CEWB 121 MECHANICS OF FLUIDS LABORATORY

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT (NO.1)

(DEAD WEIGHT PRESSURE TESTER)

SECTION : 01
GROUP NO. : 05

GROUP MEMBERS
1. NUR SYAZWANI JAMALUDDIN CE085319
2. MOHANNAD ABDUL KARIM CE085834
3. YUNUS TARIQ CE085826
4. SALIH MOHAMEDAH AHMED CE085892
5. ABDULWAHAB AHMED CE085955

DATE OF LABORATORY SESSION : 03.1.2011

DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION : 10.1.2011

LAB INSTRUCTOR : MISS FAIZAH CHE ROS

LAB REPORT MARKING

Scale
Criteria Poor Acceptable Excellent
A. Appearance, formatting and grammar / 1 2 3 4 5
spelling
B. Introduction, objective & theory 1 2 3 4 5
C. List of apparatus & procedures 1 2 3 4 5
D. Results : data, figure, graphs, tables, etc. 1 2 3 4 5
E. Discussion 1 2 3 4 5
F. Conclusions 1 2 3 4 5
Introduction:

In this experiment we will know that pressure generated by the piston and a weight is
equal to force exerted on the cylinder divided by the piston area.
P = Pressure Kg/cm2 or other unit
F = Force Kg or other unit
πD2
A = 4 = piston cross section area = 250mm2 = 2.5cm2
In this experiment, it is important to identify the proper value; however this was not
an easy. Also we have to take precaution step in preparing the equipment so that the
possibility of getting error result could be minimized.
In this experiment, while we increase the piston weight the gauge reading increase.
From our observation, the more weight we put, the easier the piston spin.
The important part of the experiment is that to ensure the pressure exerted by the
piston is fully transmitted to the pressure gauge without the losses of the weight. Therefore
precaution such as spinning the piston to minimize friction effect between walls and small
rigid tube is used to avoid absorption of force.
At the end of this experiment we were able to collect the data and draw the graphs to
illustrate the relationship between reading error and theoretical result.
Objective:

In the experiment, a fluid exerts a force to a solid boundary. This will involve the
bodies of fluids of indefinite, the magnitude of the force exerted on a small area of the
boundary may vary from place to place, it is handy to work in term of the fluid, which
defined as the force exerted per unit area.
Before our group conduct the experiment, we should set the bubble and fill the
cylinder with the water to half full and take zero pressure gauge reading. After that, we insert
the piston and spin it to minimize friction effect and take the gauge reading for every weight.
Lastly, plot the graph of gauge reading vs. absolute gauge reading and graph of gauge reading
vs. percentage gauge error. This pressure is transmitted to the pressure gauge and comparison
between actual pressure and gauge reading can then be made.
The usage of dead weight pressure tester in determines the relationship between force
and pressure is the main objective of this experiment. In the process we will understand some
of the important principles that were use in daily life as it applies all the theory to make this
apparatus to function as it suppose to be.

Theory

Pressure generated by the piston and weights is equal to force exerted on the cylinder
divided by the piston area.
P = Pressure Kg/cm2 or other unit
F = Force Kg or other unit
πD2
A = 4 = piston cross section area = 250mm2 = 2.5cm2
*Exact diameter of the piston is indicated on the piston
This pressure P is transmitted to the pressure gauge and comparison between actual
pressure and gauge reading can then be made.
Apparatus:

Area of piston = 250mm2

Mass of piston = 0.5 kg
Maximum pressure gauge = 3kg/cm2

The equipment comprises a precision machined piston and cylinder, and weights may
be added to the piston so that a number of predetermined pressures may be set up within the
cylinder. The cylinder is screwed on to a base plate supported on leveling screws and the base
plate is fitted with a bull’s eye level.
Weights supplied are 2x2.0+2x1.0+1x0.5 kg. Piston weight is 0.5 kg. The gauge
under test is linked to the cylinder, by a flexible tube; and the leakage past the piston is taken
to drain, which is drilled opposite an annular recess at the top of the cylinder.
Procedure:

