HYDROSTATICS

ARIS C. ABERGOS, CE, RMP, EnP

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Since pressure is a very important characteristic of
a fluid field, it is not surprising that numerous
devices and techniques are used in its
measurement. The pressure at a point within a
fluid mass will be designated as either an absolute
pressure or a gage pressure. Absolute pressure is
measured relative to a perfect vacuum (absolute
zero pressure), whereas gage pressure is measured
relative to the local atmospheric pressure.
 UNIT PRESSURE
Thus, a gage pressure of zero corresponds to a
pressure that is equal to the local atmospheric
pressure. Absolute pressures are always positive,
but gage pressures can be either positive or
negative depending on whether the pressure is
above atmospheric pressure (a positive value) or
below atmospheric pressure (a negative value). A
negative gage pressure is also referred to as a
suction or vacuum pressure. For example, 10 psi
(abs) could be expressed as psi (gage), if the local
atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi, or alternatively 4.7
psi suction or 4.7 psi vacuum.
UNIT PRESSURE
 UNIT PRESSURE
Thus, a gage pressure of zero corresponds to a
pressure that is equal to the local atmospheric
pressure. Absolute pressures are always positive,
but gage pressures can be either positive or
negative depending on whether the pressure is
above atmospheric pressure (a positive value) or
below atmospheric pressure (a negative value). A
negative gage pressure is also referred to as a
suction or vacuum pressure. For example, 10 psi
(abs) could be expressed as psi (gage), if the local
atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi, or alternatively 4.7
psi suction or 4.7 psi vacuum.
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 UNIT PRESSURE

Variations in Pressure

The difference in pressure between any two points

in ah homogenous fluid at rest is equal to the
product of the unit weight of the fluid and the
vertical distance between the points.

p2 - p1 = γh
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Variations in Pressure

The pressure at any point below the free surface of

a liquid equals the product of the unit weight of the
liquid and the depth of the point.

p = γh
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Pressure below layers of different liquids

pbottom = Σγh + p = γ1h1 + γ2h2 + γ3h3 + p

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A manometer is a tube, usually bent in a form of a

U, containing a liquid of known specific gravity,
the surface of which moves proportionally to
changes of pressure. It is used to measure pressure
 UNIT PRESSURE

Types of Manometer

Open Type – has an atmospheric surface in one leg and is

capable of measuring gage pressures

Differential Type – without an atmospheric surface and

capable of measuring only differences of pressure

Piezometer – The simplest form of open manometer. It is a

tube tapped into a wall of a container or conduit for the
purpose of measuring pressure. The fluid in the container
or conduit rises in this tube to form a free state
 UNIT PRESSURE
Steps in Solving Manometer Problems:

1. Decide on the fluid in feet or meter, of which the

heads are to be expressed, (water is most advisable).
2. Starting from an end point, number in order, the
interface of different fluids.
3. Identify points of equal pressure (taking into account
that for a homogeneous fluid at rest, the pressures
along the same horizontal plane are equal). Label these
points with the same number.
4. Proceed from level to level, adding (if going down) or
subtracting (if going up) pressure heads as the
elevation decreases or increases, respectively with due
regards for the specific gravity of the fluids.
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON SURFACES

If the pressure over a plane area is uniform, as in

the case of a horizontal surface submerged in a
liquid or a plane surface inside a gas chamber, the
total hydrostatic force (or total pressure) is given
by:
F = pA

Where p is the uniform pressure and A is the area

In the case of an inclined or vertical plane
submerged in a liquid, the total pressure can be
found by following formula:
dF = p dA
where p = γh
p = γ y sin θ
dF = γ y sin θ dA
dF γ sin θ y dA

From calculus, y dA = Aӯ

F = γ sin θ Aӯ
F = γ (ӯ sin θ) A

From the figure, ӯ sin θ =

 F=γ A
Since γ is the unit pressure at the centroid of the
plane area, pcg, the formula may also be expressed
as:
F = pcg A
eccentricity e, the distance between center of gravity (cg) to
the center of pressure (cp).

e= ;
Where
pcg = pressure at the centroid of the plane
𝑔 = centroidal moment of inertia of the plane
A = area of the plane surface
Θ = angle that the plane makes with the horizontal
Typical Earth Dam
 2.5 Hydrostatic Force on a Flat Surface
• The area AB of the back face of a dam inclines at an angle (q ),
and,
• X - axis lies on the line at which the water free surface intersects with
the dam surface,
• Y - axis running down the direction of the dam surface.

h
h

horizontal view projection of AB on

29
the dam surface
 • For a strip at depth h below the free surface:
P  γ h  γ y sin θ dF  γ y sin θ.dA
• The total pressure force over the surface:
F   dF   γ y sin θ.dA  γ sin θ.A. y F  γ .h.A
A A

Where:
y   y dA A is the distance measured from the x-axis to the
A centroid (C.G.) of the plane

The total hydrostatic pressure force on any submerged plane

dF  γ y sin θ.dA
surface is equal to the product of the surface area and the
pressure acting at the centroid (C.G.) of the plane surface.

