Fluid Statics

4th SEMESTER
BS ME (2009-2013)

Fluid Statics
Fluid Statics
It

is the study of fluids at rest

There will be no shearing stresses
The only forces that develop on the surface
of particles will be due to pressure
Pressure distribution is due to weight of
fluid

What is Pressure Anyway???

Definition of Pressure
Pressure is defined as the amount of force
exerted on a unit area of a substance:

force N
P
2 Pa
area m

Direction of Fluid Pressure on

Boundaries

Furnace duct

Pipe or tube

Heat exchanger

Pressure is a Normal Force

(acts perpendicular to surfaces)
It is also called a Surface Force
Dam

Absolute and Gauge Pressure

Absolute pressure: The pressure of a fluid is expressed
relative to that of perfect vacuum (P = 0)
Gauge pressure: Pressure expressed as the difference
between the pressure of the fluid and that of the
surrounding atmosphere.
Usual pressure measuring devices record gauge
pressure.
To calculate absolute pressure

Pabs Patm Pgauge

Units for Pressure

Units
1 pascal (Pa)
1 bar
1 atmosphere (atm)
1 torr
760 mm Hg
14.7 lbf / in2 (psi)

Definition
1 kg m-1 s-2
1 x 105 Pa
101,325 Pa
1 / 760 atm = 1mm Hg
1 atm
1 atm

1 psi (lbf/in2) = 6894.8 Pa (N/m2) = 6.895x10-3 N/mm2

= 6.895x10-2 bar

Pressure At A Point
Consider a Wedge of Fluid
o No Shearing Stresses
Summation of Forces Must
Equal Zero
And
From Geometry
Hence

o There is no pressure change

in the horizontal direction
o There is a vertical change in
pressure proportional to the
density, gravity, and depth
change

Pressure Variation in a Static

Lets determine the
pressure distribution in a
fluid at rest in which the
only body force acting is
due to gravity

Equilibrium Condition
The sum of the forces
acting on the fluid must
be equal to zero

What Are The z-direction Forces?

Let Pz and Pz+z denote the
pressures at the base and
top of the cube, where the
elevations are z and z+z
respectively.

PS z z
z

y
x

mg S ( z ) g

PS z

Pressure Distribution for a Fluid at Rest

A force balance in the z direction gives:

0 PS z PS z z S zg

Pz z Pz
g
z
For an infinitesimal element (z0)

dP
g
dz

Pressure Variation in a Static Fluid, contd.

Incompressible

Fluid

=constant

Pressure in a continuously distributed uniform static fluid varies only

with vertical distance and is independent of the shape of the container.

Pressure Variation in a Static Fluid, contd.

Compressible

Fluid

For Non-Isothermal Process

=Variable
Assuming a Perfect Gas

Where
oT0 is Sea Level
Temperature
oB is Lapse Rate
For Isothermal Process

Measurement of Pressure
Absolute Pressure
Measured Relative to a
Perfect Vacuum
Gage Pressure
Measured Relative to
the Local Atmospheric
Pressure
Vacuum or Suction
Negative Gage Pressure

Mercury Barometer
Mercury

Barometer

It is Used for the

Measurement of
Atmospheric Pressure

Here
p1=0, z1 = h, p2=pa, z2 = h
pa = Mh

Manometry
Piezometer Tube

Or

It is a Simple Device But has Following Disadvantages

oNo suitable for Vacuum Gage Pressure
oPressure Should be Relatively Small
oFluid Should be Liquid NOT Gas

Manometry, contd.
U Tube Manometer
o Pressure in a continuously
distributed uniform static fluid
varies only with vertical
distance and is independent of
the shape of the container.
o The pressure is the same at all
points on a given horizontal
plane in the fluid.
o The pressure increases with
depth in the fluid.

Manometry, contd.
Differential U Tube Manometer
The U-tube manometer may
also be used to measure the
difference in pressure between
two containers or two points
in a given system

Manometry, contd.
Inclined Tube Manometer
The Inclined Tube Manometer is used to measure
small pressure changes between two containers or
two points in a given system

Bourdon Tube Gage

Example: Thermodynamic
Properties
When we say a cars tire is
filled to 32 lb, we mean
that its internal pressure is 32
lbf/in2 above the ambient
atmosphere. If the tire is at
sea level, has a volume of 3.0
ft3, and is at 75F, estimate
the total weight of air, in lbf,
inside the tire.

Given Data:
p = 32 psi (gage)
= 32 + 14.7 = 46.7 psia
V = 3.0 ft3
t = 75 oF
Find:
Total weight of air in lbf = ?

