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 Viscosity
Informally, viscosity is the quantity that describes a fluid's resistance to flow.
Fluids resist the relative motion of immersed objects through them as well as to
the motion of layers with differing velocities within them.

Formally, viscosity (represented by the symbol η "eta") is the ratio of the shearing
stress (F/A) to the velocity gradient (Δvx/Δz or dvx/dz) in a fluid.

The SI unit of viscosity is the pascal second [Pa·s],

1 pascal second = 10 poise = 1,000 millipascal second
1 centipoise = 1 millipascal second

Kinematic viscosity is a measure of the resistive flow of a fluid under the influence
of gravity.
It is the ratio of absolute or dynamic viscosity to density - a quantity in which no
force is involved. Kinematic viscosity can be obtained by dividing the absolute
viscosity of a fluid with its mass density as
ν = μ / ρ (2)
where
ν = kinematic viscosity
μ = absolute or dynamic viscosity
ρ = density

The SI unit of kinematic viscosity is the square meter per second [m2/s],
1 m2/s = 10,000 cm2/s [stokes] = 1,000,000 mm2/s [centistokes]
1 cm2/s = 1 stokes
1 mm2/s = 1 centistokes
Viscosity and Reference Temperatures

The viscosity of a fluid is highly temperature dependent and for either dynamic
or kinematic viscosity to be meaningful, the reference temperature must be
quoted. In ISO 8217 the reference temperature for a residual fluid is 100oC. For
a distillate fluid the reference temperature is 40oC.
For a liquid - the kinematic viscosity will decrease with higher temperature
For a gas - the kinematic viscosity will increase with higher temperature

Other Commonly used Viscosity Units

Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS, SSU)

Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS) is used to measure viscosity. The efflux
time is Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) required for 60 milliliters of a
petroleum product to flow through the calibrated orifice of a Saybolt Universal
viscometer, under carefully controlled temperature and as prescribed by test
method ASTM D 88. This method has largely been replaced by the kinematic
viscosity method. Saybolt Universal Seconds is also called the SSU number
(Seconds Saybolt Universal) or SSF number (Saybolt Seconds Furol).
Kinematic viscosity versus dynamic or absolute viscosity can be expressed as
ν = 4.63 μ / SG (3)
where
ν = kinematic vicosity (SSU)
μ = dynamic or absolute viscosity (cP)
 Effect of High Viscosity

 Increased power consumption due to frictional

loss.
 High temperature caused by friction.
 Increased pressure drop because of the
resistance.
 Possibility of sluggish or slow operation.
 High resistance to flow.
 Difficulty in separating air oil in reservoir.
 Effect of Low Viscosity

 Internalleakage increases.
 Excessive wear or even seizure under heavy
load, may occur due to break down of the oil film
between moving parts.
 Pump efficiency may decrease , causing slower
operation of the actuator.
 Increased temperature result leakage losses.
 Hydraulic
Fluid
Contamination
Effect of contamination
Effect of contamination
Effect of contamination