HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE APPARATUS

1) Water vessel
2) Detent
3) Slinder
4) Stop pin
5) Water level scale
6) Rider
7) Weights
8) Handles
Theory On The Centre Pressure

The hydrostatic pressure of liquids is the “gravitational pressure” Phyd. It rises due to the
intrinsic weight as the depth t increase, and is calculated from :

Phyd = p.g.t

p = Density of water
g = Acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.81 m/s²)
t = Distance from liquid surface

To calculated forces acting on masonry dams or ships, hull, for example, from the hydrostatic
pressure, two steps are

 Reduce the pressure load on an active surfac down to a resultant force Fp, which is
applied at a point of application of force, the “centre of pressure”, ventrical to the
active surface.
 Determine the position of the centre of pressure by determining a planer centre of
force on the actice surface.

It is first demonstrated how the centre of pressure can be determined. The resultant force Fp is
then calculated.
Determining the Centre of Pressure

A linear pressure profile is acting on the active surface shown, because the hydrostatic
pressure rises proportional to the depth t.

The resultant force Fp is therefore not applied at the centre of force C of the active surface,
but always slightly below it, at the so-called centre of pressure D! To determine the distance e
of the centre of pressure from the plannar centre of force, the following model demonstration
is used :

Imagine an area A in front of the active surface, formed by the height h and the pressure
profile of the hydrostatic pressure p1-p2. This area is in the form of a trapezium.

The centre of pressure D lies on the extension of the planarcentre of force of this area A. A
can be broken down into partial areas A1 and A2. The respective planar centres of force are
identified by black dots.

A balance of moments between the areas is then established around the point O1 in arder to
find the common planar centre of force (dynamic effect in direction Fp) :

/
 e is the distance of the centre of pressure from the planner
centre
of force of the active surface which we are looking for.

Determining The Resultant Force

The hydrostatic pressure acting on the active surface can

be represented as resultant force Fp, of which the line of
application leads through the centre of pressure D. The
size of this resultant force corresponds to the hydrostatic
pressure at the planar centre of force C of the active
surface.

Pc = p.g.tc (10)
Pc = Hydrostatic pressure at the planar centre of force
of the active surface.
Tc = Vertical distance of the planar centre of force
from the surface of the liquid.

In visual terms, the pressure at the planar centre of force

corresponds to precisely the mean value between the
highest and lowest pressure, because of the linear
pressure distribution. If the wall is tilted by an angle
 Pc = p.g.cosα.yc (11)

The resultant force Fp can now be calculated :

Fp = Pc.Aactive

Important! To calculated the resultant force the planar

centre of force of the active surface is applied, but the
line of application of the resultant force Fp runs through
the centre of pressure (see section 3.1)

Mode Of Functioning Of The HM 150.05 Unit.

The units water vessel is designed as a ring segment with constant cross-section. The force
due to weight G of the water always produces the same moment of momentum referred to the
centre of motion O as the resultant force Fp, of the active surface running through the centre
of pressure D, Consequently, this apparatus can be used to determine the force of pressure Fp
and the centre of pressure.

To illustrate the point, image the ring segment completely filled. The force due to weight Gg
applied top the centre of volume of the water can be broken down into two component.

A radially applied component Gr running precisely through the centre of motion and
A tangential component G1 with a lever arm r acting on the centre of motion O.

The radial component Gr exerts no momentum on centre O, because its lever arm is zero.
Now regardless of the water level.

Fp.Yp = Gfr (13)

That is to say the force due to weight G of the water volume always exerts the same moment
of momentum as the force Fp at the centre of pressure D.

