Translation and

CE123-1
Hydraulics Rotation of Liquid
Masses

ENGR. ROGELIO FRETTEN C. DELA CRUZ

Instructor
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION (MOVING VESSEL)
HORIZONTAL MOTION
Consider a mass of fluid moving with a linear acceleration a as shown in the figure.
Considering a particle in the surface, the forces acting are the weight (W = mg) and the
fictitious inertia force (reversed effective force, REF = ma), and the reaction N which is
normal to the surface.

FBD
Force Polygon
For horizontal motion, the surface of the liquid will become an inclined plane.
The slope of the plane will be determined as shown below.
From the force polygon,
Where: a − linear acceleration of vessel, ft/sec 2 or m/sec 2
REF
tan  = g − gravitational acceleration of vessel, ft/sec 2 or m/sec 2
W
Ma
tan  =
Mg

a
tan  =
g

FBD
Force Polygon
INCLINED MOTION
Consider a mass of fluid accelerated upward at an inclination 𝛼 with the horizontal so that
𝑎𝐻 = 𝑎 cos𝛼 and 𝑎𝑉 = 𝑎 sin𝛼.

From the force polygon,

aH
tan  =
MaH Hence, tan  =
Mg + MaV g  aV

aH Note: (+) for upward motion, and

tan  = (‒) for downward motion.
g + aV
VERTICAL MOTION
Consider a mass of fluid accelerated, upward or downward, with an acceleration a as shown
in the figure. The forces acting at a point h below the liquid surface are the weight of the
liquid above the point, γV, the inertia force, ma, and the pressure force F = pA.
Σ𝐹𝑉 +↑ = 0
𝐹 − 𝑊 − REF = 0 REF = Ma
Hence,
𝐹 = 𝑊 + REF
h
𝑝𝐴 = 𝛾𝑉 + 𝑀𝑎 𝑎
𝑝 = 𝛾ℎ 1 ± W = V
g h
Note that, 𝑉 = 𝐴ℎ
𝑀 = 𝜌𝑉
𝛾 Note: (+) for upward motion, and (‒) for downward motion. Area = A
𝜌=
g a is positive for acceleration and negative for deceleration.
𝛾
𝑝𝐴 = 𝛾 𝐴ℎ + g 𝐴ℎ 𝑎 F = pA

𝑎
𝑝 = 𝛾ℎ 1 +
g
ROTATION (ROTATING VESSELS)

When a liquid mass is rotated about a

vertical axis at constant angular speed of ω
(in radians per second), every particle Paraboloid of
revolution
experiences a normal acceleration of 𝑎𝐻
𝑣2
which is equal to = 𝜔2 𝑥 where x is the
𝑥
Fig. 1a Fig. 1b
particle’s distance from the axis of rotation.

This acceleration causes an inertia force

(centrifugal force or reversed normal
effective force) which is equal to 𝑀 𝑎𝐻 or
𝑊 2
𝜔 𝑥.
𝑔

Fig. 1c Fig. 1d
From the force polygon (Fig. 1d):
𝐶𝐹
tan 𝜃 =
𝑊
𝑊/𝑔 𝜔2 𝑥
tan 𝜃 =
𝑊
𝜔2 𝑥
tan 𝜃 =
𝑔 Paraboloid of
revolution
Where tan 𝜃 is the slope of the paraboloid
any point x from the axis of rotation.
𝑑𝑦 Fig. 1a Fig. 1b
From Calculus = tan 𝜃
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝜔2
= 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑔
𝜔2
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝑔
By integrating both sides,
𝜔2 2
𝑦= 𝑥
2𝑔
Fig. 1c Fig. 1d
The form of the free surface of a liquid in a rotating
vessel is that of a paraboloid of revolution. Any
vertical plane through the axis of rotation that cuts
the fluid will produce a parabola.
The equation of the parabola is
𝜔2 2
𝑦= 𝑥
2𝑔 Paraboloid of
revolution
where x and y are coordinates, in feet or meters, of
any point in the surface measured from the vertex in
the axis of revolution and ω is the constant angular
Fig. 1a Fig. 1b
velocity in rad/sec.

