PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Puerto Princesa City

Civil Engineering Department

Hydraulics
Experiment No.9
Name: Raymund Benz Latonio Course &Year: BSCE – 4A
Michael John Cordero
Stephen Harold Rayoso
Group: 11 Date: January 18, 2018

I. Title: Determination of Center of Pressure

II. Objectives: To locate the center of pressure of the total hydrostatic force on a
submerged surface.

III. Apparatus:

1. Hydraulic bench
2. Center of pressure apparatus
3. Set of weights
4. Tap water
5. Measuring stick

IV. Theory:
Any plane surface subjected to hydrostatic pressure is acted upon by an infinite of
parallel forces the magnitudes of which vary with the depth, below the free surface.
These parallel forces may be replaced by a single resultant force F. The point on the
surface at which this resultant force acts is called the center of pressure.
 Consider an element strip of breadth b, the thickness dy, distance y from B.
The intensity of the unit pressure on the strip is p= γ y sin ϴ
The total pressure on the strip dF = γ y sin ϴ b (dy)
The total pressure on the surface F = Σ γ y sin ϴ b (dy)

But Σ γ y b dy = 1st moment of area of surface about B

=yA

Where: A = area of the surface

Therefore F = γ ȳ sin ϴ A so F = γ h Ā

It should be noted that the total pressure on a plane surface is independent of the angle of
inclination of the surface of the liquid to the free surface of the liquid.
The moment of P about B = sum of the pressure on the elements strip about B.
Therefore F (Yp) = Σ γ y2 b (dy)
But Σ γ2 b (dy) = 2nd moment area IB and F = γ h Ā

Therefore Yp = IB / ȳA
But IB = Io / ȳA
Therefore Yp = e + ȳ

V. Procedure:
1. Set up the apparatus.
2. Measure the dimensions b, d, h, y and the distance r from the knife edge axis to
the balance axis.
3. Adjust the counter balance weight until the balance arm is horizontal.
4. Place a mass of 50 grams on the balance pan. Admit water into the Perspex
tank until the balance arm is horizontal. Note the water on the scale. Fine
adjustment of the water level may be achieved by overfilling and slowly
draining using the drain cock.
5. Repeat procedure 4 for different masses noting the corresponding water levels.
 VI. Sketch

VII. Computations

a.) Partial Immersion:

(0.176)(9.81) 85
𝑊= = 0.00173 𝐾𝑁 𝐻𝑠 = = 42.5 𝑚𝑚
1000 2

ℎ ℎ2 𝑑 𝐼𝑔
𝐹 = 𝛾𝐴ℎ = 𝛾 ( 2 ) 𝑏ℎ = 𝛾𝑏 ( ) 𝑌𝑝 = 200 − ( 2 − 𝑒) , 𝑒 = 𝐴𝑦
2
85 2 1
75 (
1000
) (75)(85)3
12
𝐹 = 9.81 ( )( ) 𝑒= 85 = 14.167 𝑚𝑚
1000 2 75(85)( 2 )

85
𝐹 = 0.00266 𝐾𝑁 𝑌𝑝 = 200 − ( 2 − 14.167) = 171.667 𝑚𝑚

171.667
𝐹(𝑌𝑝) = 0.00266 ( ) = 0.000456 𝐾𝑁 ∙ 𝑚
1000

𝑊𝑟 = 0.00173(0.289) = 0.00049997 𝐾𝑁 ∙ 𝑚

0.00049997 − 0.000456
%𝐸 = × 100 = 8.795%
0.00049997
 b.) Full Immersion:

