CE 315 FLUID MECHANICS

Chapter 2

PRINCIPLES OF HYDROSTATICS

Objectives:
After careful study of this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

1. Identify the fundamental principles of fluid statics

2. Identify the concept of pressure
3. Prove it has a unique value at any particular elevation
4. Show how pressure varies with depth according to the hydrostatic equation

2.1 GENERAL

In general, the subject on fluid statics covers the basic principles and their applications to
engineering-related problems. In static condition, fluids are devoid of the presence of relative
motion between fluid particles. As such, the fluids in consideration may be treated as if viscosity
has no significant effect and has to be excluded from fluid statics problems. This gives way to the
possibility of obtaining exact solutions of problems by available analytical methods, without the
aid of experiment.

The general rules of statics (as applied in solid mechanics) apply to fluids at rest.
 A static fluid can have no shearing force acting on it, and
 Any force between the fluid and the boundary must be acting at right angles to
the boundary.

Unit Pressure or Pressure, P

Pressure is the force per unit area exerted by a liquid or gas on a body or surface, with
the force acting at right angles to the surface uniformly in all directions.

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The fluid is at rest, so we know there are no shearing forces, and we know that all forces are
acting atright angles to the surfaces. And, as the fluid is at rest, in equilibrium, the sum of the
forces in any direction is zero.

Pascal’s law, developed by French mathematician Blaise Pascal, states that the pressure on a
fluidis equal in all directions and in all parts of the container.

In the English system, pressure is usually measured in pounds per square inch (psi) in international
usage, in kilograms per square centimeters (kg/cm2), or in atmospheres; and in the international
metric system (SI), in Newtons per square meter (Pascal).

ATMOSPHERIC, GAUGE AND ABSOLUTE PRESSURES

Atmospheric pressure is the weight of all gasses above the surface in which it comes in
contact.

Under normal conditions, atmospheric pressure at sea level is given by these values: (patm)
 101.325 kPa
 14.696 psi
 2166 lb/ft2
 760mm Hg
 29.9 inches Hg

Gage pressure, measured with the use of pressure gauges, is the pressure above or below
atmospheric pressure. Negative gauge pressure indicates a vacuum which cannot go below –
101.325 kPa. Positive gauge pressure indicates that the pressure is above atmospheric. Gauge
pressure is also called relative pressure.

Absolute pressure is equal to gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure. There is no such thing
as negative absolute pressure. In the absence of all matter (complete vacuum), the absolute
pressure is zero.

p abs = pgage + patm

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Pressure Gauges
Some general types of pressures instruments are as follows:

 Barometer - used to measure

changes in atmospheric pressure.

 Bourdon gauge - used to measure large pressure

difference.

 Manometer - a U-tube that contains liquid of

known specific gravity. The two common types
are:

a) Open type – manometer with the

surface of contained liquid in one leg
exposed to atmospheric pressure.

b) Differential type – one which does not

have any of the contained fluids
exposed to the atmosphere.

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c) Piezometer – simplest type of open manometer,

usually tapped into the wall of a container or a
conduit.

VARIATIONS IN PRESSURES

The difference in pressure between any two points in a homogenous fluid at rest is equal to the
product of the unit weight of the fluid (γ) to the vertical distance (h) between the points.

p2 – p1 = γh

If the first point lies on the free liquid surface, then the gage pressure p 1 will be zero and the
equation becomes:

p = γh

When two points lie on the same elevation, such that h = 0, the equation becomes:

p1 = p2

Consider a tank being filled with liquids of different densities and with air at the top under a
gage pressure of pA, the pressure at the bottom of the tank is given by:

pbot = Σ γh + pA

PRESSURE HEAD

It is the height “h” of a column of homogenous liquid of unit weight γ that will produce an
intensity of pressure “p”.

h = p/γ

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To convert a pressure head (h) of any liquid to another liquid:

𝑺𝑨
hB = h A ( )
𝑺𝑩

𝜸𝑨
hB = h A ( )
𝜸𝑩

𝝆𝑨
hB = h A ( )
𝝆𝑩

STEPS IN SOLVING MANOMETER PROBLEMS:

1. Draw a sketch of the manometer approximately to scale.

2. Decide on the fluid of which head are to be expressed. Water is more desirable.
In most cases, we suggest using head in water even if there is no water in the
system.
3. Starting at a point of known pressure head, number in order the levels of contact of fluids
ofdifferent specific gravities.
4. Proceed from level to level, add pressure head in going down and subtract pressure
head ingoing up with due regard to the specific gravity of the fluids.

SAMLE PROBLEMS:

1. If the pressure 23m below a liquid is 338.445 kPa, determine its unit weight γ, mass density
ρ and specific gravity (s).

2. If atmospheric pressure is 95.7 kPa and the gage attached to the tank reads 188mmHg
vacuum, find the absolute pressure within the tank.

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3. A pressure gage 6m above the bottom of the tank containing a liquid reads 90 kPa.
Another gage height 4m reads 103 kPa. Determine the specific weight of the liquid.

4. An open tank contains 5.8m of water covered with 3.2m of kerosene (γ = 8 kN/m 3). Find
the pressure at the interface and at the bottom of the tank.

5. If the pressure in a tank of oil (sp. Gr = 0.80) is 60 psi, what is the equivalent head in:
a) Feet of the oil
b) Feet of water
c) Inches of mercury

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6. For the tank shown in the figure, h1 = 3m and h3 = 4m. Determine the value of h2.

7. The U-tube shown in 10mm in diameter and contains mercury. If 12ml of water is poured
into the right-hand leg, what are the ultimate heights in the two legs?

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8. For the manometer setup shown, determine the difference in pressure between A and B.

9. In the figure shown, determine the height h of water and the gage reading at A when
the absolute pressure at B is 290 kPa.

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10. In the figure below, find the pressure head and the pressure at m when:
a) Fluid A is water, fluid B is mercury, z = 15in and y = 30in.
b) Fluid A is oil (sp. Gr = 0.80), fluid B is a calcium chloride solution (sp. Gr = 1.25),
z = 12in and y = 8ft
c) Fluid A is gas (γ = 0.04 lb/ft3), fluid B is water, z = 5in and y = 15in.

REFERENCES:

 Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics (REVISED EDITION)

Gillesania, Diego Inocencio T.
c2003, Leyte

 Introduction to fluid mechanics

Nakayama, Yasuki
c2018 Published by Butterwort - Heinemann, USA

 Simplified Fluid Mechanics (Expanded Version 2013 EDITION)

Dela Fuente, Templo, Chua & Siapno

 Hydraulics Reviewr (REVISED EDITION)

Ricardo C. Asin, BSME

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Prepared by:

LEIZEL M. LOCQUIAO, CE
Faculty, Civil Engineering Department

Adapted and modified by:

JEDRIC AMRON E. HIÑOLA, CE

Faculty, Civil Engineering Department

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