Newtonian fluids

Ideal fluids (e. g. water, methanol, olive oil and glycerol) perform linearly in rheograms, as illustrated for glycerol in figure 1, and are identified as Newtonian fluids. The Newtonian equation (Eq. 3) illustrates the flow behaviour of an ideal liquid (Schramm, 2000), where q is the viscosity (Pa*s). Dynamic viscosity, also called apparent viscosity, describes a fluid’s resistance of deformation (Pevere & Guibad, 2005). In terms of rheology it is the relation of shear stress over the shear rate (Eq. 4). For Newtonian fluids the dynamic viscosity maintains a constant value meaning a linear relationship between x and y.

Подпись:t = q * y q = x / y

When measuring the dynamic viscosity, the fluid is subjected to a force impact caused by moving a body in the fluid. Resistance to this movement provides a measure of fluid viscosity. The dynamic viscosity can be measured using a rotation rheometer. The device consists of an external fixed cylinder with known radius and an internal cylinder or spindle with known radius and height. The space between the two cylinders is filled with the fluid subjected to dynamic viscosity analysis.

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Fig. 1. Rheogram — flow curve of glycerol (▲) at 20 °C with a linear relationship between shear stress (t; Pa) and shear rate (y; s-1), representing a Newtonian liquid.