CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

UITM PAHANG, KAMPUS JENGKA

WATER ENGINEERING LABORATORY
ECW341
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEPTEMBER 2018 – JANUARY 2019

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : CENTRE PRESSURE

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 11/9/2019
GROUP : EC1105C
GROUP MEMBERS : 1.MUHAMMAD NURFAIZ BIN ZURAIDI(2017253028)
2.NUR AMINAH ROHAILI BT ROSLI (2017209508)
3. NUR HALIZATULLAH BT OMAR(20172267998)
4 SITI AISYAH HANIN BT MOHAMMED (2017207482)
LECTURER : DR. KHAIRI KHALID
LEVEL OF OPENESS : 0

NO ELEMENT COPO Marks COMMENTS

1 INTRODUCTION

2 BASIC CONCEPT

SUMMARY OF
3
PROCEDURES/METHOD
ANALYSIS AND
4
INTERPETATION OF DATA

5 DISCUSSION OF RESULT 2 4 6 8 10

6 CONCLUSIONS 2 4 6 8 10

TOTAL MARKS /20

INTRODUCTION

The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities (assigned as Level 0) will not be
able to provide the avenue for students to enhance independent learning activities and
inculcate creativity and innovation. The traditional method is fully prescriptive where the
three elements namely problem, ways & means and answers are provided/fully given to the
students

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the test is:

To determine the hydrostatic thrust acting on a plane surface immersed in water and the
position of centre of pressure.

PROCEDURE

i) Position the balance arm on the knife edges .

ii) Locate the weight hanger in the groove at the end of the balance arm.
iii) Ensure that the drain valve is closed.
iv) Move the counter balance weight until the balance arm is horizontal.
v) Start by reducing a small mass (50g) to the weight hanger.
vi) Release the water by opening the drain valve until the balance arm is horizontal.
vii) Measure the depth of immersion from the scale on the face of quadrant (to
obtained accurate results, the reading should be taken from the meniscus).
viii) Repeat the above procedure by reducing a further weight from the weight hanger
depending on the number of samples required (50g intervals are suggested).

Note any factors that you think are likely to affect the accuracy of your results
Notation:

L = horizontal distance between the pivot point and the balance pan.

D = height of the quadrant face.

H = vertical distance between the bottom of the quadrant face and the pivot arm

C = centroid of the quadrant.

P = centre of pressure on the quadrant face

RESULTS

B = 20 cm , H = 20 cm

Partially Submerged

Load (g) Water (mm)

10 21
20 29.5
30 36

Fully Submerged

Load (g) Water (mm)

250 107
300 119
350 131

DISCUSSION
During our previous lab experiment, we have conducted a test to determine the
hydrostatic thrust acting on a plane surface immersed in water and the position of centre of
pressure. Several value and measurements are determined before conducted the test. The
breadth and height of the quadrant are measured to be 20cm each. When the water are
filled, the load are placed to stabilize the quadrant. As for partially submerged, the load are
10g, 20g and 30g. The readings of water level are then measured which is 21mm, 29.5mm
and 36mm respectively. Later then, the fully submerged test are conducted and several data
are obtained after placing certain load. The load placed are 250g, 300g and 350g. The water
level are obtained and read at the quadrant after each load are placed which is 107mm,
119mm and 131mm respectively.
Conclusion
As a conclusion ,it is accurately measures the height of the water in the chamber needed to
calculate the center of pressure at which this force acts, with a low standard deviation from
the theoretical water height for both partially and fully submerged surfaces. This is confirmed
by the linear plots of theoretical versus measured water height in which the slope is
approximately one for both the partially and fully submerged surfaces.
The data gathered from the pressure system also supports the relationships between
variables as they are presented in the equations given to calculate hydrostatic force, center
of pressure, and mass. In other words, the hydrostatic force acting on both partially and fully
submerged vertical rectangular surface increases as the height of the fluid (water) in the
chamber increases. This relationship is supported by the plots of mass versus theoretical
height when the balance of the moments about the pivot is considered. For both partially and
fully submerged surfaces, the center of pressure (measured from the balance bridge arm
down) decreases towards the centroid of the quadrant as the height of water in the chamber
increases.