FLUID STATICS

Outline of Chapter 3
The Basic Equation of Fluid Statics
Types of Pressures
Pressure Variation in a Static Fluid
Example Problem
Hydrostatic Force on Submerged Surfaces

Example Problems

Hydrostatic forces

Turbine
Energy conversion
Bernoulli equation

Hydrostatic uplift

What does Static Fluid mean?

The word statics is derived from Greek word
statikos= motionless
Statics means that the fluid is not moving, i.e., its
velocity =0; and its acceleration = 0.
Fluid velocity = 0 means that it does not flow.
If a static fluid does not flow, how much shear
stress the fluid is exposed to?

What does Static Fluid mean?

In this case, fluid can be exposed to only
normal forces and behaves as

a rigid body no deformation

The Basic Equations

of Fluid Statics
Newtons 2nd law:

Divide both sides d by gives:

The Basic Equations of Fluid Statics

Surface Force
z

The Basic Equations of Fluid Statics

Body Force

 Surface Force

 Total Force

 Newtons Second Law

Pascals Laws
Pascals laws:
Pressure acts uniformly in all directions on a small
volume (point) of a fluid
In a fluid confined by solid boundaries, pressure
acts perpendicular to the boundary it is a normal
force.

Fluid statics

Chee 223

2.22

Direction of fluid pressure on boundaries

Furnace duct

Pipe or tube
Heat exchanger

Dam

Pressure is a Normal Force

(acts perpendicular to
surfaces)
It is also called a Surface
Force

Absolute and Gauge Pressure

Absolute pressure: The pressure of a fluid is expressed relative
to that of vacuum (=0)
Gauge pressure: Pressure expressed as the difference
between the pressure of the fluid and that of the surrounding
atmosphere.
Usual pressure guages record guage pressure. To calculate
absolute pressure:

Pabs Patm Pgauge

Units for Pressure

Unit
1 pascal (Pa)

Definition or
Relationship
1 kg m-1 s-2

1 bar

1 x 105 Pa

1 atmosphere (atm) 101,325 Pa

1 torr

1 / 760 atm

760 mm Hg

1 atm

14.696 pounds per

sq. in. (psi)

1 atm

Pressure Variation in a Static Fluid

Reference
level and
pressure

Location and
pressure of
interest

Measurement of Pressure
Manometers are devices in which one or more
columns of a liquid are used to determine the
pressure difference between two points.
U-tube manometer
Inclined-tube manometer

Measurement of Pressure Differences

Apply the basic equation of static fluids to
both legs of manometer, realizing that
P2=P3.

P2 Pa b g (Z m Rm )
P3 Pb b g ( Z m ) a gRm

Pa Pb gRm ( a b )

Inclined Manometer
To measure small pressure differences need to magnify Rm
some way.

Pa Pb gR1 ( a b ) sin

Hydrostatic Force on Submerged Surfaces

In order to fully determine the force on a surface
submerged in a liquid, we must determine the
following:
1. The magnitude of the force;
2. The direction of the force; and
3. The line of action of the force.

1. Direction of the Force on a

Plane Submerged Surface
Since fluid is not moving (static), there is no
shear, i.e., only normal forces might exist.
Since this force is caused by pressure of fluid,
it will always be normal to the surface.
This determines the direction of the force.

3- Line of Action of the Force on a

Plane Submerged Surface

Hydrostatic Force on Submerged Surfaces

Plane Submerged Surface

We can find FR, and y and x,

by integrating, or

Hydrostatic Force on Submerged Surfaces

Plane Submerged Surface
Algebraic Equations Total Pressure Force

Hydrostatic Force on Submerged Surfaces

Plane Submerged Surface
Algebraic Equations Net Pressure Force

Centroid Location for Common Shapes

Fluid statics

Chee 223

2.43

Hydrostatic Force on Submerged Surfaces

Curved Submerged Surface

Hydrostatic Force on Submerged Surfaces

Curved Submerged Surface
Horizontal Force = Equivalent Vertical Plane Force
Vertical Force = Weight of Fluid Directly Above
(+ Free Surface Pressure Force)

Buoyancy

Buoyancy

Buoyancy
A body immersed in a fluid experiences a vertical buoyant
force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces
A floating body displaces its own weight in the fluid in
which it floats
h1

