HYDROSTATICS

FLUID PRESSURE CHAPTER

02
CO1,PO1 – Explain the Hydrostatic
Principles and their Application in
Civil Engineering Field
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this week, students should be able to:

explain the concept of pressure measurements

(CO1- PO1)

calculate the differential pressure in various

devices (CO1-PO1)
 Chapter 2a
Pressure in
Hydrostatic Force
 Defination of pressure

Pressure is the normal compressive force

acting per unit area.
f orce F
P = =
area A

Units = N/m2

Pascals Law
 Pascals Law states that:

“The pressure, P, at any given

point in a fluid is independent
of its direction”

Pascals Law for

pressure at a point
Consider the element of fluid shown in figure below;

B
Pq

z
y
Px
Ds

Dz
q x

Dx

Pz
Consider equilibrium in the x-direction

Fx = 0

Px * B * Dz - Pq * B * Ds * Sin q = 0

Px * Dz - Pq * Ds * Sin q = 0

But Sin q =
Therefore,

Px * Dz - Pq * Ds * = 0

Px * Dz = Pq * Dz

Px = Pq Eq 1

Try : z direction as class exercise.

Pressure measurements
- Barometer
- Piezometer
- Manometer
- P = gh = gauge pressure (calculated pressure or
obtained from pressure devices)

- Pabs (Absolute pressure) = Pg + Patm

- Where: Patm is the atmospheric pressure

A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure
atmospheric pressure. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the
weather. Barometers and pressure altimeters (the most basic and common type
of altimeter) are essentially the same instrument, but used for different purposes.

A piezometer is either a device used to measure liquid pressure in a system by

measuring the height to which a column of the liquid rises against gravity, or a
device which measures the pressure (more precisely, the piezometric head) of
groundwater at a specific point

A manometer works on the principle of hydrostatic equilibrium and is used for

measuring the pressure (static pressure) exerted by a still liquid or gas.
Hydrostatic equilibrium states that the pressure at any point in a fluid at rest is
equal, and its value is just the weight of the overlying fluid.
This is the basic instrument use for detecting atmospheric pressure.
A simple diagram of a barometer is given in the figure below with the
column at equilibrium at point (stationary), at Point A
The difference in the height of the liquid on the
two sides of the tube is the differential pressure.
QUESTION 1
Liquid A weighs 8400 N/m3 and liquid B weighs 12400 N/m3. Liquid in
manometer is mercury (SG = 13.6). If the pressure at B is 270 kPa, find
the pressure at A.

0.4 m

2.0 m manometer

3.0 m

B
QUESTION 2
Water and oil flow in horizontal pipelines. A double U-tube manometer
is connected between the pipelines as shown in Figure 1c. Calculate the
pressure difference between the water pipe and the oil pipe.

air

12 cm

water
2.5 cm
Oil (SG = 0.85)

10 cm

SG = 1.6
QUESTION 3
A manometer is attached to a tank containing 3 different fluids.
What will be the difference in elevation (y) of the mercury column in
the manometer?
Elevation: 6 m
Air pressure = 30 kPa
Elevation: 5 m

Oil (SG = 0.82)

Elevation: 2 m
Water (SG = 1.0)
Elevation: 0 m
1.0 m y=?

Mercury (SG = 13.6)

QUESTION 4
For a vertical pipe with a manometer attached as shown in Figure Q2a,
find the pressure of oil at point A.
Open to
atmosphere
oil
(SG = 0.91)
A

2.0 m

0.3 m

mercury
(SG = 13.6)
 Chapter 2a

Hydrostatic Force
On Plane Surface
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this week, students should be able to:

apply the concept of hydrostatic in determining

forces exerted by a fluid on plane surface (CO1
PO1)

apply the concept of hydrostatic in determining

forces exerted by a fluid on curves surface
(CO1 PO1)
 Introduction
NO SHEAR STRESS PRESENT WHEN THE FLUID IS
NOT IN MOTION

PRESSURE IS EQUAL IN ANY DIRECTION AND

PRESSURE ACT PERPENDICULAR TO AN IMMERSED
SURFACE

HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE INCREASE WITH AN

INCREASING IN DEPTH
 P = ρgh
P = F/A ➔ F/A = ρgh
➔ F = ρghGA

Where: P = pressure
F = hydrostatic force
ρ = density of fluid
g = gravitational force
hG = depth of fluid
A = area of immersed surface

Hydrostatic Force On Plane Surfaces

 h

P = ρgh or F = ρghA
But h = hG
 F = ρghGA

Where : hG = Depth of fluid from fluid

surface to centre of gravity of
an immersed surface

Hydrostatic Forces On Inclined Surface

 Ө

hP hG
F

G
CP
Hydrostatic Force F acting at CP
 I G Sin q
2
hP = + hG
hG A
Where :
hP = depth from liquid surface to centre of pressure

IG = second moment of area

Ө = inclined angle
A = immersed area
hG = depth from fluid surface to centre of gravity of an
immersed object
QUESTION 5
Calculate the force on the wall shown in figure below if the wall is 6m long.

