FLUID MECHANICS

(BFC 10403)
CHAPTER 2 [FEB19]
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE AND
BUOYANCY (Pressure)
ZARINA MD. ALI , Dr TAN LAI WAI & WAN AFNIZAN
SYLLABUS

2.0 HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE AND BUOYANCY

2.1 Pressure Head
2.2 Pressure Measurement
2.3 Hydrostatic forces on plane surfaces
2.4 Buoyancy and stability
PRESSURE
Pressure is defined as a normal force exerted by a fluid per
unit area.
Unit of newtons per square meter (N/m2), which is called a
pascal (Pa).
1 bar = 105 Pa = 0.1 Mpa = 100kPa
1 atm = 101325 Pa = 101.325 kPa =
1.01325 bars
The actual pressure at a given position is called the
absolute pressure, and it is measured relative to
absolute vacuum (i.e., absolute zero pressure).
Most pressure-measuring devices are calibrated to read
zero in the atm and indicate the difference between the
absolute pressure and the local atmospheric
pressure. This difference is called the gage pressure.
Pressures below atmospheric pressure are called
vacuum pressures and are measured by vacuum
gages that indicate the difference between the
atmospheric pressure and the absolute pressure.
EXAMPLE 2.1

A vacuum gage connected to a chamber reads 5.8 Pa at a

location where the atmospheric pressure is 101.3 kPa.
Determine the absolute pressure in the chamber.

Pabs = Patm - Pvac

= 101.3k - 5.8
= 101 294.2 Pa
EXAMPLE 2.2
Find the absolute pressure in kPa unit if Barometer shows
the reading of 60 kPa. Given that Barometer reading at sea
level is 740 mmHg and specific gravity of mercury is 13.6.

Given:-
Gauge pressure, Pgage = 60 kPa
Barometer reading = 740 mmHg
Mercury specific gravity, S.gmercury = 13.6
Known that,
Patm = mgh (m = mercury density)
Patm = (13.6)(1000)(9.81)(740/1000)
Patm = 98.73 kPa

Hence, Pabs = Pgage + Patm

= 60k + 98.73k
= 158.73 kPa
Variation Of Pressure With Depth
Pressure in a fluid
increases with depth
because more fluid rests
on deeper layers, and the
effect of this “extra
weight” on a deeper layer
is balanced by an
increase in pressure P P
P  h h 
 g
If we take point 1 to be at the free
surface of a liquid open to the
atmosphere where the pressure is
the atmospheric pressure Patm.
Pressure at a depth h from the
free surface becomes P2.

P2 = Patm + ρgh or
Pgage = ρgh
Pressure in a fluid at rest is independent of the shape or
cross section of the container.
It changes with the vertical distance, but remains
constant in other directions. Therefore, the pressure is
the same at all points on a horizontal plane in a given
fluid.
EXAMPLE 2.3
What is the pressure difference in 1m of sea water
compared with 100m of sea water (ρ = 1 x 103 kgm-3). P1 =
atmospheric pressure = 1.013x105Pa

At 1m
P2 = P1 + ρgh
= (1.013 x 105) + (1 x 103)(9.81) (1)
= 1.11 x 105 Pa
At 100m
P2 = P1 + ρgh
= (1.013 x 105) + (1 x 103)(9.81) (100)
= 1.08 x 106 Pa

Pressure difference = (1.08 x 106) – (1.11 x 105)

