CHAPTER 4

RELATIVE EQUILIBRIUM OF LIQUIDS

HORIZONTAL MOTION
Consider a mass of fluid moving with a linear acceleration as shown in the figure.
Considering a particle in the surface, the forces acting are the weight W=Mg and the fictitious
inertia force (reversed effective force, REF ) which is equal to Ma, and the reaction N which must be
normal to the surface.
From the force polygon shown:

tan = a / g

INCLINED MOTION
Consider a mass of fluid being accelerated upwards at an inclination with the horizontal so
that x = cos and y= sin .
VERTICAL MOTION
Consider a mass of fluid accelerated upwards or downwards with an acceleration of as shown in
the figure. The forces acting at a point h below the liquid surface are the weight of the liquid above
the point , V ,the inertia force M , and the pressure force F = p A , then

P = h ( /g )
ROTATION (ROTATING VESSELS)
When a liquid mass is rotated about a vertical axis at a constant angular speed of
(in radians per second), every particles experiences a normal acceleration of an which is equal to
v/x = x where x is the particle distance from the axis of rotation.
This acceleration causes an inertia force (centrifugal force or reverse normal effective force ) which is
equal to
M an or W/g x.
From the polygon :

tan = CF / W tan = [ (W/ g) x / W) ] tan = x / g

where is the angular speed in radians per second.

NOTE: 1rpm = /
30

y = x / 2g

h = r / 2g
 the relationship between any two points in the parabola can is given by (squared property of
parabola):

=

VOLUME OF PARABOLOID OF REVOLUTION

Volume =
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
RELATIVE EQUILIBRIUM OF LIQUID (MOVING VESSEL)
Problem 4-1G
An open rectangular tank mounted on a truck is 5m long, 2m wide and 2.5m high is filled with water
to a depth of 2m. (a) What maximum horizontal acceleration can be imposed on the tank without
spilling any water and (b) determine the accelerating force on the liquid mass? (c) If the acceleration
is increased to 6m/s2, how much water is spilled out?
ROTATING VESSEL
Problem 4-13G
An open cylindrical tank, 2m in diameter and 4m high contains water to a depth of
3m. It is rotated about its own vertical axis with a constant angular speed .
(a) If = 3 rad/sec., is there any liquid spilled?
(b) What maximum value of (in rpm) can be imposed without spilling any
liquid?
(c) If = 8 rad/s, how much water is spilled out and to what depth will the water
stand when brought to rest?
(d) What angular speed (in rpm) will just zero the depth of water at the center
of the tank?
(e) If = 100rpm, how much area at the bottom of the tank is uncovered?


Problem 4-16G
An open cylindrical tank having a radius of 300mm and a height of 1.2m is full of
water. How fast should it be rotated about its own vertical axis so that 75% of its
volume will be spilled out?
 2 2
h=
2

Since 75% of the total volume is spilled out, the paraboloid will be formed a part outside the vessel
(i.e. with its vortex below the tank)
Vspilled = Vair = 0.75[ 2 (1.2)]
Vair = 0.9 2
But Vair = Vbig paraboloid Vsmall paraboloid
1 1
0.9 2 = 2 h - 2
2 2

1.8r2 = r2h x2y -> Eq. 1

By Squared property of parabola:
2 2 2
= ; 2 = -> Eq.2

In Eq. 1
2
1.8r2 = r2h - ->multiply both sides by h/r2

1.8h = h2 y2
But y = h -1.2
1.8h= h2 (h-1.2)2
h = 2.4m
Finally:
2 (0.3)2
2.4 =
2(9.81)
30
= 22.87 rad/sec x

= 218.4 rpm
ROTATING CLOSED VESSEL
Problem 4-22G
A 1.8m diameter closed cylinder, 2.7m high is completely filled with glycerin
having sp. gr. of 1.6 under a pressure of 245kPa at the top. The steel plates which
form the cylinder are 5mm thick with an ultimate tensile stress of 82Mpa. How fast
can it be rotated about its vertical axis to the point of bursting?
 2 2
h=
2
h = h2 p1/ 2.7
Solve for h h = 29.02 2.7 15.61
1
=
245 h = 10.71m
9.81(1.6)
1 2 (0.9)2
= 15.61m h= = 10.71
2(9.81)
30
The minimum tensile stress occurs at point : = 16.1 rad/sec x

= 153.8 rpm (maximum allowable angular speed)
From St =
2
2 (1.8103 )
82x103 =
2(5)

2 = 455.5 kPa
2 = 2
455.5 = 9.81(1.6)2
2 = 29.02m
Problem 4-25G
A 75mm diameter pipe, 2m long is just filled with oil (sp. gr. = 0.822) and then
capped, and placed on a horizontal position. It is rotated at 27.5 rad/sec about a
vertical axis 0.5m from one end (outside the pipe). What is the pressure in kPa at
the far end of the pipe?
p2 = 2
Solving for h2:
h2 = y2 y1
2 2 2 2 1 2
h2 =
2 2
(27.5)2 2 2
h2 = 2.5 0.5
2(9.81)
h2 = 231.27m
p = (9.81x0.822)(231.27)
p = 1,865 kPa