The upper surface of

the body is subjected
to a smaller force than
the lower surface
A net force is acting
upwards

Free liquid surface

F1

h
2

F2

Buoyancy
The net force due to pressure in the vertical direction is:
FB = F2- F1 = (Pbottom - Ptop) (DxDy)
The pressure difference is:
Pbottom Ptop = g (h2-h1) = g H
Combining:
FB = g H (DxDy)
Thus the buoyant force is:
FB = g V

Compressible fluid
Gases are compressible i.e. their density varies with
temperature and pressure =P M /RT

For small elevation changes (as in engineering

applications, tanks, pipes etc) we can neglect the
effect of elevation on pressure
In the general case start from:
dP
g
dz

f or T To const :
g M ( z 2 z1 )
P2 P1 exp

RT
o

Compressible
Linear Temperature Gradient

T T0 ( z z 0 )
p

dp
gM
p p R
0

dz
z T0 ( z z0 )
0

T0 ( z z0 )
p( z ) p0

T0

gM

Atmospheric Equations
Assume constant

p ( z ) p0 e

g M ( z z0 )

RT0

Assume linear
T0 ( z z0 )
p( z ) p0

T
0

gM

Temperature variation with altitude

for the U.S. standard atmosphere

Compressible Isentropic
P

constant

P1

T P

T1 P1

Cp

1 y

Cv

1 gMDz

P2 P1 1
RT1

1 gMDz

T2 T1 1
RT1

Vocabulary List
1. Static fluid
2. Manometer.
3. Hydrostatic pressure.
4. Gauge pressure.
5. Vacuum.
6. Hydrostatic force on a submerged surface.

The End
Terima kasih

Dam Design
Design concern: (Hydrostatic Uplift) Hydrostatic pressure
above the heel (upstream edge) of the dam may cause
seepage with resultant uplift beneath the dam base (depends
largely on the supporting material of the dam). This reduces the
dams stability to sliding and overturning by effectively reducing
the weight of the dam structure. (Question: What prevents the
dam from sliding?)
Determine the minimum compressive stresses in the base of a
concrete gravity dam as given below. It is important that this
value should be greater than zero because (1) concrete has
poor tensile strength. Damage might occur near the heel of the
dam. (2) The lifting of the dam structure will accelerate the
seeping rate of the water underneath the dam and further
increase hydrostatic uplift and generate more instability.

First, calculate the weight of the dam (per unit width):

W=Vg=(2.5)(1000)(20)(40)(1)(9.8)=19.6106 (N)
The static pressure at a depth of y: P(y)=wgy

The total resultant force acting on the dam by the water pressure is:
R= P(y)dy=

h 30

h2
w gydy w g
2

2
6

(1000)(9.8)(1/
2)(30)

4.4

10
(N)

20 m

Free surface
concrete=2.5 water
30 m

40 m

The resultant force, R, is acting at a depth h below the free surface so that
h3
w g
h 30
h3
2
3 2h 20( m )
Rh= P(y)ydy= ( w gy ) ydy w g y dy w g , h
3
R
3
0
Assume the load distribution under the dam is linear (it might not be linear if the soil
distribution is not uniform)
Therefore, the stress distribution can be written as
min
(x)= min max
x
20
W
Free surface

20 m

In order to reach equilibrium, both the sum of forces and

the sum of moments have to balance to zero

0, R=Fdam,x (frictional force and the air drag force)

20

0, W Fdam , y ( x )dx 10( max min )

0

min

1.96 106 ( N ) max min

max

Example (cont.)
The sum of moments has to be zero also: Taking moment w.r.t. the heel of the dam

20

0, R(10) W (10) ( x ) xdx 0

0
20

(10)(4.4 10 19.6 10 ) max xdx

6

max min
20

20

x 2 dx

240 106 133.3 max 66.7 min

Solve: max 1.64 106 ( N ), min 0.32 106 ( N )
The minimum compressive stress is significantly lower than the maximum stress
The hydrostatic lift under the dam (as a result of the buoyancy induced by water seeping
under the dam structure) can induce as high as one half of the maximum
hydrostatic head at the heel of the dam and gradually decrease to zero at the other end.
1
That is lift ( w gh ) (0.5)(1000)(9.8)(30) 0.147 106 ( N )
2
Therefore, the effective compressive stress will only be 0.173(=0.32-0.147) 106 ( N ).