Pressure and Fluid Statics.

Pressure
Pressure is defined as a normal force
exerted by a fluid per unit area.
Units of pressure are N/m 2, which is called
a pascal (Pa).
Since the unit Pa is too small for pressures
encountered in practice, kilopascal (1 kPa
= 103 Pa) and megapascal (1 MPa = 106
Pa) are commonly used.
Other units include bar, atm, kgf/cm2,
lbf/in2=psi.
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Absolute, gage, and vacuum pressures

Actual pressure at a give point is called
the absolute pressure.
Most pressure-measuring devices are
calibrated to read zero in the atmosphere,
and therefore indicate gage pressure,
Pgage=Pabs - Patm.
Pressure below atmospheric pressure are
called vacuum pressure, Pvac=Patm - Pabs.
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Absolute, gage, and vacuum pressures

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Variation of Pressure with Depth

In the presence of a gravitational
field, pressure increases with
depth because more fluid rests
on deeper layers.
To obtain a relation for the
variation of pressure with depth,
consider rectangular element
Force balance in z-direction gives

maz 0

P2 x P1x g xz 0

Dividing by x and rearranging

gives

P P2 P1 g z s z
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

The Barometer
Atmospheric pressure is
measured by a device called a
barometer; thus, atmospheric
pressure is often referred to as
the barometric pressure.
PC can be taken to be zero
since there is only Hg vapor
above point C, and it is very
low relative to Patm.
Change in atmospheric
pressure due to elevation has
many effects: Cooking, nose
bleeds, engine performance,
aircraft performance.

PC gh Patm
Patm gh
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Pressure at a Point
Pressure at any point in a fluid is the same
in all directions.
Pressure has a magnitude, but not a
specific direction, and thus it is a scalar
quantity.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Variation of Pressure with Depth

Pressure in a fluid at rest is independent of the
shape of the container.
Pressure is the same at all points on a horizontal
plane in a given fluid.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Pascals Law
Pressure applied to a
confined fluid increases
the pressure throughout
by the same amount.
In picture, pistons are at
same height:
F1 F2
F2 A2
P1 P2

A1 A2
F1 A1

Ratio A2/A1 is called ideal

mechanical advantage

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Scuba Diving and Hydrostatic Pressure

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Scuba Diving and Hydrostatic Pressure

Pressure on diver at
100 ft (30.5 m)?

1m
kg

m
Pgage ,2 gz 998 3 9.81
100 ft

2
m

s
3.28 ft
1atm

298.5kPa
2.95atm
101.325
kPa

Pabs ,2 Pgage ,2 Patm 2.95atm 1atm 3.95atm

100 ft

Danger of emergency
ascent?

PV
1 1 PV
2 2
If you hold your breath on ascent, your lung
volume would increase by a factor of 4, which
would result in embolism and/or death.
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Boyles law

V1 P2 3.95atm

4
V2 P1
1atm
Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

The Manometer
An elevation change of
z in a fluid at rest
corresponds to P/g.
A device based on this is
called a manometer.
A manometer consists of
a U-tube containing one
or more fluids such as
mercury, water, alcohol,
or oil.
Heavy fluids such as
mercury are used if large
pressure differences are
anticipated.

P1 P2
P2 Patm gh
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Mutlifluid Manometer
For multi-fluid systems
Pressure change across a fluid
column of height h is P = gh.
Pressure increases downward, and
decreases upward.
Two points at the same elevation in a
continuous fluid are at the same
pressure.
Pressure can be determined by
adding and subtracting gh terms.

P2 1 gh1 2 gh2 3 gh3 P1

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Measuring Pressure Drops

Manometers are well-suited to measure
pressure drops across
valves, pipes, heat
exchangers, etc.
Relation for pressure
drop P1-P2 is obtained by
starting at point 1 and
adding or subtracting gh
terms until we reach point
2.
If fluid in pipe is a gas,
2>>1 and P1-P2= gh
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Problem
The manometer fluid in Fig. is mercury. Estimate the volume
flow in the tube if the flowing fluid is (a) gasoline and (b)
nitrogen, at 20C and 1 atm.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Fluid Statics
Fluid Statics deals with problems associated with
fluids at rest.
In fluid statics, there is no relative motion between
adjacent fluid layers.
Therefore, there is no shear stress in the fluid
trying to deform it.
The only stress in fluid statics is normal stress
Normal stress is due to pressure
Variation of pressure is due only to the weight of the
fluid fluid statics is only relevant in presence of
gravity fields.

Applications: Floating or submerged bodies,

water dams and gates, liquid storage tanks, etc.
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Hoover Dam

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Forces on Plane Surfaces

On a plane surface, the
hydrostatic forces form a
system of parallel forces
For many applications,
magnitude and location of
application, which is
called center of
pressure, must be
determined.
Atmospheric pressure
Patm can be neglected
when it acts on both sides
of the surface.
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Resultant Force

The magnitude of FR acting on a plane surface of a

completely submerged plate in a homogenous fluid
is equal to the product of the pressure PC at the
centroid of the surface and the area A of the
surface
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Formula deduction

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Center of Pressure
Line of action of resultant force
FR=PCA does not pass through
the centroid of the surface. In
general, it lies underneath
where the pressure is higher.
Vertical location of Center of
Pressure is determined by
equation the moment of the
resultant force to the moment
of the distributed pressure
force.

