Department

Mechanical

Subject Name
Semester

Fluid Mechanics
3 rd

Credits

Program

B. Tech

Subject Code

MEC 303

Teacher In
charge/Mentor

UNIT I
Topic Name: Introduction and fundamental concepts
Links to the Resources:
1.http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/1
2.http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/2
3.http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/3

Books to be consulted:
1. White, F.M Fluid Mechanics, Mc-Graw Hill, 2001.
2. Munson, B.R., Fundamental of Fluid Mechanics, John Wiley, 2002
3. Cengal Y., Fluid Mechanics, McGraw Hill, 2001

Lecture 1:
What is fluid mechanics? As its name suggests it is the branch of applied mechanics
concerned with the statics and dynamics of fluids - both liquids and gases. The analysis of the
behaviour of fluids is based on the fundamental laws of mechanics which relate continuity of mass and
energy with force and momentum together with the familiar solid mechanics properties.

1.1 Definition of fluid

In the present context of fluid mechanics, it is important to distinguish the behaviour of a fluid from
that of a solid when subjected to a shear force (parallel to its surface).
Consider a solid element ABCD' shown below (Fig 1a). The bottom section A B is fixed. A small
horizontal force is applied on the surface CD. The surface is sheared'. The element CD deforms into
C'D' and then, into CD. However, an equilibrium position is achieved when the deformation stops.
The top layer is now stationary. The solid has, therefore, resisted the applied shear force.

(Fig. 1a )
Now, consider a fluid element ABCD' shown in Fig 1b. On the application of a shear force (no matter

how small it is!), the top surface CD will continue to move as long as the force is applied. There will
not be equilibrium' position of any fluid element on the surface CD. Such behaviour has been
validated experimentally, using a dye-marker test.

(Fig. 1b )

We conclude

Fluid continues to deform (or move) under the application of a shear force.
Fluid at rest cannot sustain a shear stress.

Fluid resists deformation by attaining an equilibrium rate of deformation.

Viscosity is a property of the fluid which relates its resistance to the applied shear force.

1.2 Concept of continuum

A common assumption within the continuum approach is that process relevant properties are homogeneous
within each material region. Furthermore, the transition between two material layers is assumed to be abrupt.
http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112104118/

1.3 Introductory definitions

Here we consider only the relevant properties of fluids for our purposes

Mass Density The mass per unit volume of a substance usually denoted as . Typical values are: Water:
1000 kg/m3; Mercury: 13546 kg/m3.

Specific Weight The weight of a unit volume a substance, usually denoted as . essentially density
times the acceleration due to gravity: = g

Relative density A dimensionless measure of the density of a substance with reference to the density
of some standard substance, usually water at 4C: specific gravity (SG) is a dimensionless quantity, as it is the ratio
of either densities or weights. For liquids we take water as a standard fluid with density =1000 kg/m3. For gases
we take air or O2 as a standard fluid with density, =1.293 kg/m3

Viscosity
The viscosity of a fluid determines the amount of resistance to shear force.Viscosities of liquids decrease as tempe
rature increases and is usually not affected by pressure changes.

Newton's law of viscosity

A class of fluids called Newtonian fluids such as water and air follow the behaviour: applied shear
stress varies linearly with the rate of deformation. The mathematical representation is

for
flow

1D-

For above derivation please check out video lecture

1.4 Generalized Laws of Viscosity

We have derived a law for the behaviour of fluids that of Newtonian fluids. However, experiments
show that there are non-Newtonian fluids that follow a
generalized law of viscosity:

Where A, B and n are constants found experimentally

Refer below page link more on non newtanion fluid
http://www.engineeringarchives.com/les_fm_newtoniannonnewtonian.html

Self assessment problems - Properties

3
a) If 6 m of oil weighs 47 kN, find its specific weight, density, and relative density.
3
3
(Ans. 7.833 kN/m , 798 kg/m , 0.800)
b) At a certain depth in the ocean, the pressure is 80 MPa. Assume that the specific
3
weight at the surface is 10 kN/m and the average bulk modulus is 2.340 GPa.
Find:
a) the change in specific volume between the surface and the large depth;
b) the specific volume at the depth, and;
c) the specific weight at the depth.
-4 3
-4 3
3
(Ans. -0.33510 m /kg, 9.47510 m /kg, 10.35 kN/m )
c) A 100 mm deep stream of water is flowing over a boundary. It is considered to
have zero velocity at the boundary and 1.5 m/s at the free surface. Assuming a
linear velocity profile, what is the shear stress in the water?
2
(Ans. 0.0195 N/m )
d) Two discs of 250 mm diameter are placed 1.5 mm apart and the gap is filled with an oil. A power of 500 W is
required to rotate the upper disc at 500 rpm while keeping the lower one stationary. Determine the viscosity of the
oil.