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Notes:
• Pressure forces acting on a plane surface are distributed over
every part of the surface.

• They are parallel and act in a direction normal to the surface.

• They can be replaced by a single resultant force F = g h`A.

acting normal to the surface.

• The point on the plane surface at which this resultant force acts
is known as the center of pressure (C.P.).

• The center of pressure of any submerged plane surface is

always below the centroid of the surface (Yp > Y`).

 y dF  dA
2
y
Ix I o  Ay 2 I o
YP  A
 A
   y
F Ay Mx Ay Ay 31
The centroid, area, and moment of inertia with respect to the
centroid of some common geometrical plane surfaces are given
below.

32
Example: A vertical rectangular gate 1.5 m wide and 3 m
wide and 3 m high is submerged in water with its top edge
2m below the water surface. Find the total pressure acting
on one side of the gate and its location from the bottom.
 Solution:

F=γ

= 1.5 + 2 = 3.5m e=
F = 9.81 (3.5) [1.5 x 3]
F = 154.51 kN
= 0.214 m

y = 1.5 - e
y = 1.5 – 0.214
y = 1.286 m
Example: Isosceles triangular gate AB in the figure is hinged
at A. Compute the horizontal force P required at Point B for
equilibrium, neglecting the weight of the gate.
Example: Isosceles triangular gate AB in the figure is hinged
at A. Compute the horizontal force P required at Point B for
equilibrium, neglecting the weight of the gate.
Example: Isosceles triangular gate AB in the figure is hinged
at A. Compute the horizontal force P required at Point B for
equilibrium, neglecting the weight of the gate.
 Pressure Prism: Vertical Wall
Pressure Prism: A graphical interpretation of the forces due to a fluid acting on
a plane area. The “volume” of fluid acting on the wall is the pressure prism
and equals the resultant force acting on the wall.
Resultant Force:

Volume 1
O FR  gh bh 
2
1
FR  gh A
2
Location of the Resultant Force, CP:
The location is at the centroid of the volume of the
pressure prism.

Center of Pressure:
 b 2h 
 , 
2 3 
 Pressure Prism: Submerged Vertical Wall

Trapezoidal

The Resultant Force: break into two “volumes” Location of Resultant Force: “use sum of moments”

F1  gh1 A Solve for yA

1
F2  g h2  h1 A
2 y1 and y2 is the centroid location for the two volumes
A  bh2  h1  where F1 and F2 are the resultant forces of the
volumes.
 Pressure Prism: Inclined Submerged Wall

Now we have an incline trapezoidal volume. The methodology is the same

as the last problem, and we affix the coordinate system to the plane.

The use of pressure prisms in only convenient if we have regular

geometry, otherwise integration is needed

In that case we use the more revert to the general theory.

 Atmospheric Pressure on a Vertical Wall

Gage Pressure Analysis Absolute Pressure Analysis But,

So, in this case the resultant force is the same as the gag pressure analysis.
It is not the case, if the container is closed with a vapor pressure above it.
If the plane is submerged, there are multiple possibilities.
Example 2.3
For the vertical trapezoidal gate,
Determine F and YP
Solution:

45
Example 2.3
Determine F and YP
Solution:

46
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON CURVE SURFACES
For curved surfaces, the pressure force is divided into
horizontal and vertical components. The vertical force Fy is
the total weight of the fluid above the curved surface and its
centre of pressure acts through its center of gravity. The
horizontal force Fx equals to the pressure force on a vertical
plane projected by the curved surface. The resultant force is
a triangular combination of the horizontal and vertical
parts.
 2.6 Hydrostatic Forces on Curved Surfaces
• The hydrostatic force on a curved surface can be best analyzed by
resolving the total pressure force on the surface into its horizontal and
vertical components.
• Then combine these forces to obtain the resultant force and its
direction.

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 Fx = pcg A
Fy = γV or ρgV
F=
 F x 0 FH  FA' B
• FH = Resultant force on the projection of the curved surface onto a
vertical plane.

• FH acts horizontally through the centre of pressure of the

projection of the curved surface onto a vertical plane.

• We can use the pressure diagram method to calculate the position

and magnitude of the resultant horizontal force on a curved surface.

F y 0 FV  WAA'  WABA'
• FV = The resultant vertical force of a fluid above a
curved surface equal to the weight of fluid directly
above the curved surface.

