University Of Zakho

College Of Engineering

Mechanical Department

The Center of Pressure of a Submerged Body

Name :Mohammed Amin Abdo

Experiment No. 8

Stage :2nd
Group: B

26/nov/2019
1. Purpose:
To determine the center of pressure location on submerged rectangular surface and to estimate the
hydrostatic force applied on that surface.

2. Apparatus: The apparatus consists of:

1. Water vessel.
2. Balance pin.
3. Water level scale.
4. Weights.
5. Handle.

3.Theory:
The hydrostatic pressure is calculated from:
p= ρgh c (1)
Where  fluid density, g gravity acceleration and h c the vertical distance starting from the liquid
free surface to that point which required to measure the pressure. Because of no shear stress exists
in a static fluid (fluid not moving), all hydrostatic forces on any element of a submerged surface
must act in a direction normal to the surface. Equation (1) shows that pressure distribution varies
linearly over any inclined surface.
F= p A (2)
Where p itself is related to the depth of the center of the area of the surface, h, through Eq. (1). The
resultant force is not, therefore, applied on the centroid of the surface and the point of action of the
resultant force is named as center of pressure. The center of pressure of a rectangular surface can
easily be found using by:
Ix
y p= ý+ (3)
ý A
F=ρ g h́ A (4)
The fundamental of the previous equations:
Theory one:

p=γ sin θ
dF= pdA=γysinθ dA
❑
F=γsinθ ∫ ydA
A
❑
1
F=γsinθA ∫ ydA
AA
But ¿ is the first moment of area, and ¿then
the equation becomes as:
F=γsinθA ý (5)
If we take the moment on point S then:

❑ ❑
F y p =∫ ydF=∫ yγysinθdA=γsinθ ∫ y 2 dA .
A A

But (∫ )
A
y 2 dA is the second moment of inertia about any axes I xc

Then:
F y p =γsinθ I xc (6)
By applying Equations 5 and 6 we get:
I xc
y p= ý+ . (7)
ý A
Theory two:
The center of pressure of a plane surface can be
found easily by using a balance of moments. The
pressure prism is divided into two sub-volumes and
the balance of moments around point O1 results in:
∑ M O =0 . (8)
A ( h2 +e)= A h2 + A 23h .
1 2 (9)

Where:
A 1= p 1 h
p2− p1
A2= h
2
A=A 1 + A 2
And (e) is the distance of the center of pressure from the planar centroid of the active surface.
Combining Eqns. 1 & 9 can be evaluated as:
1 p −p
e= h 2 1 . (10)
6 p2 + p1

1 h2
e= . (11)
12 y c
To find the distance (e) that refer to the center of the acting force starting from the center of the
gravity is by applying equation 3:

4. Experimental Procedure:
1. Set the water vessel with the balance condition.
2. Add some masses to the hock handle and balance the weight by adding water to the vessel
and again balance them and measure the distance S by the fixed rule.
3. Repeat point 2 for six runs by increasing water and added mass.
 4. Calculate the acting force and the distance (e) for each run.

Run 1 2 3 4 5 6

S (m) 0.046 0.064 0.0715 0.0835 0.089 0.098

Acting F 0.83 1.60 1.9 2.7 22.13 3.76
(N)
Theory 0ne: 0.0076 0.010 0.0019 0.0013 0.00148 0.0016
find (e)
using
Equation
(7)
Theory P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2
0 451.2 0 627.8 0 686.7 0 814.2 0 873.0 0 961.38
Two: find
6 4 3 9
(e) using
e (m) e (m) e (m) e (m) e (m) e (m)
Equation
0.0076 0.010 0.0116 0.013 0.014 0.016
(10)

Calculation:

Run1
 S=4.6cm=0.046m
A=b*h
A=0.08*0.046=0.00368m2
hc=s/2
hc=0.023m
p= ρgh c
p=(1000)(9.81)(0.023)
P=225.63pa
F= p A
F=( 225.63)(0.00368)
F=0.8303N
I
e=
ỳ.A
 b . h3
I=
12
(0.08).(0.046)3
I=
12
I=6.48*10^-7m4
6.48∗10−7
e=
( 0.023)(0.00368)
e=0.00766 m

p1=ρg h c =0 because the surface of the water was atmosphere (free surface).
p2=ρg h2

p2=(1000)(9.81)( 0.046)
p2=451.26 pa

1 p −p
e= h 2 1 (10)
6 p2 + p1
1 451.26−0
e= (0.046)
6 451.26+0
e=0.0076 m

Run.2
 S=6.4cm=0.064m
A=b*h
A=0.08*0.064=0.00512m2
hc=s/2
hc=0.032m
p= ρgh c
p=(1000)(9.81)(0.0 32)
P=313.92pa
F= p A
F=( 313.92)(0.00512)
F=1.60N
I
e=
ỳ.A
b . h3
I=
12
 (0.08) .(0.0 64)3
I=
12
I=1.7*10^-6m4
1.7∗10−6
e=
( 0.032)(0.00512)
e=0.010 m

p1=ρg h c =0 because the surface of the water was atmosphere (free surface).
p2=ρg h2

p2=(1000)( 9.81)( 0.0 64)

p2=627.84 pa

1 p −p
e= h 2 1 (10)
6 p2 + p1
1 627.84−0
e= (0.0 64)
6 627.84+0
e=0.010 m

5. Discussions:

1. Why are the weight of the vessel and the beam not included in the expression for the center of
gravity?
 Because the weight in the right side is equal the weight in the left (it is in the equilibrium ).
2. How would the location of the center of pressure change if a different fluid were used in the
tank?
 If we used the different fluid in the tank to many property like ( density, viscosity, surface
tension,…) will be change ,in this equation show us if density is change the pressure will be
change …and however the density is equal mass per volume ,the volume is constant so the
mass will be increase …D=V/m p= ρgh c

3. Discuss the sources of the errors, and how could be minimized them?
 In this experiment we have to many source of error such as:
 1. The movement of Vessel is not correctly ,because we used a Bolt instead of Ball
bearing, if they used the Ball bearing the movement of Vessel will to easily and
correctly.
2. The angle watching ,when we see the ruler is not correctly.

4. Draw a plot between the actual force and the distance (e).
Acting F (N) 0.83 1.60 1.9 2.7 22.13 3.76
Distance (e) 0.0076 0.010 0.0019 0.0013 0.00148 0.0016

Plot between the actual force and the distance (e).

25

20

15
Acting F (N)

10

0
0.01 0.01 0 0 0 0
Distance (e)

5. Draw a plot between the measured centers of pressure (e) for both theories.
 Run 1 2 3 4 5 6

Theory 0ne: 0.0076 0.010 0.0019 0.0013 0.00148 0.0016

find (e)
using
Equation
(7)
Theory P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2 P1 P2
0 451.2 0 627.8 0 686.7 0 814.2 0 873.0 0 961.38
Two: find
6 4 3 9
(e) using
e (m) e (m) e (m) e (m) e (m) e (m)
Equation
0.00764 0.0106 0.01168 0.0139 0.0144 0.0161
(10)

measured centers of pressure (e) for both theories

0.03

0.01
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.02 0.01 0.01 Y-e11
0.01 Y-e7

0.01 0.01

0.01

0.01

0 0 0
0
0
1 2 3 4 5 6

6. Completely, state down the steps that are followed the equations (7) and (11).