= 9.69 105Pa
Since there can be no shearing forces for a fluid at rest, and
there will be no accelerating forces, the sum of the forces in
any direction must therefore, be zero. The forces acting are
due to the pressures on the surrounding and the gravity force.
Force due to Px = Px x Area ABEF = Pxdydz
Horizontal component of force due to
Ps = - (Ps x Area ABCD) sin(θ)
= - Psdsdz x dy/ds
= - Psdydz
As Py has no component in the x direction, the element will
be in equilibrium.
If Pxdydz + (-Psdydz) = 0,i.e. Px = Ps
Similarly in the y direction, force due to Py = Pydxdz.
Since dx, dy, and dz are very small quantities, dxdydz is
negligible in comparison with other two vertical force
terms.
Component of force due to
Ps = - (Ps x Area ABCD) cos(θ)
= - Psdsdz dx/ds
= - Psdxdz
Since dx, dy, and dz are very small quantities, dxdydz is
negligible in comparison with other two vertical force
terms, and the equation reduces to,Py = Ps.
Therefore, Px = Py = Ps i.e. pressure at a point is same
in all directions. This is Pascal's law. This applies to
fluid at rest.
EXAMPLE 2.4
Figure shows 4 different fluid
inside a glass container at SAE 30 Oil 1.5 m
20C. If atmospheric and
absolute pressure at the Water 2.5 m
surface and bottom are
101.03 kPa and 231.3 kPa,
find the specific gravity of Olive oil 2.9 m
olive oil.
Mercury 0.4 m
Given:-
Patm = 101.3 kPa , Pabs = 231.3 kPa
Refer Chapter 1 : Table A.3 (Relative density value for
different fluids)
PSAE 30 = (sgSAE 30)(ρw)(g)(h)
PSAE30 = (0.92)(1000)(9.81)(1.5)
PSAE30= 13537.8 Pa

Pw = (sgw) (ρw) (g)(h)

Pw = (1)(1000)(9.81)(2.5)
Pw = 24525 Pa
 Polive = (sgolive)(ρw) (g)(h)
Polive = (sgolive)(1000)(9.81)(2.9)
Polive = 28449 sgolive
Pm = (sgm)(ρw) (g)(h)
Pm= (13.56)(1000)(9.81)(0.4) = 53209.4 Pa

Known that,
Patm + PSAE30 + Pw + Polive + Pm = Pabs
Polive = Pabs – (Patm + PSAE30 + Pw + Pm) = 28449sgolive
= (231.3)(1000) – [(101.03)(1000) + 13537.8 + 24525 + 53209.3
= 28449sgolive
sgolive = 1.4
MANOMETER
Types of manometers :-
 Simple U-Tube Manometers
 Differential Manometers
 Inverted Manometers
 Simple U-tube Manometers

PB
PA B

A
h1

h2
x x
 Usually mercury is used to measure high gauge
pressure.
 Not suitable for gas pressure. PA B
PB

h1
 Consider left and right side; A

h2

Px-left = Px-right x x

where,
Px-left = PA + A gh2
Px-right = Patm + B g(h1+h2)

Patm = 0 (as datum) therefore,

PA + A gh2 = B g(h1+h2)
PA = B g(h1+h2) - A gh2
EXAMPLE 2.5
Calculate pressure at A in kN/m2 if h1 = 50 mm, h2 = 120
mm, A = 1000 kg/m3 and B = 13560 kg/m3
w
(water) B

h1
A

h2

x x
m
(mercury)
Consider left and right side of manometers,
Px-left = Px-right
where, P  P   gh
x  left A w 2
Px  left  PA  (1000)( 9.81)( 0.12)
Px  left  PA  1177.2
Px  right  Patm  m g(h1  h 2 )
Px  right  Patm  (13560)( 9.81)( 0.12  0.05)
Px  right  Patm  22614.012
PA  1177.2  0  22614.012
PA  21436.8 N/m 2  21.44 kN/m 2
Differential Manometers

A

B
 Used to measure pressure difference
between 2 points.
 Consider left and right side;
Px-left = Px-right
where,
Px-left = PA + A gh2
Px-right = PB + B gh1 + A g(h3 – h1)

hence,
PA + A gh2 = PB + B gh1 + A g (h3 –h1)
PA - PB = B gh1 + Ag (h3 - h1) - A gh2
PA - PB = B gh1 + Ag (h3 - h1 - h2)
EXAMPLE 2.6
Figure below show diffential manometers used to
measure pressure inside a pipe. If PA – PB = 120
kPa, find h.

