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UNIT 2
FLUID STATIC
OBJECTIVES
General Objective : To know, understand and apply the concept of pressure and buoyancy
¾ define Pascal Law and apply the concept into the Hydraulic Jack.
INPUT
2.0 INTRODUCTION
A fluid is a substance that flows easily. Gases and liquids are fluids, although
sometimes the dividing line between liquids and solids is not always clear. Because of
their ability to flow, fluids can exert buoyant forces, multiply forces in a hydraulic
systems, allow aircraft to fly and ships to float.
The topic that this unit will explore will be pressure and depth. If a fluid is within a
container then the depth of an object placed in that fluid can be measured. The deeper
the object is placed in the fluid, the more pressure it experiences. This is because of the
weight of the fluid above it. The more dense the fluid above it, the more pressure is
exerted on the object that is submerged, due to the weight of the fluid.
The formula that gives the pressure, p on an object submerged in a fluid is:
p = ρgh
Where,
ρ (rho) is the density of the fluid,
g is the acceleration of gravity
h is the height of the fluid above the object
If the container is open to the atmosphere above, the added pressure must be included if
one is to find the total pressure on an object. The total pressure is the same as absolute
pressure on pressure gauge readings, while the gauge pressure is the same as the fluid
pressure alone, not including atmospheric pressure.
In Unit 1, we have defined the meaning of ‘pressure’. In this unit we will learn about
the relationship between pressure and depth.
When a liquid (such as water, oil etc) is contained in a vessel, it exerts force at all points
on the sides and bottom of the container. This force per unit area is called pressure. If F
is the force acting on an area a, then intensity of pressure is :
F
p=
A
The direction of this pressure is always at right angle to the surface, with which the
fluid at rest, comes into contact.
The intensity of pressure at any point is the force exerted on an unit area at that point
and is measured in Newtons per square metre, N/m2 (Pascals). An alternative metric
unit is bar, which is in N/m2.
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/4
In this section, we are going to look into the relationship between depth and pressure.
Figure 2.1
Consider a vessel containing some liquid as shown in Figure 2.1. We know that the
liquid will exert pressure on all sides and the bottom of the vessel. Let a cylinder be
made to stand in the liquid as shown in the figure. The weight of liquid contained in
the cylinder is ωhA where ;
The pressure, at the bottom of the cylinder, will be due to the weight of the liquid
contained in the cylinder. Let this pressure be p.
Then,
This equation shows that the intensity of pressure at any point, in a liquid, is
proportional to its depth as measured from the surface (as ω is constant for the given
liquid).
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/5
It is thus obvious, that the pressure can be expressed in either one of the following two
ways :
a) As force per unit area ( N/m2)
b) As height of equivalent liquid column
Example 2.1
a) Find the density of pressure p at a depth below the surface of a liquid of specific
weight ω = ρg if the pressure at the free surface is zero.
b) A diver is working at a depth of 20 m below the surface of the sea. How much greater
is the pressure intensity at this depth than at the surface? Take into consideration
specific weight of water is 10000 N/m3.
Liquid of specific
weight w
Cross-sectional
area A
Figure 2.2
Intensity of pressure× area base = Weight per unit volume × volume of column
pA = ω. Ah
p = ωh = ρgh since ω = ρg
Since the same relation applies wherever the column is taken, it follows that :
The intensity of pressure is the same at all points in the same horizontal plane in
a liquid at rest.
Therefore,
p = 1000 x 20
= 200000 N/m2
= 200 kN / m 2
Example 2.2
Find the height of a water column which is equivalent to the pressure of 2 N/m2.
( Take into consideration specific weight of water, ωwater = 1000 kg/m2 x 9.81 m/s2 )
Therefore,
2
h=
9810
h = 2.04 m
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/7
ACTIVITY 2A
Intensity of pressure
w
1. _______ exerts at all points on the sides and bottom of the container when a liquid
(such as water, oil etc) is contained in a vessel.
2. ______ (Pascal) is the measurement unit for the intensity of pressure at any point with
reference to the formula p = F / A.
3. p = ρgh or p = __ h
4. Pressure can be expressed in two ways if force per unit area ( N/m2) and _______ of
equivalent liquid column are given.
5. We can summarize that, intensity of pressure at a point in a fluid at rest is the same in
all _________.
