Introduction

Fluid pressure is the pressure on an object submerged in a fluid, such as water. The pressure can be provided from a number of sources which are the sheer weight of the fluid, such as in scuba diving, when the diver goes deeper into the water, the water pressure increases; or in the earth's atmosphere, as a plane goes higher, the air pressure decreases. Then, a pump, such as when water "pumped" into a water tower. Perhaps, a compressor, such as in a small water supply system in a rural well for a house connected to an air compressor. Water pressure is used in our daily lives to control the flow of water coming from any mechanical water source. Fluid pressure occurs in one of two situations in both an open condition, such as the ocean, or a swimming pool, and a closed condition, such as a water line or a gas line. Pressure in open conditions usually can be approximated as the pressure in "static" or non-moving conditions (even in the ocean where there are waves and currents), because the motions create only negligible changes in the pressure. Such conditions conform to principles of fluid statics. The pressure at any given point of a non-moving (static) fluid is called the hydrostatic pressure. Fluid statics (also called hydrostatics) is the science of fluids at rest, and is a sub-field within fluid mechanics. The hydrostatic force on any surface is due to the fluid pressure acting on that surface, as shown in Fig. 1. Pressure is a normal stress which is positive when in compression. Since the pressure is everywhere normal to the surface, the resultant pressure force (Fp) is also normal to the surface.

Objectives
The objectives of this experiment are: 1. To determine experimentally the magnitude of the force of pressure ( hydrostatic pressure) and its point of action ( centre of pressure ) on a plane surface, 2. To compare the experimentally results with the theoretical values.

Theoretical background
Consider a plane surface submerged in a liquid as shown below.

Figure 3.1: Hydrostatic force and centre of pressure

Total pressure It is the resultant force exerted by a static fluid on a surface when the fluid comes in contact with the surface. It is also called hydrostatic pressure.

F=

A Where F is the total pressure (hydrostatic pressure) is the mass density of the liquid g is the gravitational acceleration is the submerged area of the plane surface

(1)

is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centroid of the submerged plane surface ( )

Centre of pressure It is the point of application of the total pressure (hydrostatic force ) on the surface.

(2) Where is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centre of pressure is the moment of inertia of the plane about its centroid G

3.3 There are another calculation method to find both total pressure and centre of pressure This is based on figure 1. Since the pressure is everywhere normal to the surface, the resultant pressure force (Fp) is also normal to the surface. The magnitude of Fp is

where p = ysin , = specific weight of the fluid, y = distance measured from level of zero pressure and measured in the plane of the surface, and = angle which the plane of the surface makes with the horizontal. For constant and ,

where

= y coordinate of the centroid of the surface and

is the pressure at the centroid of the

surface. Fp acts at ycp, called the center of pressure. The resultant pressure force acting at this center of pressure must give the same moment as the distributed pressures, so ycp can be found from

where Io = moment of inertia about the level of zero pressure for the surface on which the pressure force is acting and = moment of inertia about the horizontal centroid axis. Notice that

Fp is calculated using the pressure at the centroid of the surface but the resultant pressure force acts at ycp which is lower than the centroid.

3. Apparatus

Figure 4.1 4.1 Specification [1] Apparatus for investigating the hydrostatic pressure in liquids [2] l x w x h 400x500x360mm, 10kg [3] Determination of the resulting compression force using weights on lever

[4] Lever 250mm [5] Measuring tank with water level scale

4.2 Technical Data Set of weights: 1x 2.5N, 1x 2N, 2x 1N, 1x 0.5N Length of lever: 250mm Tank with angular scale: 90 Capacity: 2ltr Water level scale: 200cl

Experimental Procedures

Part A: Vertical plane surface ( = 0)

1. Counterbalancing the water vessel 1. By using the detent, the water vessel was set to an angle of =0. 2. The unit was counterbalanced with the rotating slider. The stop pin was precisely in the middle of the hole. 3. The water, rider and appended weight were removed during the counterbalancing process. 2. Measurement 1. The rider was mounted and the lever arm was set to any position. The lever arm was recorded which was the distance from the rider to the centre of rotation of the water vessel.

