In continuum mechanics, a Newtonian fluid is a fluid in which the viscous stresses arising from

its flow, at every point, are linearly[1] proportional to the local strain ratethe rate of change of
its deformation over time.[2][3][4] That is equivalent to saying that those forces are proportional to the
rates of change of the fluid's velocity vector as one moves away from the point in question in various
directions.
More precisely, a fluid is Newtonian only if the tensors that describe the viscous stress and the strain
rate are related by a constant viscosity tensor that does not depend on the stress state and velocity
of the flow. If the fluid is also isotropic (that is, its mechanical properties are the same along any
direction), the viscosity tensor reduces to two real coefficients, describing the fluid's resistance to
continuous shear deformation and continuous compression or expansion, respectively.
Newtonian fluids are the simplest mathematical models of fluids that account for viscosity. While no
real fluid fits the definition perfectly, many common liquids and gases, such as water and air, can be
assumed to be Newtonian for practical calculations under ordinary conditions. However, non-
Newtonian fluids are relatively common, and include oobleck (which becomes stiffer when vigorously
sheared), or non-drip paint (which becomes thinner when sheared). Other examples include
many polymer solutions (which exhibit the Weissenberg effect), molten polymers, many solid
suspensions, blood, and most highly viscous fluids.
Newtonian fluids are named after Isaac Newton, who first postulated the relation between the shear
strain rate and shear stress for such fluids in differential form.

Contents
[hide]

1Definition
o 1.1Incompressible isotropic case
o 1.2For anisotropic fluids
2Examples
3See also
4References

Definition[edit]
An element of a flowing liquid or gas will suffer forces from the surrounding fluid, including viscous
stress forces that cause it to gradually deform over time. These forces can be
mathematically approximated to first order by a viscous stress tensor, which is usually denoted

by .
The deformation of that fluid element, relative to some previous state, can be approximated to first
order by a strain tensor that changes with time. The time derivative of that tensor is the strain rate
tensor, that expresses how the element's deformation is changing with time; and is also

the gradient of the velocity vector field at that point, often denoted .

The tensors and can be expressed by 33 matrices, relative to any chosen coordinate

system. The fluid is said to be Newtonian if these matrices are related by the equation
 where is a fixed 3333 fourth order tensor, that does not depend on the velocity or stress
state of the fluid.

Incompressible isotropic case[edit]

For an incompressible and isotropic Newtonian fluid, the viscous stress is related to the strain rate
by the simpler equation

where

is the shear stress ("drag") in the fluid,

is a scalar constant of proportionality, the shear viscosity of the fluid

is the derivative of the velocity component that is parallel to the direction of shear,
relative to displacement in the perpendicular direction.
If the fluid is incompressible and viscosity is constant across the fluid, this equation
can be written in terms of an arbitrary coordinate system as

where

is the th spatial coordinate

is the fluid's velocity in the direction of axis

is the th component of the stress acting on the faces of the fluid element

perpendicular to axis .

One also defines a total stress tensor ) that combines the

shear stress with conventional (thermodynamic) pressure .

The stress-shear equation then becomes

For anisotropic fluids[edit]

More generally, in a non-isotropic Newtonian fluid, the

coefficient that relates internal friction stresses to

the spatial derivatives of the velocity field is replaced by a nine-

element viscosity tensor .

There is general formula for friction force in a liquid: The
vector differential of friction force is equal the viscosity tensor
increased on vector product differential of the area vector of
adjoining a liquid layers and rotor of velocity:

where viscosity tensor. The diagonal components

of viscosity tensor is molecular viscosity of a liquid, and not
diagonal components turbulence eddy viscosity.[5]

Examples[edit]
Water, air, milk, alcohol, glycerol, and thin motor oil are
examples of (practically) Newtonian fluids that have
different density properties, which allows a different shear
stress and rate flow graphs within a given interval.

See also[edit]