[Ans 0. 71 kg/ms]

Lecture 2:
Topic Name: Fluid Statics
Links to the Resources:
1.http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/4
2http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/5
3.http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/6
4. http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/7
5. http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/8
6. http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112105171/9

Books to be consulted:
1. White, F.M Fluid Mechanics, Mc-Graw Hill, 2001.
2. Munson, B.R., Fundamental of Fluid Mechanics, John Wiley, 2002
3. Fluid Mechanics Fox Wiley; Eighth edition 2013

2. Forces on Fluid Elements

Fluid Elements - Definition:
Fluid element can be defined as an infinitesimal region of the fluid continuum in isolation from its surroundings.
Two types of forces exist on fluid elements

Body Force: distributed over the entire mass or volume of the element. It is usually expressed per unit
mass of the element or medium upon which the forces act.

Example: Gravitational Force, Electromagnetic force fields etc.

Surface Force: Forces exerted on the fluid element by its surroundings through direct contact at the
surface.

Surface force has two components:

Normal Force: along the normal to the area

Shear Force: along the plane of the area.

The ratios of these forces and the elemental area in the limit of the area tending to zero are called the normal and
shear stresses respectively.
The shear force is zero for any fluid element at rest and hence the only surface force on a fluid element is
the normal component.

2.1 Normal Stress in a Stationary Fluid

Consider a stationary fluid element of tetrahedral shape with three of its faces coinciding with the
coordinate planes x, y and z.

Fig 2.1 State of Stress in a Fluid Element at Rest

Since a fluid element at rest can develop neither shear stress nor tensile stress, the normal stresses
acting on different faces are compressive in nature.
Suppose, Fx, Fy and Fz are the net forces acting on the fluid element in positive x,y and z
directions respectively. The direction cosines of the normal to the inclined plane of an area A are cos
, cos and cos .Considering gravity as the only source of external body force, acting in the -ve z
direction, the equations of static equilibrium for the tetrahedron fluid element can be written as
(2.1)

(2.2)

(2.3)

where

= Volume of tetrahedral fluid element

2.2 Pascal's Law of Hydrostatics

Pascal's Law
The normal stresses at any point in a fluid element at rest are directed towards the point from all
directions and they are of the equal magnitude.

Fig 2.2

State of normal stress at a point in a fluid body at rest

Derivation:
The inclined plane area is related to the fluid elements (refer to Fig 2.1) as follows
(2.4)

(2.5)

(2.6)
Substituting above values in equation 3.1- 3.3 we get
(2.7)

Conclusion:
The state of normal stress at any point in a fluid element at rest is same and directed towards the point
from all directions. These stresses are denoted by a scalar quantity p defined as the hydrostatic or
thermodynamic pressure.
Using "+" sign for the tensile stress the above equation can be written in terms of pressure as
(2.8)

2.3 Fundamental Equation of Fluid Statics

The fundamental equation of fluid statics describes the spatial variation of hydrostatic pressure p in
the continuous mass of a fluid.
Derivation:

Click here to see the derivation

http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112104118/lecture-3/hyperlink/derivation.html

2.4 Fundamental Fluid Static Equations in Scalar Form

Considering gravity as the only external body force acting on the fluid element, Eq. (2.13) can be
expressed in its scalar components with respect to a Cartesian coordinate system (see Fig. 2.3) as

(in x direction)

(in y direction)

(2.13b)

(in z direction)

(2.13c)

X z: the external body force per unit mass in the positive direction of z (vertically upward), equals to
the negative value of g (the acceleration due to gravity).
From above equation it can be concluded that he pressure p is a function of z only.

So

(2.14)

Constant and Variable Density Solution

Constant Density Solution
The explicit functional relationship of hydrostatic pressure p with z can be obtained by integrating the
Eq. (2.14).
For an incompressible fluid, the density r is constant throughout. Hence the Eq. (2.14) can be
integrated and expressed
As

(2.15)

Where C is the integration constant.

If we consider an expanse of fluid with a free surface, where the pressure is defined as p = p0 ,which
is equal to atmospheric pressure.

Fig 2.4 Pressure Variation in an Incompressible Fluid at rest with a Free Surface

Eq. (2.15) can be written as,

(2.16a)
Therefore, Eq. (3.16a) gives the expression of hydrostatic pressure p at a point whose vertical
depression from the free surface is h.
Similarly,
(2.16b)
Thus, the difference in pressure between two points in an incompressible fluid at rest can be expressed
in terms of the vertical distance between the points. This result is known as Torricelli's principle,
which is the basis for differential pressure measuring` devices. The pressure p0 at free surface is the
local atmospheric pressure.
Therefore, it can be stated from Eq. (2.16a), that the pressure at any point in an expanse of a fluid at
rest, with a free surface exceeds that of the local atmosphere by an amount gh, where h is the
vertical depth of the point from the free surface.
Variable Density Solution: As a more generalised case, for compressible fluids at rest, the pressure
variation at rest depends on how the fluid density changes with height z and pressure p. For example
this can be done for special cases of "isothermal and non-isothermal fluids"

End of Lecture 2!