1. Pressure gauge is placed on the tester and while ensure that the connections tight,
adjust the leveling screw as well.
2. The cylinder is filled with water until overflow to reduce the trapped bubble.
3. The piston is inserted and spin in order to minimize the friction effect before the
gauge reading is taken.
4. Additional weight is added on to the piston and reading is record until all weights are
used or the maximum gauge reading is reached.
5. The weight is removed and pressure reading for each weight is recorded.
6. A graph of gauge reading vs. absolute gauge error and another graph of gauge reading
vs. percentage gauge error are plotted.
7. We need to discuss the sources contributing to error of this experiment.
Results & Analysis

Data sheet HB 011 DEAD WEIGHT PRESSURE TESTERS

Area of piston 2.50 (cm2)

Pressure in
cylinder Gauge Absolute Gauge % Gauge Error
Piston
= Piston weight Reading Error Gauge error x 100
Weight
Actual pressure
(Kg Area (Kg/ cm2) (Kg/ cm2)
(%)
(Kg/ cm2)

0.5 0.20 0.25 0.05 25.0

1.0 0.40 0.50 0.1 25.0

1.5 0.60 0.70 0.1 16.7

2.0 0.80 0.85 0.05 6.3

2.5 1.00 0.90 0.1 10.0

3.0 1.20 1.05 0.15 12.5

4.0 1.60 1.69 0.09 5.6

5.0 2.00 2.00 0 0

6.0 2.40 2.50 0.1 4.2

πD 2
A = 4 = piston cross section area = 250mm2 = 2.5cm2
 Calculation

The Pressure in cylinder is calculated by the following formula:

A is the Area exerted by the force (2.50cm2)
P= F
A
= . 0.5.
2.5
= 0.2 Kg/cm2

The Absolute Gauge Error is calculated by the following formula:

Absolute Gauge Error = Pressure in cylinder – Gauge Reading

= 0.20 – 0.25 Kg/cm2

= - 0.05 Kg/cm2
= 0.05 Kg/cm2 (because it is in absolute value)

The % Gauge Error is calculated by the following formula:

% Gauge Error =|Gauge Error| x 100

Actual pressure

% Gauge Error = |- 0.05 | x 100 %

0.20

% Gauge Error = 25.00 %

*(The other calculations are done using the same steps.)

 Discussion

The experiment that we have done is really simple. What we need to do is just see
whether there is make sure that bubble is not in tube. If there is a bubble the experiment
might have a big error. In general we think that we can handle this experiment until it comes
to plot the graph. The graph is really weird. In general we were able to calculate the pressure
in cylinder, Absolute gauge, and gauge percentage error
In actual practice, we do have to make sure that this bubble is the range of this bulls-
eye which indicates its horizontal position that might affect the gauge reading. This step is
very important because the medium we used is water and it only operate properly and give
accurate reading under horizontal position due the property off water that tend to have equal
level surface regardless of the shape or depth of a condition.
While conducting this experiment we should be careful of some factors may give us
an error. One of them we should be careful with is, not to retain any bubble in the system
because it can affect the gauge readings. This is because when the system contains air as in
bubble form, the compression will be deviated due to the possible that the compressive force
is subjected to the air bubbles and will not give accurate result for gauge reading. We had an
error occurred due to the mistake in taking reading because of the eye reading level.
Nevertheless, the sensitivity of the water gauge causes a variation in the results.
 Conclusion

In our opinion, our results is not fully accurate maybe because of the human error is
the main factor and if it could be reduced we could obtain an accurate result.
The graph show the relationship between the Gauge Reading vs. Absolute Gauge is in
scattered line maybe because of the error that we have made maybe we couldn’t see the small
bubble inside the equipment which make our results is not that accurate and make our graph
not linear. But from that we can say that they are proportional to each other. However the
graph of the Gauge Reading vs. Gauge Error Percentage show that their relationship are
inversely proportional.