Viscosity is an important fluid property when analyzing liquid behavior and fluid motion near solid boundaries. The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to gradual deformation by shear stress or tensile stress. The shear resistance in a fluid is caused by inter-molecular friction exerted when layers of fluid attempt to slide by one another.
There are two related measures of fluid viscosity
Absolute viscosity - coefficient of absolute viscosity - is a measure of internal resistance. Dynamic (absolute) viscosity is the tangential force per unit area required to move one horizontal plane with respect to an other plane - at an unit velocity - when maintaining an unit distance apart in the fluid.
The shearing stress between the layers of a non turbulent fluid moving in straight parallel lines can be defined for a Newtonian fluid as
Shear stress can be expressed
τ = μ dc / dy
= μ γ (1)
where
τ = shearing stress in fluid (N/m2)
μ = dynamic viscosity of fluid (N s/m2)
dc = unit velocity (m/s)
dy = unit distance between layers (m)
γ = dc / dy = shear rate (s-1)
Equation (1) is known as the Newtons Law of Friction.
(1) can be rearranged to express Dynamic viscosity as
μ = τ dy / dc
= τ / γ (1b)
In the SI system the dynamic viscosity units are N s/m2, Pa s or kg/(m s) - where
Dynamic viscosity may also be expressed in the metric CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system as g/(cm s) , dyne s/cm 2 or poise (p) where
For practical use the Poise is normally too large and the unit is therefore often divided by 100 - into the smaller unit centipoise (cP) - where
Water at 20.2 oC (68.4 oF) has the absolute viscosity of one - 1 - centiPoise.
Liquids - Absolute Viscosities Liquid Absolute Viscosity*)*) at room temperature
Kinematic ViscosityKinematic viscosity is the ratio of - absolute (or dynamic) viscosity to density - a quantity in which no force is involved. Kinematic viscosity can be obtained by dividing the absolute viscosity of a fluid with the fluid mass density like
ν = μ / ρ (2)
where
ν = kinematic viscosity (m2/s)
μ = absolute or dynamic viscosity (N s/m2)
ρ = density (kg/m3)
In the SI-system the theoretical unit of kinematic viscosity is m2/s - or the commonly used Stoke (St) where
Stoke comes from the CGS (Centimetre Gram Second) unit system.
Since the Stoke is a large unit it is often divided by 100 into the smaller unit centiStoke (cSt) - where
The specific gravity for water at 20.2 oC (68.4 oF) is almost one, and the kinematic viscosity for water at 20.2 oC (68.4 oF) is for practical purpose 1.0 mm2/s ( cStokes). A more exact kinematic viscosity for water at 20.2 oC (68.4 oF) is 1.0038 mm2/s (cSt).
A conversion from absolute to kinematic viscosity in Imperial units can be expressed as
ν = 6.7197×10-4 μ / γ (2a)
where
ν = kinematic viscosity (ft2/s)
μ = absolute or dynamic viscosity (cP)
γ = specific weight (lb/ft3)
The viscosity of a fluid is highly temperature dependent - and for dynamic or kinematic viscosity to be meaningful the reference temperature must be quoted. In ISO 8217 the reference temperature for a residual fluid is 100 oC. For a distillate fluid the reference temperature is 40 oC .
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Other Viscosity Units Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS, SSU)Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS) is an alternative unit for measuring viscosity. The efflux time is Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) required for 60 milliliters of a petroleum product to flow through the calibrated orifice of a Saybolt Universal viscometer - under a carefully controlled temperature and as prescribed by test method ASTM D 88. This method has largely been replaced by the kinematic viscosity method. Saybolt Universal Seconds is also called the SSU number (Seconds Saybolt Universal) or SSF number (Saybolt Seconds Furol) .
Kinematic viscosity in SSU versus dynamic or absolute viscosity can be expressed as
νSSU = B μ / SG
= B νcentiStokes (3)
where
νSSU = kinematic viscosity (SSU)
B = 4.632 for temperature 100 oF (37.8 oC)
B = 4.664 for temperature 210 oF (98.9 oC)
μ = dynamic or absolute viscosity (cP)
SG = Specific Gravity
νcentiStokes = kinematic viscosity (centiStokes)
Degree EnglerDegree Engler is used in Great Britain as a scale to measure kinematic viscosity. Unlike the Saybolt and Redwood scales, the Engler scale is based on comparing the flow of the substance being tested to the flow of another substance - water. Viscosity in Engler degrees is the ratio of the time of a flow of 200 cubic centimeters of the fluid whose viscosity is being measured - to the time of flow of 200 cubic centimeters of water at the same temperature (usually 20 oC but sometimes 50 oC or 100 oC) in a standardized Engler viscosity meter.
Newtonian FluidsA fluid where the shearing stress is linearly related to the rate of shearing strain - is designated as a Newtonian Fluid.
A Newtonian material is referred to as true liquid since the viscosity or consistency is not affected by shear such as agitation or pumping at a constant temperature. Most common fluids - both liquids and gases - are Newtonian fluids. Water and oils are examples of Newtonian liquids.
Shear-thinning or Pseudo-plastic FluidsA Shear-thinning or pseudo-plastic fluid is a fluid where the viscosity decrease with increased shear rate. The structure is time-independent.
Thixotropic FluidsA Thixotropic fluid has a time-dependent structure. The viscosity of a thixotropic fluid decreases with increasing time - at a constant shear rate.
Ketchup and mayonnaise are examples of thixotropic materials. They appear thick or viscous but are possible to pump quite easily.
Dilatant FluidsA Shear Thickening Fluid - or Dilatant Fluid - increases the viscosity with agitation or shear strain. Dilatant fluids are known as non-Newton fluids.
Some dilatant fluids can become almost solid in a pump or pipe line. With agitation cream becomes butter and candy compounds. Clay slurry and similar heavily filled liquids do the same thing.
Bingham Plastic FluidsA Bingham Plastic Fluid has a yield value which must be exceeded before it will start to flow like a fluid. From that point the viscosity decreases with increasing agitation. Toothpaste, mayonnaise and tomato ketchup are examples of such products.
Example - Air, Convert between Kinematic and Absolute ViscosityKinematic viscosity of air at 1 bar (1×105 Pa, N/m2) and 40 oC is 16.97 cSt (16.97×10-6 m2/s) .
The density of the air can be estimated with the Ideal Gas Law
ρ = p / (R T)
= (1×105 N/m2) / ( (287 J/(kg K)) ((273 oC) + (33 oC)))
= 1.113 (kg/m3)
where
ρ = density (kg/m3)
p = absolute pressure (Pa, N/m2)
R = individual gas constant (J/(kg K))
T = absolute temperature (K)
The absolute viscosity can be calculated as
μ = 1.113 (kg/m3) 16.97×10-6 (m2/s)
= 1.88 10-5 (kg/(m s), N s/m2)
Viscosity of some Common Liquids Common Liquids - Viscosities centiStokesKinematic viscosity can be converted from SSU to Centistokes with
νCentistokes = 0.226 νSSU - 195 / νSSU (4)
where
νSSU < 100
νCentistokes = 0.220 νSSU - 135 / νSSU
where
νSSU > 100
Viscosity and TemperatureKinematic viscosity of fluids like water, mercury, oils SAE 10 and oil no. 3 - and gases like air, hydrogen and helium are indicated in the diagram below. Note that
Three types of devices are used to measure viscosity
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