Structural Engineering and Mechanics

Volume 58, Number 1, 2016, pages 93-102

DOI: 10.12989/sem.2016.58.1.093

An experimental study and new correlations of viscosity of ethylene glycol-water based nanofluid at various temperatures and different solid concentrations

Mahmood Rabani Bidgoli, Reza Kolahchi and Mohammad Saeed Karimi

Abstract

This article presents an experimental study on the effect of temperature and solid volume fraction of nanoparticles on the dynamic viscosity for the CuO/EG-water nanofluid. Nanoparticles with diameter of 40 nm are used in the present study to prepare nanofluid by two-step method. A \"Brookfield viscometer\" has been used to measure the dynamic viscosity of nanofluid with solid volume fraction up to 2% at the temperature range between 20 to 60oC. The findings have shown that dynamic viscosity of nanofluid increases with increasing particle volume fraction and decreasing temperature. Nine different correlations are developed on experimental data point to predict the relative dynamic viscosity of nanofluid at different temperatures. To make sure of accuracy of the proposed correlations, margin of deviation is presented at the end of this study. The results show excellent agreement between experimental data and those obtained through the correlations.

Key Words

dynamic viscosity; Ethylene glycol-water based nanofluid; newtonian fluid

Address

Mahmood Rabani Bidgoli and Reza Kolahchi: Department of Civil Engineering, Jasb Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jasb, Iran Mohammad Saeed Karimi: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran