Chapter 2 - Fluid

CHAPTER 2 – PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FLUID
1.3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FLUID
Fluid properties are intimately related to fluid behaviour. It is obvious that different fluids
can have grossly different characteristics. For example, gases are light and compressible,
whereas liquids are heavy and relatively incompressible.
To quantify the fluid behaviour differences certain fluid properties are used. The fluid
properties are mass density, specific weight, specific gravity, specific volume and viscosity.
1.3.1(a) Mass density, ρ and Relative Density, σ
Mass density, ρ is defined as the mass per unit volume.
( SI units, kg/m3 ) (Equation 1.3)
Relative Density, σ
Relative Density, σ is defined as the ratio of mass density of a substance to
some standard mass density. For solids and liquids this standard mass density
is the maximum mass density for water (which occurs at 4 oC) at atmospheric
pressure.
(Equation 1.4)
1.3.1(b) Specific weight,  and Specific volume, v
Specific weight,  is defined as the weight per unit volume.
( SI units, N/m3 ) (Equation 1.5)
The Relationship between g and  can be determined by Newton’s 2nd Law,

since; weight per unit volume = mass per unit volume () x gravity(g)
(where g = 9.81m/s2) (Equation 1.6)
In SI units the specific weight of water is 9.81 x 1000 = 9810 N/m3
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Specific volume, v is defined as the reciprocal of mass density. It is used

to mean volume per unit mass.
(Equation 1.7)
(SI units, m3/kg ). (Equation 1.8)
1.4(c) Fluid Compressibility
Fluid Compressibility is a measure of the relative volume change of a fluid or

solid as a response to a pressure (or mean stress) change. The compressibility
(change in volume due to change in pressure) of a liquid is inversely
proportional to its volume modulus of elasticity, also known as the bulk
modulus. This modulus is defined as
where = specific volume and p = pressure. As is a dimensionless ratio,

the units of and p are identical. The bulk modulus is analogous to the
modulus of elasticity for solids; however, for fluids it is defined on a volume
basis rather than in terms of the familiar one-dimensional stress–strain
relation for solid bodies.
In most engineering problems, the bulk modulus at or near atmospheric
pressure is the one of interest. The bulk modulus is a property of the fluid and
for liquids is a function of temperature and pressure., because atmospheric
pressure varies. The units psia or kN/m2 abs indicate absolute pressure,
which is the actual pressure on the fluid, relative. By rearranging the
definition of , as an approximation we may use for the case of a fixed mass
of liquid at constant temperature
where is the mean value of the modulus for the pressure range and the
subscripts 1 and 2 refer to the before and after conditions.
1.3.1(d) Viscosity, μ
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Viscosity, μ is the property of a fluid, due to cohesion and interaction between

molecules, which offers resistance to sheer deformation. Different fluids
deform at different rates under the same shear stress. A fluid at rest cannot
resist shearing forces but once it is in motion, shearing forces are set up
between layers of fluid moving at different velocities. The viscosity of the fluid
determines the ability of the fluid in resisting these shearing stresses. Fluid
with a high viscosity such as syrup, deforms more slowly than fluid with a low
viscosity such as water. All fluids are viscous, “Newtonian Fluids” obey the
linear relationship given by Newton’s law of viscosity;
(kg.m/s2 @ N/m2)(shear stress, τ)
and, (rad.s-1) is the velocity gradient or rate of shear strain.
1.4(e) Specific gravity or Relative Density, S is the ratio of the weight of the substance
to the weight of an equal volume of water at 4 ºC.
(Equation 1.9)
(Equation 1.10)
1.3.2 Physical Properties of Fluid Problem
Example 1.3.2.1
What is the mass density, ρ of fluid (in kg/m3) if mass is 450 g and the volume is 9 cm3.
Solution to Example 1.3.2.1
Example 1.3.2.2
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What is the specific weight,  of fluid (in kN/m3) if the weight of fluid is 10N and the
volume is 500 cm3.
= 20 000 N/m3
Example 1.3.2.3
What is the specific gravity of fluid in Example 1.10.
Example 1.3.2.4
What is the specific volume, v of fluid in Example 1.9.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
1.1 Assume the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3 at atmospheric pressure 101
kN/m2. What will be:
a) the gauge pressure
b) the absolute pressure of water at a depth of 2000 m below the free surface?
1.2 Determine in Newton per square metre, the increase in pressure intensity per
metre depth in fresh water. The mass density of fresh water is 1000 kg/m3.
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1.3 Given specific weight of fluid is 6.54 kN/m3 and its mass is 8.3 kg, calculate the
following:
a) volume of fluid
b) specific volume of fluid
c) density of fluid
1.4 Given oil specific gravity is 0.89, find :

a) density of oil
b) specific weight of oil
c) specific volume of oil
FEEDBACK ON SELF-ASSESSMENT
1.1 a) 0 kN/m2 ,
b) 19721 kN/m2
1.2 9.81 x 103 N/m2
1.3 a) 0.01245 m3
b) 0.0015 m3/kg
c) 666.67 kg/m3
1.4 a) 0.89 x 103 kg/m3
b) 8730.9 N/m3
c) 0.00112 m3/kg
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CHAPTER 2 – PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FLUID

1.3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FLUID

1.3.1(a) Mass density, ρ and Relative Density, σ

Mass density, ρ is defined as the mass per unit volume.

( SI units, kg/m3 ) (Equation 1.3)

1.3.1(b) Specific weight,  and Specific volume, v

Specific weight,  is defined as the weight per unit volume.

( SI units, N/m3 ) (Equation 1.5)

The Relationship between g and  can be determined by Newton’s 2nd Law,

(where g = 9.81m/s2) (Equation 1.6)

In SI units the specific weight of water is 9.81 x 1000 = 9810 N/m3

Specific volume, v is defined as the reciprocal of mass density. It is used

(SI units, m3/kg ). (Equation 1.8)

1.4(c) Fluid Compressibility

Fluid Compressibility is a measure of the relative volume change of a fluid or

where = specific volume and p = pressure. As is a dimensionless ratio,

Viscosity, μ is the property of a fluid, due to cohesion and interaction between

(kg.m/s2 @ N/m2)(shear stress, τ)

and, (rad.s-1) is the velocity gradient or rate of shear strain.

1.3.2 Physical Properties of Fluid Problem

Solution to Example 1.3.2.1

Solution to Example 1.3.2.2

Solution to Example 1.3.2.3

Solution to Example 1.3.2.4

1.4 Given oil specific gravity is 0.89, find :

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