Experiment # 01

Statement of the Problem

Hydrostatic Pressure Measurement

Experiment Objective:
1. To determine the hydrostatic thrust acting on a plane surface immersed in water when
the surface is partially submerged or fully submerged.
2. To determine the position of the line of the action of the thrust and to compare the
position determined by experiment with the theoretical position.

CLO/PLO Judged
Level of
Sr.No. Outcome PLO
Learning
Measure key variables of interest (such as discharge coefficient,
1 coefficient of velocity and coefficient of contraction etc.) with P4 PLO4
confidence and proficiency.

Introduction
Many engineering structures such as dams, flood control gates and fluid storage tanks are
essential components of large hydraulic structures. Many of these structures are constructed to
provide water supply and irrigation and they play an important role in maintaining the well-
being of mankind. The design of these components necessitates the understanding of how fluid
forces act. The Hydrostatic Pressure apparatus has been designed to study the hydrostatic of an
object immersed in the fluid. It will enable students to measure the static thrust exerted by a
fluid on a submerged surface while allowing them to compare the magnitude and direction of
the force with theory.
In this experiment, you will be using an immersed quadrant tank pivoted at a knife-edge pivot
to determine the center of pressure for different values of the hydrostatic force. This is achieved
by computing the moment, M required to counter the moment induced by the hydrostatic force
due to water acting on the quadrant tank. The restoring (counter-clockwise) moment needed to
overcome the clockwise moment (about the pivot) caused by water is affected by placing
known weights on the left-hand end of the apparatus. In the experiment, if the clockwise
moment (induced by water) just balances the counter-clockwise moment (caused by the
weights), the moment arm and hence the center of pressure can be computed. The latter can
then be compared with that calculated theoretically.

Theory
Fluid force is constant at any particular depth but varies vertically. This force is calculated as
liquid weight per unit volume times the depth. The total force exerted by the liquid on the ring
section is non-uniformly applied vertically. When the quadrant is immersed in water it is
possible to analyze the forces acting on the surfaces of the quadrant as follows: The hydrostatic
 Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual

force at any point on the curved surface is normal to the surface and therefore resolves through
the pivot point because this is located at the origin of the radii. Hydrostatic forces on the upper
and lower curved surfaces, therefore, have no net effect – no torque to affect the equilibrium
of the assembly because all of these forces pass through the pivot. The forces on the sides of
the quadrant are horizontal and cancel out (equal and opposite). The hydrostatic force on the
vertical submerged face is counteracted by the balanced weight W. The resultant hydrostatic
force on the face can, therefore, be calculated from the value of the balance weight and the
depth of the water as follows:
The hydrostatic pressure of liquids is the "gravitational pressure" Phyd. It rises due to the
intrinsic weight as the depth t increases and is calculated from

Phyd   gt
= Density of water
g = Acceleration due to gravity (g=9.81 m/s2)
t = Distance from the liquid surface
To calculate forces acting on masonry dams or ships’ hulls, for example, from the hydrostatic
pressure, two steps are required:
 Reduce the pressure load on an active surface down to a resultant force Fp, which is
applied at a point of application of force, the "center of pressure", and vertical to the
active surface.
 Determine the position of this center of pressure by determining a planar center of force
on the active surface.
From the formulations of xcp and ycp, it is noted that the center of pressure is always lower than
the centroid of the plane area.

Figure 1.1 Hydrostatic Pressure Demonstration.

Referring to Figure 2, L = Distance between suspended mass and fulcrum/pivot point. D =

Height of the end surface. B = Width of the end surface. H = Total depth of quadrant. C =
Centroid of the end surface. P = Center of the pressure of plane surface. d = Depth of immersion
in water. F = Hydrostatic force exerted on the quadrant.

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Figure 1.2: Lab Apparatus.