The derivation of (13) leads via determination of the centre of force of a ring segment and its
volume.
Determine The Centre Of Pressure

At the water level s, below the 100mm mark, the

height of the active surface changes with the water
level. If the water level is above that mark, the height
of the active surface is always 100mm.
Meaning :
s = Water level
e = distance of centre of pressure D from planar
centre of force C of the active surface.
Id = Distance to centre of motion of the unit :
for a water level s < 100mm :
(pressure has a triangle profile)

e = 1/6.s (1)
ID = 200 mm – 1/3.s (2)

for the water level s > 100 mm :

(pressure has a trapezoidal profile)

e = 1.(100mm)²
12s – 50mm (3)

ID = 10mm = e
Determining The Resultant Force

The resultant force corresponds to the hydrostatic

pressure at the planar centre of force c of the active
surface. Thus, the height of water level s must again
be differentiated :

Meaning :
Aact = superficial content of active surface
b = 75 mm – width of liquid vessel
pc = Hidrostatic pressure at planar centre of force

Fp – resultant force for hydrostat. Pressure on active surface :

For s < 100mm :

(triangular profile)

Pc = p.g.s and Aact = s.b (5)

2
For s > 100mm :
(trapezoidal profile)

Pc = p.g. (s/2-50mm) and Aact = 100mm.b (6)

The resultant force is produced as

Fp = pc.Aact (7)
Balance Of Moment

Calculated variables :
FG = appended weight
I = lever arm appended weight referred to centre of
motion O checkh the theory, a balance of moment aroung
the of motion O can be establish and checked
£Mº = 0 ; FG.I = Fp. Id
 PROSEDURE

Centre Of Pressure With Water Vessel Tilted

Performing the experiment

Set an angle α and counterbalance the water vessel as

described under 4.1.1.1
Enter the characteristic values in the prepare
worksheet : lowest water level St and highest water
level Sh of the active surface
perform the measurement as described under 4.1.1.2

Evaluating The Experiment

The different between evaluation of the tilted vessel and that of the vertical lies in the
translation of the water levels onto the tilted active surface : A factor cos α must be taken into
account here.

Determining The Centre Of Pressure

When the water vessel is at a tilt too, a triangular pressure

profile is produced when the water level is below Sh ; above that
level a trapezoidal profile is produced.
Measured values : -
s – water level reading
α – tilt angle of vessel

Meaning :
St – water level of lowest point of vessel
Sh – water level of active surface at rim
e – position
h – height of active surface
ID – distance between centre of pressure/centre of motion.
 For a water level s < Sh a triangular profile as follows applies.
h= S-St/ cos α
e = 200mm-1/3.h
For water level S>Sh a trapezoidal profile as follows applies
E = 1/12. (100mm)²/(S-St cos α -50mm)
Iᴅ =150mm + e

Determining The Resultant Force

Meaning :
A act – superficial content of active surface
b – 75 mm – width of liquid vessel
pc = hydrostatic pressure at palanar centre of force of active
surface

For S < Sh with h from section 4.2.2.1

Pc = ρ.g.(S-St/2 and Aact = hb
For S-Sh the trapezoidal profile as follow applies:
Pc = p.g. (s-st-50mm.cosα) (15)
Aact = 100mm.b
The resultant force is produced as
Fp = Pc.Aact
Balance Of Moment

The resultant can be checked with the balance of moments

Centre Of Pressure With 90º Positioning If The Water Vessel

The angle α =90° represents a special case. The resultant pressure profile has form of
atriangle, because the hydrostatic pressure is equal at every point on the active surface.

For this reason, the centre of pressure C lies precisely at the planar centre of force D of the
active surface.

e =0
and has the lever arm
Iᴅ = 150mm
The resultant force is produce as
Fp = ρ.g.(S-St).(100mm.b)
The result can be checked with the balance of moments
PROPERTIES O F FLUIDS & HYDROSTATICS BENCH

WORKSHEET FOR CENTRE OF PRESSURE

Angle α (º) Lowest water level St Highest water level Sh

(mmHOW) (mmHOW)

0° 0 100
Lever arm I Appended Water Level Calculated lever Resultant force
(mm) weight FG (N) reading s (mm) arm ID(mm) Fp (N)

250 1 61 180 1.369

250 2 90 170 2.980
250 3 116 163 4.856
250 5 158 158 7.946
250 7.5 220 155 12.508

Angle α (º) Lowest water level St Highest water level Sh

(mmHOW) (mmHOW)

