Definition of Fluid

DEFINITION OF FLUID
DEFINITION :
FLUID IS A SUBSTANCE THAT HAS NO FIXED SHAPE AND YIELDS EASILY TO
EXTERNAL PRESSURE. FLUID SUCH A GAS OR A LIQUID (ESPECIALLY).

Fluid is a substance which can flow. Technically the flow of any substance means a continuous relative motion
between different particles of the substance
What is a Fluid?
Fluid is a substance which can flow. Technically the flow of any substance means a continuous relative motion
between different particles of the substance. Now, how and why does a fluid flow? The answer to "how" is the
continuous relative motion between the particles of the fluid when shear force is acting on it. And the answer to "why"
is the particles of fluid move past each other when shear force is applied because they cannot resist the shear force,
i.e., they are inelastic to shear stress. A fluid can deform under shear stress indefinitely without returning to its original
position

Fluid is a substance which can flow. Technically the flow of any substance means a continuous relative motion between different
particles of the substance. Now, how and why does a fluid flow? The answer to "how" is the continuous relative motion between
the particles of the fluid when shear force is acting on it. And the answer to "why" is the particles of fluid move past each other
when shear force is applied because they cannot resist the shear force, i.e., they are inelastic to shear stress. A fluid can deform
under shear stress indefinitely without returning to its original position.

The term fluid includes both liquid and gases. The main difference between a liquid and a gas is that the volume of a liquid
remains definite because it takes the shape of the surface on or in which it comes into contact, whereas a gas occupies the
complete space available in the container in which it is kept. In hydraulics in civil engineering, the fluid for consideration is
liquid, so, we will examine some terms and properties of the liquids.
Mass Density: It is the mass of the fluid per unit volume. It unit is kg per cubic meter.
Specific Weight: It is the weight per unit volume of the fluid. This quantity depends on the gravitational force of the place where
the fluid is kept. The units for it are newton per cubic meter.
Specific Volume: It is the volume occupied by the unit mass of the fluid. Its unit is cubic meter per kg.
Relative Density or Specific Gravity: It is defined as the ratio of mass density of the fluid concerned and the mass density of
water at standard pressure and temperature, i.e., 4 degrees Celsius and atmospheric pressure.
Viscosity: Viscosity is the property of fluid which defines the interaction between the moving particles of the fluid. It is the
measure of resistance to the flow of fluids. The viscous force is due to the intermolecular forces acting in the fluid. The flow or
rate of deformation of fluids under shear stress is different for different fluids due to the difference in viscosity. Fluids with high
viscosity deform slowly.
Compressibility: When pressure is applied on a fluid, its volume decreases. This property of a fluid is called compressibility.
Elasticity: When the force generating the pressure on the fluid, is released it returns to its original volume. This property of a
fluid is called elasticity of the fluid.
Vapor Pressure: Molecules of a liquid escape from its surface to fill the space above the liquid surface and the container until
such time when the pressure due to these molecules above the liquid surface reaches the vapor pressure of the liquid. This is how
the vapor pressure of a liquid is defined.
Surface Tension: The molecules on the surface of a liquid, that is, the interface between the liquid and the air are bound together
by a week force called surface tension. This force makes the liquid form a layer and is caused due to the cohesive force between
the molecules of the liquid.
Capillarity: The molecules of a liquid have two types of forces acting on them. One is, cohesive force, the force among the
molecules of the liquid only, and the other one is adhesive force, the force acting between the molecules of the liquid and some
other substance. When the adhesion between the liquid and the container wall is more than the cohesion among the liquid
molecules, the liquid sticks to the container walls and this results in capillary rise. The opposite of this behavior happens when
the cohesion is more than the adhesion - the capillary level dips.
BASICS OF HYDRAULICS
Hydraulics deals with the study of fluids, their behavior, motion of fluids and the interaction of fluids with other bodies.
In this article series on Hydraulics fluids will be analyzed when in motion and as well as the effect of interaction of
with different bodies when static.

INTRO
Hydraulics is an important field in Civil Engineering that has to do with the mechanical properties of liquids. Whether
the project is a tunnel, road or series of pipes running through a building, it's important to know how the water will
travel and what conditions the building will be safe under.

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DEFINITION OF FLUID

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