TOPIC 2.
Hydrostatics –
Fluids Pressure
Week 3
Overview
2.1.1 Introduction
2.1.2 Concepts of pressure
2.1.3 Pascal’s law for pressure at a point
2.1.4 Pressure variation in a fluid at rest
2.1.5 Pressure and head
2.1.6 The hydrostatic paradox
2.1.7 Pressure measurement
2.1.8 Hydrostatic forces on plane surface and inclined surface
2.1.9 Hydrostatic thrust on curved surface
2.1.10 Pressure diagram
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Learning Outcomes
• Explain the concepts of pressure and pressure
difference in static fluid.
• Determine pressure head, pressure gauge and
absolute pressure.
• Apply the concept of pressure with pressure
measurements.
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2.1 Introduction
• Fluid statics deals with the study of fluids which are
not in motion (stationary) – no shearing stresses
and only normal stress i.e. pressure.
• This topic deals with fluids under hydrostatic
condition i.e. velocity is zero.
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Recall your physics
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To measure pressure of a F
liquid at a particular depth, p=
A
consider the liquid column Weight of the liquid column
below. p=
Surface area of the base
g V
Surface of the liquid p=
A
g l bh
p=
l b
Column
h
of liquid p = g h
Where,
p = pressure
Surface
= density of liquid
area, A b
l h = depth/elev ation
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Try this
The figure given shows three
non-mixing liquids placed in an
enclosed tank. = 1.0 103 kgm −3 8m
a) Calculate the pressure due
to the liquid at point X. X
b) Calculate the pressure due −3
to the liquids at point Y. = 1 . 5 10 3
kgm 3m
Y
c) Calculate the pressure due
to the liquids at point Z. = 2.4 10 3 kgm −3 Z 5m
d) Sketch a graph of pressure,
p against depth, h for h = 0
to 16 m in the tank.
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𝑃𝑥 = 1.0 × 103 × 9.81 × 8
𝑃𝑥 = 78.48𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑃𝑦 = 𝑃𝑥 + 1.5 × 103 × 9.81 × 3
𝑃𝑦 = 78480 + 44145
𝑃𝑦 = 122.625 kPa
𝑃𝑍 = 𝑃𝑌 + 2.4 × 103 × 9.81 × 5
𝑃𝑍 = 122625 + 117720
𝑃𝑍 = 240.345 kPa
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Try this
A hydraulic press has a ram of 20 cm diameter and a
plunger of 3 cm diameter. It is used to lift a weight of
30 kN. Find the force required by the plunger.
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2.1.2 Concepts of pressure
Stress: Force per unit area.
Normal stress: The normal
component of a force acting on a
surface per unit area.
Shear stress: The tangential
component of a force acting on a
surface per unit area.
Pressure: The normal stress in a
fluid at rest.
The normal stress and shear stress at
the surface of a fluid element. For
fluids at rest, the shear stress is zero
and pressure is the only normal stress.
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140 kg
Pressure: A normal force exerted 70 kg
by a fluid per unit area
Afeet=343 cm2
P = 20 kPa P = 40 kPa
P = (709.81/1000) kN / 0.0343 m2 = 20 kPa
The normal stress (or “pressure”) on the
feet of a chubby person is much greater
than on the feet of a slim person.
Some
basic
pressure
gages. 14
• Statics rules apply to fluids at rest, hence, there will
be no shearing forces acting.
• Therefore, all forces exerted between the fluid and
a solid boundary must act at right angles
(normal/perpendicular) to the boundary.
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2.1.3 Pascal’s Law for pressure
at a point
By considering the equilibrium of a small fluid element below a
relationship can be established between the pressures px in the
x-direction, pZ in the y-direction and pϴ normal to any plane
inclined at any angle θ to the horizontal at this point.
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Taking summation of the forces in z-direction,
F z =0
1
0 = p z .b.x − p .b.s.Cos − .x.z.b. .g
2
x
Substituting, Cos =
s x, z , b
: Are very small quantities,
x 1
p z .x − p .s. − .x.z.b. .g = 0 therefore, the 3rd term
s 2 is negligible compared to the
other 2 terms
p z = p
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Taking summation of the forces in x direction,
F x =0
p x .b.z − p .b.s.Sin = 0
Since pz = px = pϴ , this
p x .z − p .s.Sin = 0
concluded that the pressure
at a point is the same in all
z direction
Substituting, Sin =
s
Pascal’s Law:
z ‘The pressure, p, at any given point in a fluid is
p x .z − p .s. =0
s independent of its direction’
Blaise Pascal
p x = p
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2.1.4 Pressure variation in a fluid
at rest
Figure shows a
cylindrical fluid
element of constant
cross sectional area
A, inclined at angle ϴ
from the vertical.