50 73 136
Lever arm I Appended Water Level Calculated lever Resultant force
(mm) weight FG (N) reading s (mm) arm ID(mm) Fp (N)
250 1 66 203 0.026
250 2 129 171 1.792
250 3 153 161 3.521
250 5 199 156 6.906
250 7.5 255 154 11.026

Angle α (º) Lowest water level St Highest water level Sh

(mmHOW) (mmHOW)

90 200 200
Lever arm I Appended Water Level Calculated lever Resultant force
(mm) weight FG (N) reading s (mm) arm ID(mm) Fp (N)
250 1 220 150 1.472
250 2 240 150 2.943
250 3 264 150 4.709
Calculation centre of pressure
Example :

0˚
(S <100mm)
I d = 0.2m- 1/3(S)
= 0.2 – 1/3 ( 0.061 )
= 0.180m @ 180mm

(S >100mm)
I d = 0.15m + e where:
e = (1/12) x (100mm)²/(S-50mm)
e = (1/12) x (0.1m)²/ (0.116m-0.05m)
e = 0.013m
I d = 0.15m + 0.013
=0.163m @ 163mm

Fp = Pc x Aact
(S < 100mm)
Pc = ρg x S/2 where: Aact = S .b
= 0.061 x 0.075= 4.575x 10ˉ³m
= (10³ x 9.81) x (0.061/2)
= 299.21
Fp = (299.91) x (4.575x10ˉ³m)
= 1.369 N

Fp = Pc x Aact
(S > 100mm)
Pc = ρg (S – 50mm) where: Aact = 100mm x b
= 0.1m x 0.075m = 7.5 x 10ˉ³m
= (10³ x 9.81)x (0.116- 0.05m)
= 647.46

Fp = (647.46) x (7.5 x 10ˉ³)

= 4.856 N
50°
Centre of pressure
(S < Sh)
Id = 200mm – 1/3(h) where: h = (S –St)/(cos α)
= 0.2m – 1/3(-0.01) = (0.066-0.073)/(cos 50°)
= 0.203m @ 203mm = -0.01

(S > Sh)
Id = 150mm + e where:
e = (1/12) x ((100mm)²/((S- St)/ (cos α )-50mm))
= 0.15m + 0.011 = (1/12) x ((0.1m)²/((0.153-0.073)/(cos 50°)-0.05))
= 0.161m @ 161mm = 0.011

Force due plate

(S < Sh)
Pc = ρg ((S-St)/2) Aact = h.b
= (10³x 9.81)x((0.066-0.073)/2) h = (S-St)/(cos α) = (0.066-0.073)/(cos 50°)
= -34.335 = -0.01
h.b= -0.01x 0.075
= -7.5x10ˉ⁴
Fp = Pc x Aact
= -34.335 x -7.5x 10ˉ⁴
= 0.026 N

(S> Sh)
Pc = ρg (S-St- 50mm. cos α) Aact = 100mm.b
= 10³x9.81(0.153m-0.073m-0.05m cos 50) = 0.1m x 0.075m
= 469.51 = 7.5 x10ˉ³

Fp = Pc x Aact
= 469.51 x7.5 x 10ˉ³
= 3.521 N
90˚
Centre of pressure
F p= p.g (S-St) x (0.1mxb) , b= 0.075 m
= 1000x9.81 (0.220m- 0.2m ) (0.1m x 0.075m )
= 1.472 N

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

There are some problem that cause during the experiment is conduct:

I. The differences between the true answer with our calculation (erratum) is huge.
II. Erratum is caerratum use when up loading the load without addition.
III. The accessories and the apparatus seem old, not up to date and not functioning very
well.
IV. Error due to human factor such as careless.

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

The experiment is done and succeeds but not in perfect match with the real data due to
erratum.

We can minimize the new one.

a. Change the apparatus with the new one.

b. Be more careful during conduct the experiment to avoid careless.
 REFERENCES

Hydraulic 2 politechnic module

Pn. Siti Balqis binti Abdul Kadir (Hydraulic lecturer).

APPARATUS