2.

125" I

2.125 Air Pad Lift Force

Objective: As shown in Fig. P2. IZS, it is possible to lift objects by use of an air pad con­
sisting of an inverted box that is pressurized by an air supply. If the pressure within the box
is large enough, the box will lift slightly off the surface, air will flow under its edges, and
there will be very little frictional force between the box and the surface. The purpose of this
experiment is to determine the lifting force, W, as a function of pressure, p, within the box.

Equipment: Inverted rectangular box; air supply; weights; manometer.

Experimental Procedure: Connect the air source and the manometer to the inverted
square box. Determine the weight. Who" of the square box and measure its length and width,
L, and the wall thickness, t. Set the inverted box on a smooth surface and place a known
mass, m, on it. Increase the air flowrate until the box lifts off the surface slightly and "floats"
with negligible frictional force. Record the manometer reading, h, under these conditions.
Repeat the measurements with various masses.

Calculations: Determine the theoretical weight that can be lifted by the air pad by equat­

Calculate this pressure force for two different situations. ( I ) AssUlne lhe prt:s�ure force is
ing the total weight. W + Wbox• to the net vertical pressure force on the box. Here W = mg.

equal to the area of the box, A = L', times the pressure, p = "'Imh, within the box, where "'1m
is the specific weight of the manometer fluid. (2) Assume that the net pressure force is that
from part ( I ) plus the pressure force acting under the edges of the box because of the finite
thickness, t, of the box walls. This additional pressure force is assumed to be due to an av­
erage pressure of p". = "'Imh/2 acting on the "foot print" area of the box walls, 4t(L + t).

Graph: Plot the experimentally determined total weight, IV + Wb." as ordinates and the
pressure within the box, P, as abscissas.

Results: On the same graph, plot two theoretical total weight verses pressure curves­
one involving only the pressure times box area pressure force, and the other including the
pressure times box area and the finite-thickness wall pressure forces.

Data: To proceed, print this page for reference when you work the problem and cI;c/.. here
to bring up an EXCEL page with the data for this problem.

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