Yarmouk University

Civil Engineering Department

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Laboratory
CE 354

Name :Mohammad faris tamimi

ID #:2020988279

Section #:3

Experiment : Hydrostatic Force and center of Pressure on a Plane

Surface.

Date of submission:3/11/2022

Notes :
Introduction:

Surface that are horizontally or are subjected to gas pressure over

their entire surface .so the total force resulting from the pressure is
equal to the product of the pressure and the area of the surface. in this
state ; the Resultant Force acts at the centroid of area ,and it’s line
of action is normal to the area.
As general; anybody (fixed or moved) immersed in a fluid; it
exposed to a force called hydrostatic force.
A hydrostatic force has many beneficial uses, design of sluice gates,
design of dams and other hydraulic structures.
In this experiment, we will determine the magnitude and location this
force when we immerse tank in water and discuss result or
phenomena that we may observed.

Objective:

 To Find the magnitude of a hydrostatic force acting on a vertical plane

surface
 To Find the location of a hydrostatic force acting on a vertical plane surface
 To learn the difference between the partially and fully immersed on the
magnitude of force and the center of pressure
Materials and apparatus:

1- Water

2- Rectangular Surface

3- Weights

Procedure:
 Part (1) Part (2)
Partially Immersed Fully Immersed
1- Set the water tank as a level We will make same steps
(horizontally) by make the of partially immersed,
bubble in the center. but in this part, we add
2- Close the drain valve and water until Fully
admit water until the level immerse the body.
reaches the bottom edge of
quadrant
3- Put a weight on the
balance pan, and
slowly add water
into the tank until the
balance arm is
horizontal
4- Record reading of water
level in each trial
5- Repeat previous steps and
increase the weight by 10 gm
in each trial

Data & Results :

 Case 1 :Partially Immersed :
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 Total mass on arm (m) ,
g 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

2 Total weight on arm

(w), N 0.0981 0.1962 0.2943 0.3924 0.4905 0.5886 0.6867 0.7848

3 Depth of water
(y), mm 21 29 36 42 48 52 55 60

4 Practical Force
(FP) , N 0.14486 0.29378 0.44615 0.60126 0.75974 0.91834 1.07730 1.24260

5 Theoretical Force
(FT), N 0.15142 0.28876 0.44498 0.60567 0.79108 0.92842 1.03863 1.23606
6 Absolute Difference
between row 4 &
0.00655 0.00503 0.00116 0.00441 0.03134 0.01007 0.03867 0.00654
row 5

7 Depth of center of 14.0000 19.3333 24.0000 28.0000 32.0000 34.6666 36.6666 40.0000
Pressure (Ycp ) , mm 0 3 0 0 0 7 7 0
8 Depth of center of 193.000 190.333 188.000 186.000 184.000 182.666 181.666 180.000
pressure from pivot 00 33 00 00 00 67 67 00
(Ycp’) , mm

Case 2 :Fully Immersed :

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 Total mass on arm
(m) ,g 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
2 Total weight on arm
(w) , N 2.2563 2.3544 2.4525 2.5506 2.6487 2.7468 2.8449 2.943
3 Depth of water
(y) , mm 103 106 110 112 115 117 120 122
4 Practical Force
(FP) , N 3.88024 4.06963 4.26486 4.44761 4.63627 4.81931 5.00786 5.19115
5 Theoretical Force
(FT) , N 3.63951 3.84552 4.12020 4.25754 4.46355 4.60089 4.80690 4.94424
6 Absolute Difference
between row 4 &
0.24073 0.22411 0.14466 -0.19007 0.17272 0.21842 0.20096 -0.24691
row 5

7 Depth of center of
70.8809 73.8888 75.4408 77.8205 79.4378 81.9047 83.5740
Pressure (Ycp ) , mm
68.72327 5 9 6 1 1 6 7
8 Depth of center of
165.7232 164.8809 163.8888 163.4408 162.8205 162.4378 161.9047 161.5740
pressure from pivot
7 5 9 6 1 1 6 7
(Ycp’) , mm
 answer the following Questions :

1. Does the derivation of equation of the static forces depend on whether the fluid
is viscous or not? Explain briefly.
No; it doesn’t dependent.
Because we are dealing with a static force Whereas viscosity depends on dynamic
Forces

2. By examining the equation:

Ycp = y` + Icg /(y`*A)

Which is deeper: the center of pressure or the center of area?

Center of pressure ( Ycp )is deeper

What is the effect of water depth on the distance between center of pressure
and center of area?

I CG y y
• In partially; Y cp − y ' = = → ∆=
( y ∗A ) 6
'
6

if the depth of water ( y )increse the difference will incease

' I CG d2 d2
Y cp − y = = → ∆=
• In fully ;
[ ]
( y '∗A ) 12 y− d
2 [ ]
12 y−
d
2

if the depth of water ( y )increse the difference will decrease

3. What is the maximum and minimum deference between raw (3) & raw (4) in the
calculation tables , at what depth do you think your results become more accurate , and
why ?

Partially Fully
Max. difference 0.00655 0.26736
Min. difference 0.00654 0.23173
○ I think your results become more accurate at depth of Water
4. If because there is an error in leveling the apparatus, the water surface was inclined by x°
from the horizontal .How this affects your Results ?
At angle = 90  sin (90) = 1
At angle = 100 or 80  Sin (80) =0.98, sin (100) = 0.98
Therefore, the max value at angle 90, when we take moment at point O at
other angels the reading of moment will be decrease

5. Even there are surfaces other than the torrid rectangular surface are affected by
hydrostatic forces, why they are omitted from the calculations?

. Because this force acting on the same path line of pivot; means no has
vertical distance between it and the point that I will take Sum of moment
equal zero in it; so it not effect on a rotation of the device
6. Write down any other comments not included in the previous question

y= Depth of water

a= the distance between the Pivot and the top

of Rectangular surface (100mm)

b= Width of Rectangular Plane (70mm)

d= depth of rectangular Plane (100mm)

L = Distance between the balance pan and

the Pivot, the Arm (28.5cm)

I will write manual

 Conclusion :

In this experiment,
○ We learnt how to determine the center of pressure and center of area and learnt
the different between them.
○ We are dealing on static force just and not depend on the viscosity.
○ If I have an error in leveling, it means that effect on the results.
○ The difference between Ft & Fp small ; the slop closer to 1

Sample of calculations :