Solution: Determination of Weight

= wt / V

gp
=
RT

gpV
wt =
RT

322
. (467
. 144) 3
wt =
1716 (75 460)

wt =071
. lbf

Given Data:
p = 32 psi (gage)
= 32 + 14.7 = 46.7 psia
V = 3.0 ft3
t = 75 oF

Example: Effect of Viscosity

The belt in Fig. moves at a steady velocity V and skims
the top of a tank of oil of viscosity, as shown. Assuming
a linear velocity profile in the oil, develop a simple
formula for the required belt-drive power P as a
function of (h, L, V, b, ). What belt-drive power P, in
watts, is required if the belt moves at 2.5 m/s over SAE
30W oil at 20C, with L 2 m, b 60 cm, and h 3 cm?

Solution: Effect of Viscosity

AV
F
h
bLV
F

A bL

P FV

Given Data:
V = 2.5 m/sec
of SAE 30W oil at 20oC
= 0.29 N-s/m2
L=2m
b = 60 cm
h = 3 cm

bLV
P
Power P = ?
h
029
. 06
. 2 25
.
P
725
. watt
003
.
2

Example: Hydrostatic Pressure

In Fig. the tank contains water
and immiscible oil at 20C.
What is h in cm if the density
of the oil is 898 kg/m3?
Given Data:
of water at 20oC
= 9789 N/m3
Find
h in the Fig = ?

Solution: Hydrostatic Pressure

p ( h)
12
6

100 100

water

( h)

oil

Given Data:
of water at 20oC = 9789 N/m3

12
h
981
. 898
100 100

9789

898 981
. 176202
. 1057125
.

100

704895
.
100
h
8 cm
898 981
.

Example: The Atmosphere

A gage on an airplane
measures a local pressure of
54 kPa. The lapse rate is 0.006
K/m. Effective sea level
temperature is 10 oC. Effective
sea level pressure is 100 kPa.
Estimate the planes altitude.

Bz
p p 1
t

g / RB

Given Data:
p = 54 kPa
B = 0.006 K/m
po = 100 kPa
to = 10 oC = 283 K
Find
Altitude of plane= ?

Solution: Altitude of Plane

t
z
B
o

p
1
p

283
z

.
0006

RB / g

5 4

1 100

2870006
.
/ 981
.

z 4716667
. 1 054
.

017
. 6

z 4847 m

Given Data:
p = 54 kPa
B = 0.006 K/m
po = 100 kPa
to = 10 oC = 283 K

Example: Manometry
In Fig. both ends of the
manometer are open to the
atmosphere. Estimate the
specific gravity of fluid X.
Given Data:
Density of SAE 30 oil at
20oC
= 891 kg/m3
Density of Water at 20oC
= 998 kg/m3

Solution: Manometry
p = h
(0.1) (891*9.81) +(0.07) (998*9.81)
+(0.04) (x*9.81) (0.06) (x*9.81)
(0.05) (998*9.81) (0.1) (891*9.81)
=0
(0.10.09)(891) +(0.070.05)
(998)+(0.040.06) x = 0
x =1443.5 kg/m3
sx =1443.5 / 998 = 1.45

Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

For fluids at rest, the force
must be perpendicular to the
surface since there are no
shearing stresses present.
where

first moment of the

area with respect
to the x axis

Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

or more simply as

At what
point does
this force
act??

since

Magnitude of the force is independent of

Angle
And depends only on
Specific weight of the fluid,
Total area
Depth of the centroid of the area below
the surface
second moment of
the area (moment
of inertia), Ix

Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

It can be written

The x coordinate, for the resultant

force can be determined

Parallel axis theorem can

be used to express Ix as

Above equation shows

where Ixy is the product of
that resultant force does inertia with respect to the x
not pass through the
and y axes
centroid but is always
below it, since Ixc/yc A > 0.

Some Common Shapes

Pressure Prism

Pressure Prism

Hydrostatic Force on a Curved

Surface
For curved surfaces, the term dA makes integration
tedious and no general relations can be found
A simple approach can be utilized

Example
The 6-ft-diameter drainage conduit of Fig is half full of water
at rest. Determine the magnitude and line of action of the
resultant force that the water exerts on a 1-ft length of the
curved section BC of the conduit wall.

F1 = hc A = (62.4 lb/ft3)(3/2 ft )(3 ft2) = 281 lb = FH

W = vol = (62.4 lb/ft3)(9/4 ft2 )(1 ft) = 441 lb= FV

Buoyancy and Archimedes Principle

Summing forces in z direction

A is the horizontal area of the

upper (or lower) surface
desired expression
for the buoyant force
Taking moments
or

Buoyancy and Archimedes Principle

buoyant force passes through
the centroid of the displaced
volume

Stability