Development of the Unsteady Capillary Tube Viscometer and Viscosity Measurement of Blood Analogue Fluid

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study is to measure the viscosity of liquid in the capillary tube viscometer using the unsteady flow concept. The capillary tube viscometer is consisted of a small cylindrical reservoir, capillary tubes, and the mass flow rate measuring system interfaced with computer. Two capillary tubes with 1.152 and 3.002 mm (inner diameter) are used to determine the diameter effects on the viscosity measurements. The instantaneous shear rate and gravitational driving force in the capillary tube are determined by measuring the mass flow rate through the capillary tube instantaneously. The measured viscosities of water and aqueous Separan solution as the blood analogue fluid are in good agreement with the reported experimental data.