2.

0 HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE:

2.1 Introduction

Hydrostatic forces are the resultant force caused by the pressure loading of a liquid acting on
submerged surfaces. Calculation of the hydrostatic force and the location of the center of
pressure are fundamental subjects in fluid mechanics. The center of pressure is a point on the
immersed surface at which the resultant hydrostatic pressure force acts. The location and
magnitude of water pressure force acting on water-control structures, such as dams, levees, and
gates, are very important to their structural design. Hydrostatic force and its line of action is also
required for the design of many parts of hydraulic equipment.

Objective:

 To determine the hydrostatic force due to water acting on a partially or fully

submerged surface;
 To determine, both experimentally and theoretically, the center of pressure

Figure 1: Layout of the Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus

 2.2 Theory

In this experiment, when the quadrant is immersed by adding water to the tank, the hydrostatic
force applied to the vertical surface of the quadrant can be determined by considering the
following [1]:

 The hydrostatic force at any point on the curved surfaces is normal to the surface and resolves
through the pivot point because it is located at the origin of the radii. Hydrostatic forces on the
upper and lower curved surfaces, therefore, have no net effect – no torque to affect the
equilibrium of the assembly because the forces pass through the pivot.
 The forces on the sides of the quadrant are horizontal and cancel each other out (equal and
opposite).
 The hydrostatic force on the vertical submerged face is counteracted by the balance weight. The
resultant hydrostatic force on the face can, therefore, be calculated from the value of the balance
weight and the depth of the water.
 The system is in equilibrium if the moments generated about the pivot points by the hydrostatic
force and added weight (=mg) are equal, i.e.:

𝒎𝒈 ∗ 𝑳 = 𝑭 ∗ 𝒉

where:
m : mass on the weight hanger,
L : length of the balance arm (Figure 2)
F : Hydrostatic force, and
h : distance between the pivot and the center of pressure (Figure 2).
Then, calculated hydrostatic force and center of pressure on the vertical face of the quadrant can
be compared with the experimental results.

Hydrostatic Force:
The magnitude of the resultant hydrostatic force (F) applied to an immersed surface is given by:

𝑭 = 𝑷𝒄𝑨 = 𝜸𝒉𝒄𝑨

where:
Pc : pressure at centroid of the immersed surface,
A: area of the immersed surface,
hc : centroid of the immersed surface measured from the water surface,
: density of fluid, and
g : acceleration due to gravity.
B : width of the quadrant face,
d : depth of water from the base of the quadrant, and
D : height of the quadrant face.
 h

hh

h
h
h

Figure 2: a: Partially submerged quadrant, b: Fully submerged quadrant (c: centroid, cp: center
of pressure)

The hydrostatic force acting on the vertical face of the quadrant can be calculated as:

Partially immersed vertical plane (Figure 2a):

𝑑
𝐹 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐𝐴 = 𝛾 ( ) (𝐵𝑑)
2
 Fully immersed vertical plane (Figure 2b):

𝐷
𝐹 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐𝐴 = 𝛾 (𝑑 − ) (𝐵𝐷)
2
 Theoretical Determination of Center of Pressure:

The center of pressure is calculated as:

𝐼𝑥𝑥,𝑐

�
𝐼𝑥𝑥, is the 2 moment of area of immersed body about an axis in the free surface.
nd

 Partially immersed vertical plane:

𝑑
ℎ=𝐻−
3

 Fully immersed vertical plane:

𝐵𝐷3
𝐷
+ (𝐻 − 𝑑) = (𝑑 − ) +
ℎ= + (𝐻 − 𝑑) = 𝐼𝑥𝑥,𝑐 12
+ (𝐻 − 𝑑)
+ 𝑦𝑐𝐴 2
𝐷
(𝑑− )
ℎ𝑝 𝑦𝑐 𝐴2

Experimental Determination of Center of Pressure:

For equilibrium of the experimental apparatus, moments about the pivot are given by Equation
(1). By substitution of the derived hydrostatic force, F from Equation (3a and b), we have:

 Partially immersed vertical plane (Figure 2a):

𝑚𝑔𝐿
ℎ=
𝐹

 Fully immersed vertical rectangular plane (Figure 2b):

𝑚𝑔𝐿
ℎ=
𝐹
 2.3 Experimental Procedure

Begin the experiment by measuring the dimensions of the quadrant vertical end face (B and D)
and the distances (H and L), and then perform the experiment by taking the following steps:

 Wipe the quadrant with a wet rag to remove surface tension and prevent air bubbles from forming.
 Place the apparatus on a level surface, and adjust the screwed-in feet until the built-in circular
spirit level indicates that the base is horizontal. (The bubble should appear in the center of the
spirit level.)
 Position the balance arm on the knife edges and check that the arm swings freely.
 Place the weight hanger on the end of the balance arm and level the arm, using the counter
weight, so that the balance arm is horizontal.
 Add 50 grams to the weight hanger.
 Add water to the tank and allow time for the water to settle.
 Close the drain valve at the end of the tank, then slowly add water until the hydrostatic force on
the end surface of the quadrant is balanced. This can be judged by aligning the base of the
balance arm with the top or bottom of the central marking on the balance rest.
 Record the water height, which displayed on the side of the quadrant in mm. If the quadrant is
partially submerged, record the reading in the partially submerged portion of the Raw Data
Table.
 Repeat the steps, adding 50 g weight each time, until the final weight of 500 g is reached. When
the quadrant is fully submerged, record the readings in the fully submerged part of the Raw Data
Table.
 Repeat the procedure in reverse by progressively removing the weights.
 Release the water valve, remove the weights, and clean up any spilled water.
 Data Sheet

 Height of quadrant end face, D (m) = 0.1m

 Width of quadrant end face, B (m) = 0.08m
 Length of balance arm, L (m) = 0.3m
 Distance from base of quadrant to the pivot, H (m)= 0.2m

Mass, Depth of Immersion,

Test No.
m(kg) d(m)
1 0.05 0.049

2 0.1 0.07

Partially 3 0.150 0.086

Submerged
4 0.2 0.1

6 0.3 0.128

7 0.4 0.154

8
Fully Submerged
9

10
 2.4 Results and Calculations:

Calculate the following for the partially and fully submerged quadrants, and record them in the
Result Table:

 Hydrostatic force (F)

 Theoretical depth of center of pressure below the pivot (h)
 Experimental depth of center of pressure below the pivot (h)

Result Table

Test Mass m Depth of Hydrostatic Theoretical Experimental depth

No. (kg) Immersion force F(N) depth of center of center of
d(m) of pressure (m) pressure (m)
1 0.05 0.049 1.92 0.18 0.076

2 0.1 0.07 2.74 0.17 0.107

3 0.15 0.086 3.37 0.171 0.130

4 0.2 0.1 3.92 0.166 0.150

6 0.3 0.128 6.12 0.0886 0.1442

7 0.4 0.154 8.16 0.158 0.144

0
0.049 0.07 0.086 0.1 0.128

Depth Of Immersion (m)

 0.2
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0.076 0.107 0.13 0.15 0.1442
Report:
Experimental depth of center of pressure (m)

Use the template provided to prepare your lab report for this experiment. Your report should
include the following:

 Table (s) of data sheet

 Table (s) of results
 Plots of the following graphs:
o Hydrostatic force (y-axis) vs depth of immersion (x-axis),
o Theoretical depth of centre of pressure (y-axis) vs experimental depth of center of pressure (x-
axis). Calculate and present value for this graph, and
 Comment on the variations of hydrostatic force with depth of immersion.
 Comment on and explain the discrepancies between the experimental and theoretical results for
the center of pressure.