There is no shear
acting because the
fluid is at rest.
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Summing up all forces along the axis: (1) pressure force in the
direction of the flow, (2) pressure force in the opposite direction of
flow and (3) weight of the element
pA − ( p + dp )A − gAdsCos = 0
dp = − gdsCos
When element is horizontal When element is vertical
Given,
Given,
= 90 = 0, cos = dz
ds
dp = − gds cos dp = − gds cos
dp = − gds cos 90 dz
dp = − g cos 0
dp = 0 cos 0
dp = − gdz
Meaning:
Anywhere in a static fluid, Meaning:
at a given depth the pressure Pressure varies with respect
is constant (the same) to elevation
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The pressure is the same at all points on a horizontal plane in a given fluid
regardless of geometry, provided that the points are interconnected by the
same fluid.
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23
Recall your physics
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Atmospheric
pressure is the
pressure exerted
by the
atmosphere on
the surface of the
Earth
Patm = 1 atm
= 101kPa
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Fortin Barometer
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2.1.5 Pressure and head
• In liquid, the elevation is usually in terms of depth h and is
measured from the free surface (downwards).
• Pressure on fluids is measured in 2 different system:
absolute pressure & gauge pressure.
• Absolute pressure: Pressure measured with reference to
absolute vacuum pressure.
• Gauge pressure: Pressure measured using pressure
measuring devices where atmospheric pressure is taken as
datum, hence, marked as zero.
• Vacuum pressures: Pressures below atmospheric pressure.
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Pressures
Absolute Gauge Vacuum
pressure pressure pressure
pabs = pgauge + patm p gauge = gh pvacuum = patm − pabs
* Patm = 0 (datum)
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Pressure in a liquid at rest
increases linearly with
distance from the free
surface.
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Pressure head
pressure p
• Pressure head, h = =
density gravity g 7.112 m
• Pressure head is the vertical
height of a column of a given
fluid of mass density ρ which Pressure head, h
would be necessary to
produce pressure, p.
• Units: m
• Stated with the density of
given fluid. E.g. 10 m of Hg
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Example
What is the pressure gauge, absolute pressure and
the pressure head in terms of mercury at location (2)
the tank shown?
1
10 m
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p = gh
= 1000 9.81 10
= 98.1kPa
pabs = pgauge + patm
= 98.1kPa + 101kPa
= 199.1kPa
p
h=
g
= 98.110 3 Pa
13600 kg 3 9.81m 2
m s
= 7.213m of Hg
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Try yourself
A mountain lake has an average temperature of 100C
and a maximum depth of 40 m. The barometric
pressure is 598 mm Hg. Determine the absolute
pressure at the deepest part of the lake.
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Try yourself
What are the gauge pressure and absolute pressure
at a point 3 m below the free surface of a liquid
having a density of 1.53 x 103 kg/m3 if the
atmospheric pressure is equivalent to 750 mm of
mercury? The specific gravity of mercury is 13.6 and
density of water is 1000 kg/m3.
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2.1.6 The hydrostatic paradox
• From equation 𝑃 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ , it is seen that the pressure exerted by a
fluid is dependent only on the vertical head of fluid and its mass
density ρ; it is not affected by the weight of the fluid present.
• In figure below the four vessels all have the same base area A
and are filled to the same height h with the same liquid of density
ρ.
• Thus, although the weight of fluid is obviously different in the four
cases, the force on the bases of the vessels is the same,
depending on the depth h and the base area A.
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2.1.7 Pressure measurement
• Fluid pressures can be determined by various
means and devices depending on the types of
fluids.
• Some of the common devices used are barometers,
piezometers and manometers.
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1) Barometers
• Atmospheric pressure is measured
by a device called a barometer;
thus patm is often referred to as the
barometric pressure.
• The pressure at point B is equal to
the atmospheric pressure, and the
pressure at A can be taken as zero
since there is only Hg vapor above
point A and the pressure is
relatively low to Patm and can be
neglected.
2) Piezometers
• One end is connected
to the point where
pressure to be
measured and other is
open to the
atmosphere.
