CHAPTER FIVE

VISCOUS FLOW
 Introduction
• Viscous flow: It is a flow of fluids which are viscous and flowing at
very low velocity.

• At low velocity the fluid moves in layers.

• Each layer of fluid slides over the adjacent layer. du

dy
du
 relative
• Due to  velocity between two layers the velocity gradient
dy
exists and hence a shear stress acts on the layers.
we will study viscous flow for both -Viscous flow through pipes
and
 Reynolds-Number
• There is a lot of theory available if we neglect such important effects as
viscosity and compressibility, but there is no general theory and there may
never be. the reason is that a profound and vexing change in fluid behavior
occurs at moderate Reynolds numbers.
• The Reynolds number (Re) is an important dimensionless quantity in
fluid mechanics used to help predict flow patterns in different fluid flow
situations. At low Reynolds numbers, flows tend to be dominated by laminar
(sheet-like) flow, while at high Reynolds numbers turbulence results from
differences in the fluid's speed and direction,
• The Reynolds number has wide applications, ranging from liquid flow
in a pipe to the passage of air over an aircraft wing. It is used to
predict the transition from laminar to turbulent flow.
• The Reynolds number is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces
within a fluid which is subjected to relative internal movement due
to different fluid velocities, this relative movement generates fluid
friction, which is a factor in developing turbulent flow.
counteracting this effect is the viscosity of the fluid, which tends to
inhibit turbulence.
With respect to laminar and turbulent flow regimes:
• Laminar flow occurs at low Reynolds numbers, where viscous
forces are dominant, and is characterized by smooth, constant fluid
motion;
• Turbulent flow occurs at high Reynolds numbers and is dominated
by inertial forces, which tend to produce chaotic eddies, vortices
and other flow instabilities
The Reynolds number is defined as:

Where:
•ρ is the density of the fluid (SI units: kg/m3)
•U is the velocity of the fluid with respect to the object
(m/s)
•L is a characteristic linear dimension (m)
•μ is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pa·s or N·s/m2 or
kg/m·s)
• For Re ˂ 2300 the flow is referred laminar flow.
• For 2300 ˂ Re ˂2900 the flow is in transition period.
• For Re ˃ 2900 the flow is turbulent flow.
 Viscous Flow Through Pipe
• Flow through circular pipe will be considered as viscous or
laminar flow, i.e. Reynolds number is less than 2000.
• For this case the following relations will be determined :
i. shear stress distribution across a section
ii. velocity distribution across a section
iii. ratio of maximum velocity to average velocity
iv. pressure drop for a given length
SHEAR STRESS DISTRIBUTION
Consider a horizontal pipe of radius r as shown below.

figure 4.1
For this case let us consider a fluid element of radius r,
sliding in a cylindrical fluid element of (r+dr).
Let the length of fluid element be ∆x .if ‘p’ is the intensity of pressure

on the face AB, then the intensity of pressure p  face CD will be
 p  xon

 x 
. Then the forces acting on the fluid element are:
p 
1. The pressure force,r 2
on face AB.

2. The pressure force, p  on face CD.
 p x r 2
 x 

 2rx
3. The shear force, on the surface of fluid element.
• For steady and uniform flow, there is no acceleration and hence the
summation of all forces in the direction of
p flow
r must be zero i.e.
 
x 2
p
• The shear stress across a section varies with ‘r’ as across a
x
section is constant. hence shear stress distribution across a section is
linear as shown in the next slide.
VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION
• Velocity distribution across a section will be determined
du
 
substituting the shear stress value .
dy
 dr
But in the relation vertical length isdyreplaced by is
measured from the pipe wall. Then
du du
   
 dr dr
Substituting this value in previous equation, we get

du p r du 1 p
   or r
dr x 2 dr 2  x

9 01/02/2025
• Integrating this above equation w.r.t., ‘r’, with boundary
condition r = R and U=01 m/s.
p 2 We 1 get:
p 2
u r  R
4  x 4  x
1 p 2 2
u 
4  x
R r 
p
 , of
• In this equation values and r are constant. which
x
means the velocity, varies with the square of r. thus is an
equation of parabola. This shows that the velocity
distribution across the section of a pipe is parabolic.
RATIO OF MAXIMUM VELOCITY TO AVERAGE
VELOCITY
umax
• The velocity is maximum, when r = 0. thus maximum
velocity, , is obtained 1 p 2
umax  R
4  x

u
• The average  2
velocity , ),
( R is obtained by dividing the discharge
of the fluid across the pipe by the area of the pipe . The
discharge (Q) across the section is obtained by   considering
p  4
 R
the flow
R R through a circular ring element Q of 8 radius
x  r and
1 p 2 2 u  
Q dQ  R  r 2rdr Area R 4

thickness
0 0 dr.
4  x
1  p
  2
u  R
8  x 
Dividing two equation
1 p 2
 R
U max 4 x
 2.0
u 1   p  2
 R
8  x 

Ratio of maximum velocity to average velocity= 2.0.