2m

600
QUESTION 6
The gate shown in figure below is square and is hinged at the top.
Determine the total force on the gate if it is 2m wide

3m
QUESTION 7
The triangular gate ABC is pivoted at the bottom edge AC and closed a
triangular opening ABC in the wall of a tank. The opening is 4m wide and 9m
high. The depth of water at the tank is 10m. Determine the hydrostatic force on
the gate and the horizontal force, P, required at B to hold the gate closed. (P=
324 kN)

water B B
P

A C A C
Front elevation Side elevation
 Chapter 2a
Hydrostatic Force
On Curve Surface
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this week, students should be able to:

apply the concept of hydrostatic in determining

forces exerted by a fluid on plane surface (CO1
PO1)

apply the concept of hydrostatic in determining

forces exerted by a fluid on curves surface
(CO1 PO1)
 RESULTANT FORCE = FR
2 2
FR = √( FV + FH )

Where :
F = FH = ρghGA
W = FV = ρgV
(V = volume of liquid above
the immersed curved surface)

Hydrostatic Forced On Curved Surfaces

A 3-m-long curved gate is located in the side of a reservoir containing water as
shown in figure below. Determine the magnitude of horizontal and vertical
components of hydrostatic force on the gate.

6m r = 2m

gate

Question 8
A 9-m-long cylinder floats in oil (s=0.86) and rest against a wall. Determine
the horizontal force the cylinder exerts on the wall at the point of contact, A.

Oil A
D=6m

Question 9
The 20-ft-long gate is a quarter circle and is hinged at H. Determine the
horizontal force, P, required to hold the gate in place. Neglect friction at hinge
and the gate’s weight.

water
H gate, r = 6 ft
hinge
Question 10
A tank wall has a shape shown in figure below. Determine the resultant force
of the water on a 1-m length of curved section AB.

6m 12m

Question 11
 Chapter 2a
Hydrostatic Force
On Dam
• DAM IS A HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES THAT
RETAINS WATER
• TYPES OF DAM – EARTH, CONCRETE
• OBJECTIVES OF CONTRUCTING A DAM
– HYDROELECTRIC POWER
– PROTECTION AGAINST FLOOD
– WATER SUPPLY

Hydrostatic Force On Dam

FOS AGAINST SLIDING
= Sliding resistance / sliding force
= W*f / F
Where :
W = weight of concrete = ρConcrete*g*Vconcrete
f = friction coefficient
F = ρghGA
= hydrostatic force of the liquid retain by the dam
(For a safe design, FOS Sliding > 1.0)

Factor Of Safety (FOS) - Sliding

FOS AGAINST OVERTURNING
= Righting Moment / Overturning Moment
= W*x / F*y
Where :
x = distance (perpendicular to the force) from heel of dam
to the centre of gravity of dam
y = distance (perpendicular to the force) from heel of dam
to centre of pressure of the hydrostatic force
(For a safe design, FOS Overturning > 1.0)

Factor Of Safety (FOS) - Overturning

 Chapter 2a
Hydrostatic Force
Using Pressure Diagram
HORIZONTAL VERTICAL INCLINED
SURFACE SURFACE SURFACE

Pressure Diagram
FORCE = volume of prism = ½ ρgh * h
F = ½ ρgh2

Where : F = force per unit width

h = depth of liquid

Centroid of the pressure diagram : 2/3 h

 Question 12
Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting on the
wall. Do the calculation for 1-m width of the concrete wall shown in
figure below

2.00 m Oil – SG
0.86

2.20 m Water – SG 1.00

5.50 m 4.00 m Glycerine – SG

Seawater – SG 1.26
1.05
Left Hand Side (LHS) Right Hand Side (LHS)

2.00 m Oil – SG 0.86

2.20 m Water – SG 1.00

5.50 m
Seawater
– SG 1.05 4.00 m Glycerine – SG 1.26
Area 1 = ½ * base * height
= ½ * (r1gh1) * h1
= ½ * (860 * 9.81 * 2) * (2)
=

Area 2 = base * height

= (r1gh1) * h2
= (860 * 9.81 * 2) * (2.2)
=

Area 3 = ½ * base * height

= ½ * (r2gh2) * h2
= ½ * (1000 * 9.81 * 2.2) * (2.2)
=
Area 4 = base * height
= (r1gh1) * h3
= (860*9.81*2) * (4)
=

Area 5 = base * height

= (r2gh2) * h3
= (1000*9.81*2.2) * (4)
=

Area 6 = ½ * base * height

= ½ * (r3gh3) * h3
= ½ * (1260*9.81*4) * (4)
=
Area 7 = ½ * base * height
= ½ * (r4gh4) * h4
= ½ * (1050 * 9.81 * 5.5) * (5.5)
=
Total Area for RHS
= Area 1 + Area 2 + Area 3 + Area 4 + Area 5 + Area 6 = -------- N

Total Area for LHS

= Area 7 = ------ N

To find the MAGNITUDE and DIRECTION of the resultant force:

FLHS - FRHS = ( ) - ( ) = _________ (WITH THE DIRECTION IS FROM RIGHT TO LEFT)

End of Chapter 2a

THANK YOU