Lecture 2

Hydraulic Machines
(Fluid Statics. I)

Mahmoud Nady Abdelmoez

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department
Assiut University, Egypt

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Outline
• Some applications on fluid statics

• Forces on fluids

• Pressure |Introductory concepts

• Pressure variations

• Pressure measurements
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Some applications of fluid statics

Forces on Stability and

Pascal’s Law
submerged surfaces floatation

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 Forces on fluids

Forces on fluids

Surface
Body forces
forces

Tangential Normal Magnetic,

Gravitational
(shear) (pressure) and others

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Pressure |Introductory concepts
What is pressure?
• A normal force per unit area

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Pressure |Introductory concepts
Atmospheric pressure

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Pressure |Introductory concepts
Absolute pressure and gage pressure
• Absolute pressure: The actual pressure at a
given position. It is measured relative to
absolute vacuum (i.e., absolute zero pressure).

• Gage pressure: The difference between the

absolute pressure and the local atmospheric
pressure. Most pressure-measuring devices are
calibrated to read zero in the atmosphere, and
so they indicate gage pressure.

• Vacuum pressures: Pressures below

atmospheric pressure (negative value of
pressure gauge).

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Pressure |Introductory concepts
Absolute, gauge, and vacuum pressure

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Pressure |Introductory concepts
Pressure units

1 psi (pound force per square inch) = 6.89 kPa

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 Pressure variations |
The pressure at a point
• In any fluid, pressure at any point acts in all directions. In rest, it is the same

• For a point z → 0

• Which leads to P1 = P2 = P3

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Pressure variations |
Variation with depth/elevation
• Studying equilibrium of a cuboid element of the
fluid:

• If we use the depth h instead of elevation z

• 𝑃 = 𝑃 𝑎𝑡𝑚 + 𝜌

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Pressure head
Pressure variations |
Variation on horizontal plane
• P3 P4

z
• Pressure of a fluid is constant on a horizontal plan. x
z
• This does not apply if the horizontal plan is in two y
different fluids x

1.5 m
Find PB and PH
for the shown
dimensions.

0.15 m

0.2 m
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Pascal’s Law
• Fluids can be used to amplify forces we apply.

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Pressure measurements |
Barometer
• Since pressure at a point is proportional to
the fluid height above this point, this
property can be used to measure pressure
of a fluid.

• The specific weight of the fluid affects the

height to be observed.

• The mercury barometer is used to

determine the atmospheric pressure (760
mm Hg).

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Pressure measurements |
Manometry
• A piezometer is a narrow vertical tube
connected to the liquid whose pressure
is to be measured.

• Height of the liquid in the piezometer

is proportional to liquid pressure.

• The manometer tube is a better

version of the Piezometer tube (e.g.
can be used with liquids and gases, Piezometer tube Simple U-tube
height can tuned by choice of gauge Manometer
fluid)
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Pressure measurements |
Manometry-Example
Find the unknown pressure P of the gas stored
in the tank. Neglect the small variations in the
gas pressure with height
(To be solved on board)

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Pressure measurements |
Manometry-Example
Find pressure of the compressed air at the water
surface.

h1 = 0.1 m, h2 = 0.2 m, h3 = 0.35 m

oil = 850 kg/m3.
mercury = 13600 kg/m3.
The setup is at an altitude of 1400 m (Patm = 85.6 kPa)

(To be solved on board)

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Solution

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U-tube manometers can be used to
be used to measure pressure
differences

(Analysis is to be done on board)

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Pressure measurements |
Manometry-Example

(To be solved on board)

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Solution

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Pressure measurements |
Bourdon tube pressure gage

• The gage is composed of a hollow,

elastic curved tube (Bourdon tube)
which is connected to the pressure
source.

• As the pressure within the tube

increases the tube tends to straighten.
The deformation can be translated
into the motion of a pointer on a dial.

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Pressure measurements |
Bourdon tube pressure gage

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Pressure measurements |
Pressure transducers
• Diaphragm pressure gauges use a thin
elastic diaphragm, which is in contact
with the fluid, as the sensing element.

• As the pressure changes, the

diaphragm deflects. This deflection is
measured and calibrated to indicate
pressure.

• Diaphragm pressure gauges can

measure pressure changes up to a
frequency of 10 kHz. Pressure sensor by
Honeywell

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