DROP OF PRESSURE FOR A GIVEN LENGTH (L) OF A PIPE
From previous derivation we have:
1   p  2   p  8 u
u  R Or   2
8  x   x  R

Integrating the above equation w.r.t. x, we get

1 1
8 u 32 u
 dp  2 dx
2 2
R Then  p1  p2  
D 2
L
• Where p1-p2 is the drop of pressure
Loss of pressure head: p1  p2

g

p1  p2 32 uL
h f 
g gD 2

The above equation is called Hagen Poiseuille formula

• Viscous Resistance Of Journal Bearings
• Viscous Resistance Of Foot-step Bearing
• Viscous Resistance Of Collar Bearing
 Viscous Flow In Non-circular
Ducts
(parallel Plates)
In a similar way to that of viscous flow in pipes, the following
relations will be determined :
i. Velocity distribution across a section
ii. Ratio of maximum velocity to average velocity
iii. Pressure drop for a given length
iv. Shear stress distribution
Consider two parallel plates at a distance ‘t’ apart as
shown the fig below. a viscous fluid is flowing between
these two plates from left to right. consider a fluid element
of length xand thickness y at a distance y from the
lower fixed plate. If p is the intensity of pressure on the
face AB of the fluid element then  intensity
p  of pressure on
 p  x 
the face CD will be .  x 
Let is the shear stress acting on the face BC then the shear
  
stress on
  
y the
y 

face AD will be . if the width of the
element in the direction perpendicular to the paper is unity
then the forces acting p on
y the
1 fluid element are:
1. The pressure force,
 p 
 p  x  y 1
on face AB
 x 
2. The pressure force, on face CD
 x 1
3. The shear force,
  on face BC
   y  x 1
 y 
4. The shear force, on face AD
For steady and uniform flow, there is no acceleration and
hence the resultant force in the direction of flow is zero.
 p    
p y 1   p  x  y 1   x 1  
   y  x 1
 x   y 
=0
p 
 xy  yx o
x y
xy p 
  0
dividing by x y

p 

x y
 VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION
To obtain the velocity distribution across a section, the value
of shear stress from newton’s law of viscosity for laminar flow
is substituted in equation.
 
du
dy
p   du   2u
     2
x y  dy  dy

 2u 1 p
Integrating the above equation w.r.t.
 y, we get
dy 2
 x
u 1 p
 y  C1
y  x

Integrating again 1 p y 2
u  C1 y  C2
 x 2
Where c1 and c2 are constants of integrations. their values are
obtained from the two boundary conditions that is at y=0,
u=0 ay y=t, u=0.
the substitution of at y=o, u=0
0=0+c1*0+c2 or c2=0
1 p t 2
The substitution
0  of at y=t,
C1 t u=0
0 in equation gives
 x 2
1 p t 2 1 p
C1   t
 x 2 t 2  x

1 p 2  1 p 
Substituting the
u values
y  y  c1 and
of t  c2 in equation (4.8)
2  x  2  x 
 1 p
u 
2  x

ty  y 2 
p
In the above ,
equation and t are constants. it means u
x
varies with the square of y. hence equation is an equation of
parabola (quadratic). Hence velocity distribution across a
section of the parallel plate is parabolic. this velocity
distribution is shown in figure below.
RATIO OF MAXIMUM VELOCITY TO AVERAGE
VELOCITY

the velocity is maximum when y=t/2. substituting this

value in equation , we1 get
p  t  t 2  
U max   t     
2  x  2  2  

1 p  t 2 t 2  1 p t 2 1 p 2
      t
2  x  2 4  2  x 4 8 x

u
the average velocity , , is obtained by dividing the
discharge (Q) across the section by the area of the section
(t*l). and the discharge Q is obtained by considering the
dQ=velocity at a distance y*area of strip

1 p

2  x
 2
ty  y dy 1 
t t
1 p
Q dQ 
2 x
ty  y 2 dy 
0 0

t
1 p  ty y 
2 3
1 p  t 2 t 3 
Q        
2  x  2 3  0 2  x  2 3 

1 p t 3 1 p 3
  t
2  x 6 12 x
 1 p 3
t
Q 12  x 1 p 2
u   t
Area t 1 12  x

1 p 2
 t
U max 8 x 12 3
  
u 1 p 2 8 2
 t
12  x
 PRESSURE DROP FOR A GIVEN LENGTH
From pervious equation we have
p 12  u
u 
1 p 2
t
or
 2
12  x x t

integrating w.r.t x, we get

1 1
12  u

2
dp  
2
t 2
dx

12  u 12  u
p1  p2  2  x1  x2   2  x2  x1 
t t
12 u  x2  x1 L 
p1  p2  2 L
t
If hf is the drop of pressure head, then
p  p 12 uL
hf  1 2

g gt 2
SHEAR STRESS DISTRIBUTION
It is obtained by substituting the value of u from previous
equation into u
 
y
u   1 p 2   1 p 
  u  
y  2  x
 
ty  y     t  2 y 
y   2  x 
1 p
  t  2 y 
2 x p
x y 
In the first equation from velocity distribution, and t are
constant.
y 0 hence varies linearly with y. the shear stress
distribution
y t / 2 is shown in fig.(b). Shear stress is maximum  o when
or t=y ,that is ,at the 1 p of the plates. shear stress is zero
 o walls
 t
2 x
when . . that is at the center line between