The appended weight was placed and the value was recorded. 2. 3. Water was added into the water vessel until the unit was balanced. The level of water in the vessel was recorded. Steps 4 and 5 were repeated at 5 values of appended weight.

Part B: Inclined plane surface ( =20)

1. 2.

Steps 1 and 2 of the counterbalancing were repeated for a different angle. Steps 3 to 6 of Part A were repeated for measurement.

4. Theoretical Calculation
6.1 Total Pressure

Where: I. F is the total pressure (hydrostatic force)

II.

is the mass density of the liquid g is the gravitational acceleration is the submerged area of the plane surface

III.
IV.

*A will change according to the value of s

V. VI.

is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centroid of the submerged plane surface ( = )

6.1.1Theoretical Part A = = 0

No. 1

= 1.0727 N

No. 4

= 4.950 N

6.1.2 Theoretical Part B = = 20

No. 1

= 0.847 N

No. 3

= 3.25 N

6.2 Centre of pressure

Where: is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centre of pressure

is the moment of inertia of the plane surface about its centroid G is the submerged area of the plane surface is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centroid of the Submerged plane surface ( = )

6.2.1 Centre of pressure for part A

Triangle profile

where h = 0.054 m

= = 9.84

=
Trapezoidal profile

+ 0.027 = 0.036 m

where h = 0.116 m

= = 9.76

=
= 0.078 m

+ 0.058

6.3 Centre of pressure part B: =10

Triangle profile

where h = 0.057 m

= = 1.157

Where

= 0.0285 m

=
= 0.038 m

+ 0.0285

Trapezoidal profile

where h = 0.125 m

= = 1.22

=
= 0.083 m

+ 0.0625

6.4 Calculation of hydrostatic force and centre of pressure from experimental data

Case 1 : Triangular profile of pressure distribution

*All units are in mm

figure 6.1

Case 2 : Trapezoidal profile of pressure distribution *All units are in mm

Figure 6.2

No.

Lever Arm L(mm)

Appended Weight FG(N) S1(m m) 0 0 0 0 0

Water level S2(m m) 54 78 98 116 134 S(mm ) 54 78 98 116 134

Centre of Pressure (mm ) 182.0 0 174.0 0 167.3 0 162.6 3 159.9 2 h* (mm) 36.00 52.00 65.30 78.60 93.90

Hydrostatic Force F (N)

1 2 3 4 5

200 200 200 200 200

1 2 3 4 5

1.099 2.299 3.586 4.919 6.253

Data and Calculation

Part A: = 0

Table 7.1

Part B : = 20 Table 7.2

Lever Arm No. L(mm)

Appended Weight FG(N) S1(m m) 14 14 14 14 14

Water level S2(m m) 62 88 108 126 144 S(mm ) 48 74 94 112 130

Centre of Pressure h* (mm) 32.00 49.30 62.67 77.07 91.88

Hydrostatic Force F (N)

(mm) 182.9 7 173.4 0 166.6 6 162.8 3 159.4 3

1 2 3 4 5

200 200 200 200 200

1 2 3 4 5

1.093 2.307 3.600 4.913 6.272

7.1 Example of calculation of Part A: =0

For Triangular case;

For trapezoidal case;

7.2 Example of calculation of Part B: =20

For Triangular case;

For trapezoidal case;

Conclusion
As the conclusion, this experiment is successfully because the result that we got from experiment are not far and precise to theoretical result. We also want to thank to lecturer, En. Mohd Redza bin Dollah Sajat that gives us a guidance and knowledge about hydrostatic pressure on plane surface and operating the tools that need many steps and procedures with fulfilled the safety aspect.

References
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Fluid-pressure#Applications http://www.onlineconversion.com/density_all.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrostatic_pressure#Hydrostatic_pressure time 3.00 15/1/09 Yunus A. Cengel and John M. Cimbala, Fluid Mechanics Fundamental and Its Applications, 6th ed, McGraw-Hill.
Finnemore, E.J., and Franzini, J.B. Fluid Mechanics with Engineering Applications, 10th ed. McGraw-Hill, Singapore, 2006.

Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, Sixth Edition in SI units. Author by Cengel and Boles.