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/9
FEEDBACK ON ACTIVITY 2A
2.1
h
Specific weight of the liquid
Intensity of pressure w
2.2
1. Force exerts at all points on the sides and bottom of the container when a liquid (such
as water, oil etc) is contained in a vessel.
2. N/m2 (Pascal) is the measurement unit for the intensity of pressure at any point with
reference to the formula p = F / A.
3. p = ρgh or p = ωh
4. Pressure can be expressed in two ways if force per unit area ( N/m2) and height of
equivalent liquid column are given.
5. We can summarize that, intensity of pressure at a point in a fluid at rest is the same in
all directions.
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/11
INPUT
Hydraulic system uses an incompressible fluid, such as oil or water, to transmit forces
from one location to another within the fluid. Most aircraft use hydraulics in the braking
systems and landing gear. Pneumatic systems use compressible fluid, such as air, in
their operation. Some aircraft utilize pneumatic systems for their brakes, landing gear
and movement of flaps.
Pascal's law states that when there is an increase in pressure at any point in a
confined fluid, there is an equal increase at every other point in the container.
For example, in the Figure 2.3, P3 would be the highest value of the three pressure
readings, because it has the highest level of fluid above it.
Figure 2.3
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/12
If the container had an increase in overall pressure, that same added pressure would
affect each of the gauges (and the liquid throughout) in the same way. For example p1,
p2, p3 were originally 1, 3, 5 units of pressure, and if 5 units of pressure were added to
the system, the new readings would be 6, 8, and 10.
Applied to a more complex system below (Figure2.4), such as a hydraulic car lift,
Pascal's law allows forces to be multiplied. The cylinder on the left shows a cross-
section area of 1 square meter, while the cylinder on the right shows a cross-section area
of 10 square metre. The cylinder on the left has a weight (force) of 1 kg acting
downward on the piston, which lowers the fluid 10 metres. As a result of this force, the
piston on the right lifts a 10 kg weight a distance of 1 metre.
The 1 kg load on the 1 square metre area causes an increase in pressure on the fluid in
the system. This pressure is distributed equally throughout and acts on every square
metre of the 10 square metre area of the large piston. As a result, the larger piston lifts
up a 10 kg weight. The larger the cross-section area of the second piston, the larger the
mechanical advantage, and the more weight it lifts.
W2 = 10 kg
W1 = 1 kg
A1 = 1 square metre
A2 = 10 square metre
D1= 10 meter
D2 = 1 meter
Figure 2.4
Since pressure equals force per unit area, then it follows that
F1 F2
=
A1 A2
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/13
It can be shown by substitution that the values shown above are correct,
1 kg 10 kg
=
1 square metre 10 square metre
Because the volume of fluid pushed down on the left side equals the volume of fluid
that is lifted up on the right side, the following formula is also true.
V1 = V2
by substitution,
A1 × D1 = A2 × D2
Or
A1 D2
=
A2 D1
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/14
px
Pz
Py
Figure 2.5
Example 2.3
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/15
Find the head, h of water corresponding to an intensity of pressure, p of 340 000 N/m2.
Take into consideration that the mass density, ρ of water is 103 kg/m3.
Since p = ρgh
p
Head of water , h =
ρg
340000
=
10 3 x9.81
= 34.7 m
p1 = p 2
F
Area , a
W
p1 p2
Area, A
Figure 2.6
Example 2.4
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/16
A force, P of 500 N is applied to the smaller cylinder of a hydraulic jack. The area, a
of a small piston is 20 cm2 while the area, A of a larger piston is 200 cm2. What mass
can be lifted on the larger piston?
F = 800 N
W
Area ,
a = 20 cm2 p1 p2
Area,
A = 200 cm2
A
So that W =F
a
2.0
= 800 × = 8000 N
0.2
W
Mass lifted =
g
80000
=
9.81
= 815.49 kg
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/17
ACTIVITY 2B
2.3 A force, P of 650 N is applied to the smaller cylinder of an hydraulic jack. The area, a
of a small piston is 15 cm2 and the area A of a larger piston is 150 cm2.
Consider the mass density ρ of the liquid in the jack is 103 kg/m3
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/18
FEEDBACK ON ACTIVITY 2B
2.3
(a) if the pistons are at the same level
F
Area , a
W
p1 p2
Area,
A
F W
Now p1 = and p2 =
a A
p1 = p2 ,
F W
=
a A
Or
a
F = W
A
Thus, the small force F can raise the larger load W because the jack has a
mechanical advantage of A/a.