y p yC

I xx ,C

yc A

Ixx,C is tabulated for simple

geometries.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Problem
Gate AB is hinged at point B. The gate is 1.2 m long and 0.8 m into the paper. Compute
the mass of the gate that would not let the oil to escape.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Forces on Curved Surfaces

FR on a curved surface is more involved since it

requires integration of the pressure forces that
change direction along the surface.
Easiest approach: determine horizontal and
vertical components FH and FV separately.
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Forces on Curved Surfaces

Horizontal force component on curved surface:
FH=Fx. Line of action on vertical plane gives y
coordinate of center of pressure on curved
surface.
Vertical force component on curved surface:
FV=Fy+W, where W is the weight of the liquid in
the enclosed block W=gV. x coordinate of the
center of pressure is a combination of line of
action on horizontal plane (centroid of area) and
line of action through volume (centroid of volume).
Magnitude of force FR=(FH2+FV2)1/2
Angle of force is = tan-1(FV/FH)
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Problem
A water trough [trf, canal-comedero] of semi-circular cross
section of radius 0.5 m consists of two symmetric parts hinged
to each other at the bottom. The two parts are held together by
a cable and turnbuckles (tensores) placed every 3 m along the
length of the trough. Calculate the tension in each cable when
the trough is filled to the rim.
1m

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Buoyancy and Stability

Buoyancy is due to the fluid displaced by a
body. FB=fgV.
Archimedes principal : The buoyant
force acting on a body immersed in a fluid
is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced
by the body, and it acts upward through
the centroid of the displaced volume.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

The Golden Crown of Hiero II, King of

Syracuse
Archimedes, 287-212 B.C.
Hiero, 306-215 B.C.
Hiero learned of a rumor where
the goldsmith replaced some of
the gold in his crown with silver.
Hiero asked Archimedes to
determine whether the crown was
pure gold.
Archimedes had to develop a
nondestructive testing method
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

The Golden Crown of Hiero II, King of

Syracuse
The weight of the crown and
nugget are the same in air: Wc =
cVc = Wn = nVn.
If the crown is pure gold, c=n
which means that the volumes
must be the same, Vc=Vn.
In water, the buoyancy force is
B=H2OV.
If the scale becomes unbalanced,
this implies that the Vc Vn, which
in turn means that the c n
Goldsmith was shown to be a
fraud!

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Buoyancy and Stability

Buoyancy force FB is equal
only to the displaced
volume fgVdisplaced.
Three scenarios possible
body<fluid: Floating body
body=fluid: Neutrally buoyant
body>fluid: Sinking body

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Problem
The density of a liquid is to be
determined by an old 1-cm-diameter
cylindrical hydrometer whose division
marks are completely wiped out. The
hydrometer is first dropped in water, and
the water level is marked. The
hydrometer is then dropped into the
other liquid, and it is observed that the
mark for water has risen 0.5 cm above
the liquid-air interface. If the height of the
water mark is 10 cm, determine the
density of the liquid.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Stability of Immersed Bodies

Rotational stability of immersed bodies depends upon

relative location of center of gravity G and center of
buoyancy B.
G below B: stable
G above B: unstable or stable (it depends on the case)
G coincides with B: neutrally stable.
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Stability of Floating Bodies

If body is bottom heavy
(G lower than B), it is
always stable.
Floating bodies can be
stable when G is higher
than B due to shift in
location of center
buoyancy and creation of
restoring moment.
Measure of stability is the
metacentric height GM. If
GM>0, ship is stable.
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Pressure Force on a Fluid Element

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Rigid-Body Motion
There are special cases where a body of fluid can undergo rigidbody motion: linear acceleration, and rotation of a cylindrical
container.

In these cases, no shear is developed.

Newton's 2nd law of motion can be used to derive an equation of
motion for a fluid that acts as a rigid body
P
P
P

a
,

a
,
g ax
x
y
In Cartesian coordinates(up-directed z): x
y
z

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Linear Acceleration
Particular case: container is moving on a straight path

ax 0, a y az 0
P
P
P
ax ,
0,
g
x
y
z

Total differential of P

dP ax dx gdz

Pressure difference between 2 points

P2 P1 ax x2 x1 g z2 z1
Find the rise by selecting 2 points on free surface P 2 =
P1

zs zs 2 zs1

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ax
x2 x1
g

Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Problem
A fish tank 16-in by 27-in by 14-in deep is
carried in a car which may experience
acceleration as high as 6 m/s2. (a)
Assuming rigid-body motion, estimate the
maximum water depth to avoid spilling.
(b)Which is the best way to align the tank?

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

The tank of water is full

and open to the
atmosphere of 15 psi at
point A. For what
horizontal acceleration,
in ft/s2, will the pressure
at point B be (a)
atmospheric; and (b)
zero
absolute
(neglecting cavitation)?

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Rotation in a Cylindrical Container

Container is rotating about the z-axis
ar r 2 , a az 0

P
P
P
r 2 ,
0,
g
r

Total differential of P

dP r 2 dr gdz

On an isobar, dP = 0
dzisobar r 2
2 2

zisobar
r C1
dr
g
2g

Equation of the free surface (z=h0+h, r=R)

2 2
zs h0
R 2r 2

4g
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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics

Problem
A 16-cm-diameter open cylinder 27 cm
high is full of water. Find the central rigidbody rotation rate for which (a) one-third of
the water will spill out; and (b) the botton
center of the can will be exposed.

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Chapter 3: Pressure and Fluid Statics