Lecture # 6

Ch. 2. Fluid Statics

Iceberg

Fluid Mechanics-I (ME321)

Dr. Ali Turab Jafry

2024 Fall Semester

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Science and Technology Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 1
 Pressure Variation in a Fluid at Rest
Incompressible Fluid
 For most engineering applications the variation in g is
negligible
 In general, a fluid with constant density is called an
incompressible fluid. (2.4)
 For liquids the variation in density is usually negligible, even over large
vertical distances, so specific weight is constant.

(2.6)

(2.7)
 This type of pressure distribution is commonly called a hydrostatic
distribution. An incompressible fluid at rest the pressure varies linearly with 2
 Pressure Variation in a Fluid at Rest: Incompressible Fluid
 The pressure difference between two points can be
specified by the distance h.
 In this case h is called the pressure head and is interpreted
as the height of a column of fluid of specific weight required
to give a pressure difference p1 – p2. For example, a
pressure difference of 10 psi can be specified in terms of
pressure head as 23.1 ft of water.
 Let p2 = p0 (Free surface, usually atm P) in Eq 2.7,

(2.8)
 The pressure in a
homogeneous, incompressible
fluid at rest depends on the
depth of the fluid relative to
some reference plane, and it is
not influenced by the size or
shape of the tank or container
in which the fluid is held.
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 Pressure Variation in a Fluid at Rest: Incompressible Fluid
 The transmission of pressure throughout a stationary fluid is the principle
upon which many hydraulic devices are based (hydraulic jacks, lifts,
presses, hydraulic controls on aircraft and other types of heavy
machinery)

 Since the pressure p acting on the faces of both pistons is the same:

 The piston area A2 can be made much larger than A1 to obtain large
mechanical advantage; that is, a small force applied at the smaller piston
can be used to develop a large force at the larger piston (limitation???). 4
 Pressure Variation in a Fluid at Rest: Compressible Fluid
 Density of gases (compressible fluids) can change significantly with
changes in pressure and temperature.
 But specific weights of common gases are comparatively small,
therefore pressure gradient in vertical direction is correspondingly small.
 In problems involving gases in tanks, pipes, and so on, effect of
elevation changes on the pressure can be neglected for stationary
gases.
 If variations in heights are large (thousands of feet) variation in specific
p  RT
weight must be accounted for.
dp gp

 Equating density:
dz RT
p2 dp p2 g z2 dz
p1 p ln p1  R z1 T (2.9)

 To integrate last equation, temperature variation with elevation must be

known. For isothermal condition (constant T0), the pressure-elevation
relationship is: (2.10)
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 Standard Atmosphere
 Standard atmosphere is an idealized representation of mean condition
in the earth’s atmosphere
 Properties for standard atmospheric condition at sea level are listed in
Table
 Temperature profile for the U.S. standard atmosphere is shown on
Figure
 Since temperature variation is represented by a series of linear
segments, equation can be integrated to obtain pressure variation

Variation of temperature with altitude in the U.S standard atmosphere

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 Pressure Measurement
 Pressure is designated as either absolute pressure or gage pressure
 Absolute pressure is measured relative to a perfect vacuum (absolute
zero pressure), gage pressure is measured relative to the local
atmospheric pressure.
 Negative gage pressure is referred to as a suction or vacuum
pressure.
 In this course pressure will be assumed to be gage pressures unless
specifically designated absolute.
 Pressure difference is independent on the reference, so that no
special notation is required
 Pressure is measured in Pa (SI) or psf, psi (BG). psia and kPa (abs) is
absolute pressures.
 Pressure can also be expressed as a height of column of a liquid.
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Pressure Measurement

Graphical representation of gage and absolute pressure

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 Pressure Measurement
 Barometer is usually used to measure atmospheric pressure
 It is a glass tube closed at one end with the open end immersed in a
container of mercury as shown in Fig.
 The column of mercury will come to an
equilibrium position where its weight plus the
force due to the vapor pressure which develops
in the space above the column balances the
force due to the atmospheric pressure.

(2.13)

 Vapor pressure can be neglected:

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 Manometry
 Manometers use vertical or inclined liquid columns to measure
pressure. Mercury barometer is one type of manometer.

Three common types of manometers include

 Piezometer tube,
 U-tube manometer
 Inclined-tube manometer

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 Piezometer Tube
Fundamental Equation:
p h  p0

p A 1h1

Disadvantages:
- pA must be greater than p0
- h is limited
- fluid in container must be liquid

Sphygmo- 12
manometer
 U-Tube Manometer
Start from one end (use rule of pressure at equal elevations is same)

Advantage: gage fluid can be different from fluid in

container

If fluid in container is gas

p A 2 h2
For high pA mercury is used

For small pA water or other light liquids can be used

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 Differential Manometer (U-tube)
 Manometer connected between containers A and B.
 Start from A and work to other end

p A  pB 2 h2  3 h3  1h1

 Two common gage fluids are water and mercury.

 The gage fluid must be immiscible with respect to the other fluids
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 Inclined-Tube Manometer
To measure small pressure changes

 One leg of the manometer is

inclined at an angle and the
differential reading is measured
along the inclined tube.

 between points (1) and (2) is

due to the vertical distance
between the points

 Adv: For relatively small p A  pB 2l2 sin   3 h3  1h1

angles the differential reading
along the inclined tube can be
made large even for small
pressure differences. for gases p A  pB 2l2 sin 

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Pressure Measurement

p A  pB h2 2  1  2.9 kPa

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