• The rise of liquid gives
the pressure head at
point A, PA = gh
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3) U-tube manometers
• It consists of glass tube bent in U-shape, one end of which is
connected to a point where the pressure is to be measured and
the other end remains open to atmosphere.
• The tube normally contains Hg or any other liquid whose SG is
greater than the SG of the liquid whose pressure is to be
measured.
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U-tube manometer – gauge pressure
Pressure above A - A in the left column
= p + (1 g h1 ) B
Pressure above A - A in the right column
h2
= 2 g h2
h1
Equating both pressures,
A A
p + (1gh1 ) = 2 gh2
p = ( 2 gh2 ) − (1gh1 )
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U-tube manometer –vacuum pressure
Pressure above A - A in the left column
= p + (1 g h1 ) + ( 2 g h2 )
Pressure above A - A in the right column
=0
Equating both pressures,
p + (1gh1 ) + ( 2 gh2 ) = 0
p = −( 2 gh2 + 1gh1 )
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Example
The right limb of a simple U-tube manometer
containing mercury is open to the atmosphere while
the left limb is connected to a pipe in which a fluid of
specific gravity 0.9 is flowing. The centre of the pipe
is 12 cm below the level of mercury in the right limb.
Find the pressure of fluid in the pipe if the difference
of mercury level in the two limbs is 20 cm.
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Example
A simple U-tube manometer
containing mercury is connected to
a pipe in which a fluid of specific
gravity 0.8 and having vacuum
pressure is flowing. The other end
of the manometer is open to
atmosphere. Find the vacuum
pressure in the pipe, if the
difference of mercury level in the
two limbs is 40 cm and the height
of the fluid in the left from the
centre of pipe is 15 cm below.
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U-tube differential manometers – pipes at
different levels, different liquid density
Pressure above X - X in the left limb
= 1g (h + x ) + p A
Pressure above X - X in the right limb
= Hggh + 2 gy + pB
Equating both pressures
1g (h + x ) + pA = Hggh + 2gy + pB
p A − pB = Hggh + 2 gy − 1g (h + x )
( )
= gh Hg − 1 + 2 gy − 1gx
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U-tube differential manometers – pipes at
same levels, same liquid density
Pressure above X - X in the left limb
= 1g (h + x ) + p A
Pressure above X - X in the right limb
= Hggh + 2 gx + pB
Equating both pressures
1g (h + x ) + pA = Hggh + 1gy + pB
p A − pB = Hggh + 1gy − 1g (h + x )
(
= gh Hg − 1 )
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Example
A pipe contains an oil
of specific gravity of B A
0.9. A differential
manometer connected
at the two points A x
and B along the pipe
shows a difference in h
mercury level as 15
cm. Find the difference
of pressure at the two
points.
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Left limb,
PX = PA + (900 9.81 (x + h ))
PX = PA + 8829 x + 8829 h
Right limb,
PX = PB + (900 9.81 x ) + (13600 9.81 h )
PX = PB + 8829 x + 133416 h
Px = Px
PA + 8829 x + 8829 h = PB + 8829 x + 133416 h
PA − PB = 133416 h − 8829 h
PA − PB = 124587 0.15
= 18.688kPa
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Example
A differential manometer is
connected at the two points
A and B of two pipes as
shown in figure. The pipe A
contains a liquid of specific
gravity 1.5 while pipe B
contains a liquid of specific
gravity 0.9. The pressure at A
and B are 9.81 x 104 Pa and
17.658 x 104 Pa respectively.
Find the difference in
mercury level in the
differential manometer.
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Inverted U-tube differential
manometer
Consists of U-tube containing a light liquid.
Typically used to measure low pressures.
Pressure in the left limb below X - X
= p A − 1gh1
Pressure in the right limb below X - X
= pB − 2 gh2 − S gh
Equating,
p A − 1gh1 = pB − 2 gh2 − S gh
p A − pB = 1gh1 − 2 gh2 − S gh
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Example
Water is flowing through two
different pipes to which an
inverted differential
manometer having an oil
specific gravity 0.8 is
connected. The pressure head
in the pipe A is 2 m of water,
find the pressure in the pipe
B for the manometer readings
as shown in figure.
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57
Try yourself
Determine the pressure
difference if the
conduits are filled with
water.
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Try yourself
Find the
pressure
difference
between A and
B.
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End of Fluid
Pressure
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