10/20/2021

FLUID MECHANICS LAB-CE2521

LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION

Instructor: Engr. Kainat Batool

Introduction
• A Fluid is a substance which deforms when subjected to a force. A fluid can
offer resistance to any force causing change of shape. Fluid flow under
their own weight and take shape of any solid body with which they are in
contact.
• Fluid may be divided into liquids and gases. Liquids occupy definite volume
while gases will expand to occupy any containing vessel.
• Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids either in motion (fluid dynamics) or
at rest (fluid statics).
• The essence of the subject of fluid flow is a judicious compromise between
theory and experiment.

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Introduction
• Being civil engineers we are interested to study the fundamental
behaviors of fluids under different conditions.
• Fluid mechanics have certain applications in civil engineering. As it is
related to water resource management, environmental, geotechnical
and structural engineering sub branches.
• Most important constraints while dealing fluids are “geometry” and
“viscosity”.
• In fluid mechanics lab we will be studying the basic properties of
fluid on which it flows depend.

Viscosity (Fluid Properties)

• Fluid in its any form can offer resistance to flow. Viscosity is a
measure of this resistance. The viscosity of a liquid is related to the
ease with which the molecules can move with respect to one another.
• Viscosity of a liquid depends on
• Strength of attractive forces between molecules, which depends on
their composition, size and shape.
• The kinetic energy of molecules, which depends on the temperature.
• Viscosity greatly depends upon temperature.

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Experiment 1: To determine the viscosity of a given oil by using

falling sphere type viscometer
Dynamic viscosity (also known as absolute viscosity) is the measurement of the fluid’s internal
resistance to flow while kinematic viscosity refers to the ratio of dynamic viscosity to density.
Based on the expression above, two fluids with the same dynamic viscosities can have very
different kinematic viscosities depending on density and vice versa. As a result, grasping the
physical meaning of these two material properties may not always be so easy.
Simply put, dynamic viscosity gives you information on the force needed to make the
fluid flow at a certain rate, while kinematic viscosity tells how fast the fluid is moving
when a certain force is applied.
Viscosity
Dynamic Kinematic
Dynamic viscosity is the relationship The Kinematic viscosity is the
between the shear stress and the shear relationship between viscous and
rate in a fluid. inertial forces in a fluid.
= =

EXPERIMENT 1: To determine the viscosity of a given oil by using falling sphere type viscometer

SCOPE
 A viscometer (also called viscosimeter) is an instrument used to measure the viscosity of a fluid.
 For liquids with viscosities, which vary with flow conditions, an instrument called a rheometer is
used.
 Viscometers only measure under one flow condition.

SIGNIFICANCE

 It is used to find the fluid viscosity of liquids such as Paints, Blood, Asphalt, Oils and Lubricants
etc.
 It is also used to find the bed resistance in canals and channels.
APPARATUS
Viscometer
Sphere of different sizes
Oil sample
Stopwatch
Measuring flask
Balance
Vernier calipers

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EXPERIMENT 1: To determine the viscosity of a given oil by using falling sphere type viscometer

PROCEDURE

 Fill the tube of the apparatus with given oil sample and drop the sphere in the oil.
 As soon as the sphere reaches the point ‘A’ (marked on apparatus) click the stopwatch. When
the sphere reaches point ‘B’ which is 15 cm apart from the other point stop the watch and note
the time in seconds.
 As a body falls in a fluid under the influence of gravity only, it will accelerate until the downward
force (its weight) is just balanced by the buoyant force and the viscous drag force acting upward.
Its velocity at that time is called the “Terminal velocity”.
 From the calculated time find the velocity of sphere.
Terminal Velocity
o The maximum constant velocity that a freely falling object
attains as it falls through a fluid.
o It occurs when the sum of the drag force (Fd) and the
buoyancy is equal to the downward force of gravity (FG)
acting on the object.
o Since the net force on the object is zero, the object has zero
acceleration

EXPERIMENT 1: To determine the viscosity of a given oil by using falling sphere type viscometer

OBSERVATION & CALCULATIONS

SAMPLE A: ( )
Distance
δoil δs Velocity
Travel
Sphere Dia. (Density of (Density of Time of sphere Viscosity
Sr. No by
oil) sphere) in oil
Sphere
(cm) (cm) (g/cm3) (cm) (sec) (cm/sec) (g/cm.sec)
1.
2.
3.

• μ = Viscosity of sample (oil)

• δs = Density of sphere (should be given)
• δoil = Density of oil (should be given)
• d = Diameter of sphere
µ= [(δs – δoil) d2g] / 18v
• g = Gravitational constant, 9.8 m/sec2
• v = Volume of sphere = 4/3 πr3

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Thank You…!