• It acts vertically downward through the centre of

gravity of the mass of fluid. 50
Resultant force
• The overall resultant force is found by combining
the vertical and horizontal components vectorialy:

F  FH2  FV2

• The angle the resultant force makes to the

horizontal is:
 FV 
q  tan 
1

 FH 

• The position of F is the point of intersection of the

horizontal line of action of FH and the vertical line of
action of FV .

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Pressure distribution on a semi-cylindrical gate

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 Buoyancy: Archimedes’
Principle
Archimedes’ Principle states that the buoyant
force has a magnitude equal to the weight of
the fluid displaced by the body and is
directed vertically upward.

Archimedes (287-212 BC) Story

•Buoyant force is a force that results from a floating or submerged body in a fluid.
•The force results from different pressures on the top and bottom of the object
•The pressure forces acting from below are greater than those on top
Now, treat an arbitrary submerged object as a planar surface:

Forces on the Fluid

Arbitrary Shape

V
 Buoyancy
• From Buoyancy principle, we can see whether an object floats or
sinks. It is based on not only its weight, but also the amount of water
it displaces. That is why a very heavy ocean liner can float. It
displaces a large amount of water.

Fluid Statics 65
 Buoyancy and Flotation: Archimedes’ Principle
Balancing the Forces of the F.B.D. in the vertical Direction:

W  g h2  h1 A  V 
Then, substituting:

W is the weight of the shaded area

F1 and F2 are the forces on the plane surfaces Simplifying,
FB is the bouyant force the body exerts on the fluid

The force of the fluid on the body is opposite, or

vertically upward and is known as the Buoyant Force.

The force is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.

Buoyancy and Flotation: Archimedes’ Principle

Find where the Buoyant Force Acts by Summing Moments:

Sum the Moments about the z-axis:

VT is the total volume of the parallelpiped

We find that the buoyant forces acts through

the centroid of the displaced volume.

The location is known as the center of buoyancy.

 Buoyancy and Flotation: Archimedes’ Principle
We can apply the same principles to floating objects:

If the fluid acting on the upper surfaces has very small

specific weight (air), the centroid is simply that of the
displaced volume, and the buoyant force is as before.

If the specific weight varies in the fluid the buoyant force

does not pass through the centroid of the displaced volume,
but through the center of gravity of the displaced volume.
 Archimedes 1st law
• A body immersed in a fluid experiences a vertical buoyant force
equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces

Fluid Statics 69
 Buoyancy force

• The line of action of the buoyant force passes through the center of
volume of the displaced body; i.e., the center of mass is computed as if it
had uniform density. The point which FB acts is called the center of
buoyancy.

Fluid Statics 70
 Archimedes 2nd law
• A floating body displaces its own weight in the fluid in which it floats. In the
case of a floating body, only a portion of the body is submerged.

M. Bahrami ENSC 283 Spring 2009 Fluid Statics 71

 Example
• A spherical body has a diameter of 1.5 m, weighs 8.5 kN, and is
anchored to the sea floor with a cable as is shown in the figure.
Calculate the tension of the cable when the body is completely
immersed, assume γsea-water =10.1 kN/m3.

Seawater

FB
d
W

Cable

Fluid Statics 72
 Example
• A spherical body has a diameter of 1.5 m, weighs 8.5 kN, and is
anchored to the sea floor with a cable as is shown in the figure.
Calculate the tension of the cable when the body is completely
immersed, assume γsea-water =10.1 kN/m3.

Fluid Statics 73
 Example
• A piece of irregularly shaped metal weighs 300 N in
air. When the metal is completely submerged in
water it weighs 232.50 N. Find the volume of the
metal.

Buoyant Force = Weight – 232.50 N

γ (Volume) = 300 – 232.50

9810 (Volume) = 67.50

Volume = 67.50 / 9810

Volume = 0.00689 cu.m.
Fluid Statics 74
 Example
• A concrete cube of 0.50 m on each side is to be held in
equilibrium under water by attaching a light foam buoy to it.
What minimum volume of foam is required? The specific weights
of concrete and foam are 23.58 kN/cu.m. and 0.79kN/cu.m.,
respectively.

Fluid Statics 75
 Example
• A concrete cube of 0.50 m on each side is to be held in
equilibrium under water by attaching a light foam buoy to it.
What minimum volume of foam is required? The specific weights
of concrete and foam are 23.58 kN/cu.m. and 0.79kN/cu.m.,
respectively.

Fluid Statics 76
 Example
• A block of wood having a volume of 0.034 m³ and weighing 300
N is suspended in water as shown in the figure. A wooden rod of
length 3.4 m and cross section of 2000 mm² is attached to the
weight and also to the wall. If the rod weighs 16 N, what will be θ
be for equilibrium?