Putting F = 650 N, a = 15/1000 m2 , A = 150 / 1000 m2
F W
=
a A
A
So that W =F×
a
1.5
= 650 ×
0.15
= 6500 N
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/19
F
Area , a
p1
h W
p2 Area, A
If the larger piston is a distance h below the smaller piston, the pressure p2 will be
greater than p1, due to the head, h by an amount ρg, where ρ is the mass density of the
liquid and g is the gravity. Take into consideration g = 9.81 m/s2
p 2 = p1 + ρgh
F 650
p1 = = −4
= 43.3 × 10 4 N / m 2
a 15 × 10
p 2 = p1 + ρgh
p 2 = 43.3 × 10 4 + (10 3 × 9.81)× 0.65
= 43.3 × 10 4 + 6376.5
= 439.38 kN
and
W = p2 A
= 439.38 × 10 3 × 150 × 10 −4
= 6.59 kN
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/20
F
Area , a
W
p2
h
Area, A
p1
If the smaller piston is a distance h below the larger piston, the pressure p1 will be
greater than p2, due to the head, h by an amount ρg, where ρ is the mass density of the
liquid and g is the gravity. Take into consideration g = 9.81 m/s2
p1 = p2 + ρgh
W
p2 =
A
INPUT
2.3 BUOYANCY
Principle of Archimedes
Upthrust on body = weight of fluid displaced by the body
Archimedes
Principle states
that the buoyant
force on a
submerged object
is equal to the
weight of the fluid
that is displaced
by the object.
The positions of G1 and G2 are not necessarily on the same vertical line, and the
centre of buoyancy of the whole body is, therefore, not bound to pass through the
centroid of the whole body.
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/22
Example 2.5
So, W = ρ × g × B ×l × D
Therefore,
Weight of pontoon,
W = 1000 × 9.81 × 6 × 12 × 1.5 N
W = 1059.5 kN
W
Draught in sea water, D =
ρ × g × B×l
1059.5 × 10 3
=
1025 × 9.81 × 6 × 12
= 1.46 m
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/23
ACTIVITY 2C
2.5 Consider a barge filled with rock. The barge is 7 m wide, 17 m long, and 2.5 m
deep. If the barge and rock weigh 2.0 MN, determine the depth of submergence
of the barge in water as shown in the figure below.
Rock
Barge
2.5 m
d
17 m
Submergence Depth
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/25
FEEDBACK ON ACTIVITY 2B
2.4
Archimedes Principle states that the buoyant force on a submerged object is
equal to the weight of the fluid that is displaced by the object.
2.5
The specific weight of water is 9,800 N/m3 (or 9.8 kN/m3). From the buoyancy
concept, the volume of displaced fluid (water) must balance the weight of the
barge. Thus,
Or
Wb arg e
d=
(9.8 kN / m )(17 m)(7 m)
3
2.0 MN
d=
( )
9.8 kN / m 3 (17 m )(7 m )
= 1.71 m
FLUID STATIC J3008/2/26
SELF-ASSESSMENT
You are approaching success. Try all the questions in this self-assessment section and check
your answers with those given in the Feedback on Self-Assessment. If you face any problems,
discuss it with your lecturer. Good luck.
2.1 In a hydraulic jack a force F, is applied to a small piston that lifts the load on the
large piston. If the diameter of the small piston is 15 mm and that of the large
piston is 180 mm, calculate the value of F required to lift 1000 kg.
2.2 Two cylinders with pistons are connected by a pipe containing water. Their
diameters are 75 mm and 600 mm respectively and the face of the smaller piston
is 6 m above the larger. What force on the smaller piston is required to maintain
a load of 3500 kg on the larger piston?
2.3 A rectangular pontoon 5.4 m wide by 12 m long, has a draught of 1.5 m in fresh
water (density 1000 kg/m3). Calculate:
(a) the mass of the pontoon,
(b) its draught in the sea water (density 1025 kg/m3).
FEEDBACK ON SELF-ASSESSMENT
Answers :
2.1 68.2 N
2.2 276 N
2.3 a) 97000 kg ,
b) 1.47 m
1.4 a) 118000 kg ,
b) 118 m3