Water
(s.g = 1.0) B

1.6 m
A

Mercury
h (s.g = 13.6)

x x
 Consider left and right side of manometers,

Px-left = Px-right
where,
Px  left  PA   w g(ha  h )
Px  left  PA  (1000)( 9.81)(ha  h )
Px  left  PA  9810ha  9810h

Px  right  PB  m gh   w g(h a  h b )
Px  right  PB  s.g m . w gh   w g(h a  h b )
Px  right  PB  (13.6)(1000)( 9.81)(h )  (1000)( 9.81)(h a  1.6)
Px  right  PB  133416h  9810h a  15696
Equal the pressure at x – x line left and right side
therefore;

PA  9810 ha  9810 h  PB  133416 h  9810 ha  15696

PA  PB  133416 h  9810 h  15696
120 x 10 3  123606 h  15696
h  0.844 m
Inverted Manometers

air

x x
h1

h2
PA
A
h3

PB
B

a
 Mercury is used to measure pressure if fluid is
low density, ie oil.
 Consider left and right side;
Px-left = Px-right
where,
Px-left = PA - a gh2 – air gh1  (neglect air)
Px-right = PB - agh3 - ρagh1 = PB - ρag (h3 + h1)
air

hence, x x

PA - agh2 = PB - ag (h3 + h1)

h1

PA - PB = agh2 - ag (h3 + h1)

h2
PA
A
h3

PB
B

a
EXAMPLE 2.7
Figure below show inverted manometers used to
measure pressure inside a pipe. Find the pressure
difference of PA – PB.
Fluid X
(s.g = 0.9)

x x

0.25 m
1.625 m
B

0.5 m

A Water
(s.g = 1.0)
 Consider left and right side of manometers,
Px-left = Px-right
where,
Px  left  PA   w g(ha )
Px  left  PA  (1000)( 9.81)(1.625)
Px  left  PA  15941.25

Px  right  PB   x ghb   w ghc

Px  right  PB  s.g x . w ghb   w ghc
Px  right  PB  (0.9)(1000)( 9.81)( 0.25)  (1000)( 9.81)(1.625  0.25  0.5)
Px  right  PB  2207.25  8583.75
Px  right  PB  10791
Equal the pressure at x – x line left and right side
therefore;
PA  15941.25  PB  10791
PA  PB  5150.25 kN/m 2
 EXAMPLE 2.8 (Multifluid)
The water in a tank is pressurized by air,
and the pressure is measured by a
multifluid manometer as shown in. The
tank is located on a mountain at an
altitude of 1400 m where the atmospheric
pressure is 85.6 kPa. Determine the air
pressure in the tank if h1=0.1 m, h2 =0.2
m, and h3 =0.35 m. Take the densities of
water, oil, and mercury to be 1000 kg/m3,
850 kg/m3, and 13,600 kg/m3,
respectively.
 Patm= 85.6 kPa
h1 = 0.1 m, h2 = 0.2 m,
h3 =0.35 m, ρw =1000 kg/m3,
ρoil = 850 kg/m3, ρm = 13,600 kg/m3

P1  w gh1  oil gh2  mgh3  Patm

P1  Patm  w gh1  oil gh2  mgh3
P1  85.6k  (1k)(9.81)(0.1)  (0.85k)(9.81)(0.2)  (13.6k)(9.81)(0.35)
P1  130kPa
Bourdon Gauge

 Commonly measure
gauge pressures or
vacuum.
 A curved tube of
elliptical cross section
tend to straighten if
subjected to higher
pressure.
Transducer
 Converts pressure into electric signal in digital
form.
 Commonly used  “Strain-gage base
transducer”.
 As pressure changes  the deflection of the
diaphragm changes  changes the electrical
output  provide pressure.