(0.271)(9.81) 100
𝑊= = 0.00266 𝐾𝑁 𝐻𝑠 = 111 − = 61 𝑚𝑚
1000 2
𝑑 ℎ 𝐼𝑔
𝐹 = 𝛾𝐴ℎ = 𝛾 (ℎ − ) 𝑏𝑑 𝑌𝑝 = 200 − ( 2 − 𝑒) , 𝑒 = 𝐴𝑦
2
1
111 0.1 75 100 (75)(100)3
12
𝐹 = 9.81 ( 1000 − ) ( 1000 ) ( 1000 ) 𝑒= = 13.661 𝑚𝑚
2 75(100)(61)
100
𝐹 = 0.00449 𝐾𝑁 𝑌𝑝 = 200 − ( − 13.661) = 163.661 𝑚𝑚
2

163.661
𝐹(𝑌𝑝) = 0.00449 ( ) = 0.000735 𝐾𝑁 ∙ 𝑚
1000
𝑊𝑟 = 0.00266(0.289) = 0.000769 𝐾𝑁 ∙ 𝑚

0.000769−0.000735
%𝐸 = × 100 = 4.421 %
0.000769

VIII. Tabulated Data

Trial Weight Depth Toroid Dist. Hs Center of Total Mom. Due Wr %E

(KN) of Dimension (mm) pressure Press. F to F (KN.m)
water bxd Yp (KN) F(Yp)
(h) (mm) (mm) (KN.m)
(mm)

1 0.00173 85 42.5 171.667 0.00266 0.000456 0.0005 8.795

75 x 100

2 0.003571 111 61 163.661 0.00449 0.000735 0.000769 4.421

IX. Results & Observation

1. Compare the experimental results Wr with the calculated values of F (Yp) and give
reasons for the discrepancies if any.
Conclusion:

To locate the center of pressure of the total hydrostatic force on a submerged surface, the
ℎ
group first determine the dimension of the toroid, then used the formula: 𝑌𝑝 = 200 − ( 2 − 𝑒),
𝐼𝑔
to get the value of 𝑒 , use the formula: 𝑒 = 𝐴𝑦. To know the %E of the toroid, the group
compute first the weight of it by using the formula: 𝑊 = 𝑚(𝑔), then computed the hydrostatic
ℎ2 𝑑
force by using the formula: 𝐹 = 𝛾𝑏 ( ) for partial immersion and 𝐹 = 𝛾𝐴ℎ = 𝛾 (ℎ − ) 𝑏𝑑
2 2
𝐹(𝑌𝑝)−𝑊𝑟
for full immersion, then use the formula: %𝐸 = × 100%.
𝐹(𝑌𝑝)
 CE 46 B/L Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Lab #: 6
Report Evaluation Rubric Title: Determination of
Center of Pressure
Names: Raymund Benz Latonio
Michael John Cordero
Stephen Harold Rayoso
Lab Group #: 11 Official Grade:
Instructions: (1) This analytic rubric is used to verify that specific tasks have been performed. (2) if a task has
been successfully completed, all points are awarded. (3) No points are awarded if a task is not complete. (4)
Awarding partial points is not an option.
Category Scoring Criteria Points Student Teacher
Evaluation Evaluation
Procedures Specific formula or equations during the lab are shown. 25
25 Points (Write these as procedures on the lab report.)
“Results” of a procedure are clearly recorded. 15
Observations (Some procedures might not have observations)
30 Points Calculations, when required, are clearly shown. 15
(Show these as observations on the lab report.)
Conclusion Summarize the essential lab data and state how the 15
15 Points essential data answers the lab question.
Report is neatly printed in ink, with no visible corrections. 15
Presentation A diagram of the essential apparatus used in the lab is
30 Points drawn in the largest white space on the lab report. (There 15
is always something to draw.)
Score Total Points 100
Self- Students are expected to honestly evaluate their own work. If the difference between the
evaluation student evaluation and the teacher evaluation is more than 10 points, 5 points will be deducted
from the teacher’s score when the grade is recorded.
Deadline Lab reports are due at the beginning of class after lab. Reports will be accepted at the beginning
of the class in the succeeding meetings with a deduction of ten (10) points for every meeting.
Apparatus:

Center of pressure apparatus Hydraulic Bench

Set of Weights Meter Stick

Tap Water