Note: 1 rpm = π/30 rad/sec

For cylinder container of radius r revolved about its

vertical axis, the height h of paraboloid is:

𝜔2 2
ℎ= 𝑟
2𝑔
Fig. 1c Fig. 1d
In Fig. 1b, the relationship between any two
points in the parabola is given by,

𝑥12 𝑥 2
=
𝑦1 𝑦
Paraboloid of
revolution

Fig. 1a Fig. 1b

Volume of Paraboloid of Revolution

1 2
Volume = 𝜋𝑟 ℎ
2
LIQUID SURFACE CONDITIONS
For open cylindrical containers more than half-full of liquid rotated about its vertical axis (h > H/2):

h/2 h/2
h Initial liquid level h Initial liquid level
h/2
h/2
b b

h/2 < D h/2 = D

(No liquid spilled) Liquid surface just touching the top rim
(No liquid spilled)

h Initial liquid level Initial liquid level Initial liquid level

h
b h
b b h>H
Vortex (imaginary) below
the bottom
(Some liquid spilled)

h/2 > D h=H

(Some liquid spilled) Vortex at the bottom
(Some liquid spilled)
For closed cylindrical containers more than half-full of liquid rotated about its vertical axis (h > H/2):

c = D/H h − K
K = H 2 /2D

Note: For closed vessels, there can never be

any liquid spilled, so the initial volume of
liquid (before rotation) is always equal to the
final volume of the liquid (after rotation), or
the initial volume of air inside is equal to the
final volume of air inside.
The relation of volume of air is more
convenient to use in solving this type of
problem.
Illustrative Problem 1.
An open rectangular tank, mounted on a truck, is 5 m long, 2 m wide, and 2.5 m high.
The tank is filled with water to a depth of 2 m. The truck is accelerating such that the
water is just about to be spilt over the edge of the tank, as shown in the figure.
a) What maximum horizontal acceleration can be imposed on the tank without spilling
any water?
b) Determine the accelerating force on the liquid mass.
c) If the acceleration is increased to 6 m/sec 2 , how much water is spilled out?
Solution:
a) The figure shows the water level under maximum
acceleration a when no water is spilled out.
𝑎
To solve for acceleration, tan 𝜃 =
𝑔

Solve first for tan 𝜃 referring for the figure,

0.5
tan 𝜃 = b) Accelerating Force F.
2.5
𝐹 = 𝑀𝑎
tan 𝜃 = 0.20
𝑀=𝜌𝑉
𝑎
0.20 = 𝑀 = 1000 kg/m3 (5 m ×2 m × 2 m)
𝑔
𝑀 = 20,000 kg
𝑎 = 0.20(9.81 m/sec 2 )
𝐹 = 20,000 kg × 1.962m/sec 2
𝑎 = 1.962 m/sec 2
𝐹 = 39,240 N
Maximum acceleration that
can be imposed on the tank
without spilling any water.
c) If the acceleration is increased to 6 m/sec 2 ,
𝑎
Take note that tan 𝜃 =
𝑔
Also, from the figure,
2.5 m
tan 𝜃 =
𝑥

𝑎 2.5 m
Hence, = Volume of water left when the acceleration is
𝑔 𝑥 increased to 6 m/sec 2 ,
2.5 m (9.81 m/sec 2 ) 1
𝑥= 𝑉𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 = 4.0875 m 2.5 m 2 m
6 m/sec 2 2
𝑥 = 4.0875 m 𝑉𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 = 10.21875 m3
Original volume of water when tank is filled at Hence, the volume of water spilled is,
a height of 2 m ,
𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 𝑉𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 − 𝑉𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡
𝑉𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = (2 m)(2 m)(5 m)
𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 20 m3 − 10.21875 m3
𝑉𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = 20 m3
𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 9.78125 m3
Illustrative Problem 2.
An open cylindrical vessel 1.2 m in diameter and 2.1 m high is 2/3 full of water.
Compute the amount of water in liters that will be spilled out if the vessel is rotated
about its vertical axis at a constant angular speed of 90 rpm.
Solution:
𝜔2 𝑟 2
ℎ=
2𝑔
π
rad/sec
𝜔 = 90 rpm × 30
1 rpm
𝜔 = 3π rad/sec
(3π rad/sec)2 (0.6 m)2
ℎ=
2(9.81 m/sec 2 )
ℎ = 1.63 m
Verify ℎ/2.
ℎ/2 = 0.815 m > 0. 70m

Therefore, some liquid will spill out.

Initial volume of air
inside the cylinder. Final volume of air
(paraboloid) inside
the cylinder.

Note that the difference in volume of air inside the cylinder before
and during the rotation will be the amount of water that spilled out.
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟(𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙) − 𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟(𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙)
1 2
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 𝜋 0.60 m 1.63 m − 𝜋 0.60 m 2 (0.70 m)
2
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 0.13 m3 × 1000 liters/m3

𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 130 liters

References:
▪ Fluid Mechanics 7th Edition
by Frank M. White
▪ Fluid Mechanics: Fundamental and Applications
by Yunus A. Cengel & John M. Cimbala
▪ Mechanics and Hydraulics 4th Edition
by Ranald V. Giles, Jack B. Evett, & Cheng Liu