Fluid Statics 77
 Example
• A block of wood having a volume of 0.034 m³ and weighing 300
N is suspended in water as shown in the figure. A wooden rod of
length 3.4 m and cross section of 2000 mm² is attached to the
weight and also to the wall. If the rod weighs 16 N, what will be θ
be for equilibrium?

Fluid Statics 78
 Example
• A block of wood having a volume of 0.034 m³ and weighing 300
N is suspended in water as shown in the figure. A wooden rod of
length 3.4 m and cross section of 2000 mm² is attached to the
weight and also to the wall. If the rod weighs 16 N, what will be θ
be for equilibrium?

Fluid Statics 79
Example

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 Stability: Submerged Object
Stable Equilibrium: if when displaced returns to equilibrium position.
Unstable Equilibrium: if when displaced it returns to a new equilibrium position.

Stable Equilibrium: Unstable Equilibrium:

C > CG, “Higher” C < CG, “Lower”

Stability of Submerged Bodies

Fluid Statics 82
 Buoyancy and Stability: Floating Object
Slightly more complicated as the location of the center buoyancy can change:
Stability of Floating Bodies

Fluid Statics 84
Stability of Floating Bodies

Fluid Statics 85
 Stability of Floating Bodies
The point of intersection between the axis A-
A and the line of action of the buoyant force
is defined as the metacenter (mc).
A floating body is stable if its metacenter is
located above its center of gravity (CG). If
the metacenter is located below the center of
gravity, the body is unstable

MB =
Fluid Statics 86
Example: A solid wood has a diameter of 1.0 m and a height
of 2.0 m. Check the stability of this cylinder when placed in
water knowing the specific density of wood 600.0 kg/m³.

Fluid Statics 87
 Pressure Variation, Rigid Body Motion: Linear Motion
Governing Equation with no Shear (Rigid Body Motion):

The equation in all three directions are the following:

Consider, the case of an open container of liquid with a constant acceleration:

Estimating the pressure between two closely spaced points apart some dy, dz:

Substituting the partials

Along a line of constant pressure, dp = 0: Inclined free

surface for ay≠ 0
 Pressure Variation, Rigid Body Motion: Linear Motion
Now consider the case where ay = 0, and az ≠ 0:
p
Recall, already: 0
x

Then, p
0
y
p
   g  az 
z

So, Non-Hydrostatic

Pressure will vary linearly with depth, but variation is the combination of gravity and
externally developed acceleration.

A tank of water moving upward in an elevator will have slightly greater pressure at the
bottom.

If a liquid is in free-fall az = -g, and all pressure gradients are zero—surface tension is all
that keeps the blob together.
Relative Equilibrium of Liquids

Fluid Statics 90
Relative Equilibrium of Liquids

Fluid Statics 91
Relative Equilibrium of Liquids

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Relative Equilibrium of Liquids

Fluid Statics 93
Example: An open horizontal tank 2 m high, 2 m wide and 4 m
long is full of water.
1. How much water is spilled out when the tank is accelerated
horizontally at 2.45 m/sec² in a direction parallel with its longest
side?
2. What is the force acting on the side with the greatest depth?
3. Compute the required accelerating force.

Fluid Statics 94
Fluid Statics 95
Example: An open vessel accelerates up a 30° plane at 2 m/sec².
1. What is the horizontal component of the acceleration?
2. What is the vertical component of the acceleration?
3. What is the angle that the water surface makes with the
horizontal?

Fluid Statics 96
Example: The tank shown in the figure is accelerated to the right.
Width of the tank is 1 m.
1. Determine the acceleration needed to cause the free surface to
touch point A.
2. Determine the pressure at B.
3. Determine the total force acting on the bottom of the tank.

Fluid Statics 97
Fluid Statics 98
Pressure Variation, Rigid Body Motion: Rotation
Governing Equation with no Shear (Rigid Body Motion):

Motion in a Rotating Tank:

Write terms in cylindrical coordinates for convenience:

Pressure Gradient:

Accceleration Vector:
 Pressure Variation, Rigid Body Motion: Rotation

The equation in all three directions are the following:

Estimating the pressure between two closely spaced points apart some dr, dz:

Substituting the partials

Along a line of constant pressure, dp = 0:

Equation of constant pressure surfaces:

The surfaces of constant pressure are parabolic

Pressure Variation, Rigid Body Motion: Rotation
Now, integrate to obtain the Pressure Variation:

Pressure varies hydrostaticly in the vertical, and increases radialy

Rotation

Fluid Statics 102

An open cylindrical tank 1.2 m in diameter and 1.80 m
deep is filled with water and rotated about its own axis
at 60 revolutions per minute. How much liquid is spilled
and what is the pressure at the center of its bottom?

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