Lecture 1 Fluid Properties and Static Fluid

Introduction of Fluids
A fluid is a substance with the ability to flow (deforms continuously under an
applied shear stress). It has no definite shape (shape of its container), it is liquid
or gas and different from solid which can be subjected to shear stress.
- Incompressible fluids have fluid volume/density that does not change with
pressure (most liquids).
- Compressible fluids have fluid volume/density which vary significantly with
pressure (gases)

Continuum Assumption
In this subject, a fluid is assumed as a continuum, that is.
- A fluid is made of molecules, but most engineering work is concerned with
the macroscopic behaviour of fluid.
- Fluid properties (e.g. density or velocity) at a point are defined in an
average sense.
- An average of velocities or densities of the molecules that pass through a
small volume surround that point.
Static Fluid
Static is fluid is at rest
- No shear stress in a static fluid.
- The only forces acting on a static fluid are normal forces (pressure) and the
body force (mass of the fluid)
Pressure
Pressure is due to collision of fluid molecules on the wall of the container.
 - It is defined as the normal force per unit area exerted on a plane surface in
a fluid.

- Unit: N/m2 or Pa
Pressure as a Scalar Quantity Proof
In a static fluid, pressure at a point is independent of direction.
- Fluid exerts the same pressure in all direction.
- Pressure is a scalar quantity
- Consider a fluid particle, it will move if the pressure on it has a direction,
which is contradicted to the concept of static fluids.
Consider a triangle element of fluid with unit depth

The net forces in all direction should be zero hence.

- X direction

- Y direction (as element is very small, w = 0)

Hence the pressure Pa, Pb and Pc are equal and are independent of the angles of
the triangle element.
Pressure in a Gravitational Field
Consider a column of fluid with a cross section area A and a thickness of dh
 - Pressure force on the top surface is PA.
- Pressure force on the bottom surface is (P+dP)A
- The weight of the fluid is pgAdh
For a static fluid, the net force is zero.

Pressure Variation in a Static Liquid (Incompressible)

Liquid is an incompressible fluid and its density is constant, so its pressure varies
linearly with height (or depth).

Or

- With z as the height.

Pressure Variation in Gases (Compressible)
A gas is a compressible fluid (its density varies with pressure). Assuming the gas
in an ideal gas we can apply the ideal gas law.
We have (This is also known as the pressure gradient)

Assuming T and g are constants, integrating we get

The above equation is called the barometric formula.

- P0: Pressure at the sea level (z = 0)
- 1 standard atmosphere (1.01 x 105 Pa)
For air (21% O2 + 79% N2, Mole Weight M = 0.21*0.032 + 0.79*0.028 = 0.02884
kg/mol.
- R = 8.314
- Temperature in Kelvin = Celsius + 273.15
Absolute and Gauge Pressures
- Absolute pressure is measurement relative to a perfect vacuum.
- Gauge pressure is relative to a local air pressure
Gauge pressure = Absolute Pressure Air Pressure
- Not the gauge pressure is still measure in pascals.
- Normal pressure measurement devices give gauge pressure (e.g. tyre
pressure 32psi; 1 psi = 6.7kpa)
Manometer
A manometer is a pressure measurement device
involving the use of liquid columns in vertical or
inclined tube.
Consider a simple U-tube manometer to measure
the differences between pressure P of a fluid and
the air pressure P0.
- If the effect of the fluid weight is assumed negligible (i.e. gas), the pressure
inside the fluid is same and equals to the pressure at level A.
Two Liquid U-Tube Manometer
A manometer using two immiscible liquids of different densities.

Considering a U-Tube with two liquids (p1 > p2) with cross-sectional area A
(reservoirs) and a (tube).
- Initially the pressure on both liquids are P0

- Then, the pressure on liquid 2 is increased to P. At the new equilibrium,

the pressures are equal at level 2.

- Geometrically we see

- Substituting

- With p1h1 = p2h2 and ZA = za

Pressure on Submerged Rectangle Plate

The pressure exerted on each face of the plate
varies linearly with depth below the free surface.
- The total force exerted on each side of the
plate.

- Noting that dA = Wdh, the average pressure

Hence the average pressure exerted by fluid on the plate is equal to the
pressure halfway down the plate.
Pressure on Submerged Triangle Plate
Consider an immersed triangular plate
- The average pressure

- From similar triangle

- So

Buoyancy
The buoyance force is caused by pressure difference.
- Consider a solid object immersed in a fluid or
density pf. The upward force exerted on a vertical
cylindrical element by the liquid is
Integrating over the entire volume

Archimedes Principle
A body immersed in or floating in a fluid is acted upon by an upward force equal
to the weight of fluid displaced, which acts through the centre of gravity of the
displaced volume.
Extra Tip of the Iceberg
More than 90% of an iceberg lies below the water.
- Density of ice is around 917 kg/m3