FLUID M E C HA N I C S

FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS

- -
 Specific Weight = Weight / Volume
𝛄= W/ V

Specific weight of water at 20° C

𝑘𝑁
𝛄 = 9.79 3
𝑚

Specific weight of water at 4° C

𝑘𝑁
𝛄= 9.81 3
𝑚
 Mass Density = Mass / Volume
𝛄= M/ V

ρ = m / V (kg/m³ or slugs/ft³)

For water:
ρ = 1000 kg/m³ at 4°C
ρ = 988 kg/m³ at 20°C

m =W / g
m = lbs / 32.2
 Specific volume = 1 / mass density

Specific volume = 1 / ρ
Specific volume = m³/kg or ft³/slugs
Example No. 1
If 5.6m³ of oil weighs 46,800 N, calculate the
following:
1. Unit Weight
2. Density
3. Specific Gravity
Solution:
1. Unit weight:
γw = 46800 N / 5.6 N/m³
γw = 8357.14 N/m³
2. Density:
Density = 8357.14 (N/m³) / 9.81(kN/m³)
Density = 852 kg/m³
3. Specific gravity:
Specific gravity = 852 (kg/m³) / 1000 (kg/m³)
Specific gravity = 0.85
Example No. 2
A certain liquid has a unit weight of 56kN/m³.
1. Compute the mass density.
2. Compute its specific volume.
3. Compute its specific gravity.
Solution:
1. Mass density:
ρ = 56000 (N/m³) / 9.81
ρ = 5,708 kg/m³
2. Specific volume = 1 / ρ
Specific volume = 1 / 5708 (kg/m³)
Specific volume = 0.000175 m³/kg
3. Specific gravity:
Specific gravity = 56 (kN/m³) / 9.81 (kN/m³)
Specific gravity = 5.71
Example No. 3
A 10m diameter cylindrical tank has a height of 5m and is full of water
at 20°C (unit weight of water = 9.789 kN/m³). If the water is heated
to a temperature of 50°C (unit weight of water = 9.689kN/m³),
1. Compute the weight of water.
2. What is the final volume when heated to a temp. of 50°C.
3. Determine the volume of water that will spill over the edge of
the tank.
Solution:
1. Weight of water:
V1 = (π / 4 )(diameter)²(height)
V1 = 392.70 m³
w1 = V1 D1
w1 = 392.70 m ³ (9.789 kN/m³)
w1 = 3844.14 kN

2. Final volume when heated a temp of 50°C

w2 = V2 D2
3844.14 kN = V2 (9.689 kN/m³)
V2 = 396.75 m³
3. Volume of water:
ΔV = 396.75 m³ – 392.70 m³
ΔV = 4.05 m³
  Bulk Modulus
- Is termed as the proportion of volumetric stress related to the
volumetric strain of a specified material, while the material
deformation is within elastic limit.
- Bulk Modulus Elasticity – is a material property characterizing the
compressibility of a fluid – how easy a unit volume of a fluid can be
changed when changing the pressure working upon it.

Bulk modulus of Water ß

E=∆P/ ∆V/V
Where:
E=bulk modulus
∆P = change in pressure
∆V = change in volume
Coefficient of Compressibility
ß = 1/Bulk Modulus
ß = 1/E
ß = Coeff. Of compressibility
 Example No. 1.
A liquid which is compressed in a cylinder if
it has a volume of 1000cu.cm. (1 liter) at
2MPa and a volume of 990cu.cm at 2.5Ma.
1. Compute the Bulk Modulus of elasticity.
2. Compute the percentage of volume
decreased..
3. Compute the coefficient of
compressibility.
Solution:
1. Bulk modulus of elasticity:
Ev = ΔP / (ΔV/ V)
Ev = (2.5-2) / (10/1000)
Ev = 100(0.5)
Ev = 50 Mpa
2. Percentage of volume decreased:
% = (10 / 1,000) x 100
% = 1%
3. Coefficient of compressibility:
β = 1/ E = 1/50 = 0.02
SPECIFIC WEIGHT OF AIR AND GASES
Sp. Wt., Y = P/RT
P = absolute pressure
T = absolute temp. in K or R
R = C deg + 273deg in K
T = F deg + 460deg in R
R = gas constant

Mass of air or gasses

M = dV
V= vol of gas in container
D = density of gas in air
M = mass of gas air
 Surface Tension
The tension of the surface film of a liquid
caused by the attraction of the particles in
the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid,
which tends to minimize surface area.
It is due to the phenomena of surface
tension that the drops of water tend to
assume a spherical shape to attain minimum
surface area. E.g., walking on water, floating
a needle, and droplets of water.
 Capillary Rise
Is the rise in a liquid above the level of zero
pressure due to a net upward force
produced by the attraction of the water
molecules to a solid surface (e.g., soil or
glass).
 Surface Tension
Capillary Rise in Tube
h = 2ơCos Ɵ/ᵨgr
h= capillary rise in meters
Ơ = surface tension in N/m
Ɵ = wetting angle, 0deg for H2O, 130deg M
r = radius of tube in m
ᵨ = mass density of water
ᵨ= 1000 kg/m3
g = 9.81
 Example No. 1.
1. Determine the surface tension in a tube
with 0.2m radius and wetting angle 0° and
capillary rise of 5mm.
2. Determine the surface tension in lb/ft.
3. If wetting angle θ = 80°, determine the
surface tension.
Solution:
1. Surface tension in a tube:
h = 2σCos θ / γ w r
0.005 = (2 σ Cos 0°) / (9810 x 0.2)
σ = 4.91 N/m (surface tension)
2. Surface tension in Ib / ft:
σ = 4.91 N/m (m/3.28ft)(lb/4.448N)
σ = 0.34 lb/ft
3. Surface tension if θ = 80° :
0.005 = 2 σ Cos 80° / 9810 (0.2)
σ = 28.25 N/m