ISRA UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FLUID MECHANICS LAB
DETERMINATION OF HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON PARTIALLY SUBMERGED BODIES

Introduction:
Hydrostatic forces are the resultant force caused by the pressure loading of a liquid acting on submerged surfaces.
Calculation of the hydrostatic force and the location of the center of pressure are fundamental subjects in fluid
mechanics. The center of pressure is a point on the immersed surface at which the resultant hydrostatic pressure
force acts.
Practical Applications:
The location and magnitude of water pressure force acting on water-control structures, such as dams, levees, and
gates, are very important to their structural design. Hydrostatic force and its line of action are also required for the
design of many parts of hydraulic equipment.
Equipment’s:
 Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus
 Centre of Pressure Apparatus
 Loose weights
Procedure:
In this experiment, the hydrostatic force and center of
pressure acting on a vertical surface will be determined by
increasing the water depth in the apparatus water tank and by
reaching an equilibrium condition between the moments acting on the balance arm of the test apparatus. The forces
which create these moments are the weight applied to the balance arm and the hydrostatic force on the vertical
surface.
Hydrostatic Force: The hydrostatic force acting on partially
The magnitude of the resultant hydrostatic force (F) immersed surface the vertical face of the
applied to an immersed surface is given by: quadrant can be calculated as:
F=PA, P=W, W=mg, or m=p F=1/2 pgBd2
F=pgAh (N) Where:
P = density of fluid, B = width of the quadrant face,
A = Area of immersed surface d = depth of water from the base of the quadrant
h = Centroid of the immersed surface.

Observation Table:
a = 12cm, b = 7.5cm, d = 10cm, I = 30cm

S. No Y (g) Wth = 2.75y2 - 0.042y3 (g) Wac (g) Error = {(Wac - Wth)/Wth }* 100
01
02
03