight density = mass density (kg/m³) x gravity constant

(m/s²)

Therefore, for water: weight density = 𝜌𝑔 = 1000 x 9.81 =

9.81kN/m³

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3.1.3 Relative Density

Relative density is commonly referred to as specific gravity (SG)
𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 4°𝐶
Material / fluid Specific gravity Comments
Water 1.0 All other SG measurements are made relative to
that of water
Oil 0.9 Less than 1.0 so floats on water
Sand/silt 2.65 Important in sediment transport problems
Mercury 13.6 Fluid used in manometers for measuring pressure

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3.1.4 Ideal Gas: Equation of state

A perfect gas obeys the equation of state:
𝑃𝑣 𝑅𝑇 𝑜𝑟 𝑃 𝜌𝑅𝑇
where:
• P = absolute pressure
• 𝜌= density
• v = specific volume
• R = where 𝑅 = 8.314kJ/molK the universal gas constant and
M is the molecular weight of the gas
• T = Absolute temperature (Kelvin)

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3.2 Bulk Modulus

Bulk Modulus (K) is the measure of fluid compressibility i.e., its
measure of elasticity
NOTE: Comparable to
∆ Youngs Modulus in
K= ∆ Solids Mechanics
(CIV2011F)

• Varies with temperature and pressure

• Causes variations in density and thus the specific weight of
fluids
• Will be discussed in detail in CIV 3043F when considering the
effect of stopping moving water (water hammer)

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References
• CM&B = Andrew Chadwick, John Morfett & Martin Borthwick,
‘Hydraulics in Civil and Environmental Engineering, 5th Edition’,
CRC Press, 2013
• F&F = E. John Finnemore & Joseph B. Franzini, ‘Fluid Mechanics
with Engineering Applications, Tenth Edition’, McGraw-Hill, 2002
• M = Bernard Massey (revised John Ward-Smith), ‘Mechanics of
Fluids, Eighth edition’, Taylor & Francis, 2006
• R&C = Roberson & Crowe, ‘Engineering Fluid Mechanics, Sixth
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1997

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Continue to Video 1.2

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