Case 1:
Partially submerged vertical plane surface

Figure 1.3: Partially submerged wall.

h = Depth of centroid from the water surface.

h′ = Depth of center of pressure from the
water surface.
h′′ = Distance between fulcrum/pivot point and the center of pressure.
Thrust on the surface:
For a partially submerged plane surface,
F = ρghcA
where, A = B × d and hc = d ÷ 2
Thus,
F = ρg (Bd2/2)

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 Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual

Moment of thrust about fulcrum/pivot point:

Moment, M = F × h′′
Where,
h′′ = depth of the line of action of thrust below fulcrum/pivot point.
At equilibrium condition, a balancing moment is produced by the weight (W) applied to the
hanger at the end of the balance arm = W × L. For static equilibrium the two moments are
equal. Hence,
F × h′′ = W × L
=m×g×L
Thus,
h′′ = mgL/F
h′′ = 2mgL/ ρgBd2
Experimental equation = h′′ = mgL/F = 2mL/ρBd2
Theoretical equation = h′′ = H – d/3
In other words, the distance from the pivot to the center of pressure is the depth to the bottom
of the vertical plane, minus one third the depth of the submerged part of the vertical plane. So
the center of pressure on a partially submerged plane will always be one third of d up from the
base of the plane surface.

Case 2:
Fully submerged vertical plane surface

Figure 1.4: Fully Immersed Vertical Plane Surface.

h = Depth of centroid from the water surface.

h′ = Depth of center of pressure from the water surface.
h′′ = Distance between fulcrum/pivot point and the center of pressure.

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 Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual

Thrust on the surface:

For a fully submerged plane surface, from Equation 1,

F = ρghcA

where
A=B×D
hc = D ÷ 2
Thus,

F = ρgAh = ρgBD(d – (D/2))

Moment of thrust about fulcrum/pivot point:

Moment, M = F × h′′
Where,
h′′ = depth of line of action of thrust below fulcrum/pivot point.
At equilibrium condition, a balancing moment is produced by the weight (W) applied to the hanger at
the end of the balance arm = W × L. For static equilibrium the two moments are equal. Hence,
F × h′′ = W × L
F × h′′ = m × g × L
But this time,
Experimental equation h′′ = mL/ρBD(d-(D/2))

Theoretical equation = h′′ = {[(d – (D/2))2 + (D2/12)] / ( d – (D/2))} + H – d

Moment Calculation
A balance of moments around the center of motion ‘O’ can be established and checked:

M 0
 0 : FG l  Fp. ID

Figure 1.5: Balance of Moments

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 Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual

Equipment in Use
 Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus
 Weight balance
 Weights
 water beaker
 Scale.

Experimental Procedure
1. First of all, balance the equipment by adding 2 small hangers in the left-hand side lever.
2. Now fill water in the apparatus.
3. Add weights on both hangers to balance the apparatus.
4. Now proceed according to formulas given in the theory below and find out Hydrostatic
Pressure.
5. To verify that the Hydrostatic Pressure calculated is nearly exact, use the conservation
of moment’s law.

Precautions and Safety Measures

1. Pouring water into the tank
 Care must be taken to avoid the quadrant from contact with water when pouring,
this is to prevent any inaccuracy of value taken caused by increases of weight on
quadrant which can affect both readings error on the spirit level of apparatus and
reading of the measurement.
2. Wind loads
 It is recommended to do this experiment in enclosed space, a minor error caused by
the wind loads from the environment may influence the reading of measurement by
increasing the weight on the quadrant.
Observations
Properties of Experiment:
Height of Quadrant, D (m)

Width of Quadrant, B (m)

Length of balance, L (m)

Quadrant to pivot, H (m)

Density (kg/m3)

Gravity (m/s2)

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 Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual

Depth of Immersion 2nd Moment 2nd Moment

Mass, Thrust
Immersion, (Full/ Experimental, h" Theory, h" Error %
m (kg) F (N)
d (m) Partial) (m) (m)

Calculation

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 Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual

Discussion

Marking Rubrics

Marks CLO1 – Level P4 mapped to PLO4 (Investigation)

00 Unable to setup the equipment and performed in a proper manner to get the desire
result.
04 Set up of equipment is not carried out accurately; help is required with several major
details. Consequently measurements of key variable of interest are also not accurate
06 Set up of equipment is carried out accurately; help is required with minor details for
measurements of key variables of interest.
08 Set up of equipment is carried out accurately; no major help is required with
measurements of key variables of the interest. The student is however hesitant and
makes few attempts before measuring accurately.
10 Set up of equipment is carried out accurately, measurements of key variable of interest
is carried out confidently and proficiently.

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