Hydrostatic Pressure (Center Of Pressure)

Objective:
The purpose of this experiment is to experimentally locate the center of
pressure of a vertical, submerged, plane surface. The experimental
measurement is compared with a theoretical prediction.
Apparatus:
Hydraulic bench, Hydrostatic pressure apparatus, set of weights, metric
ruler, graduated cylinders
Theory:
The center of pressure of an immersed body is defined by the vertical
distance below the liquid surface. In this experiment we aimed to find out
the center of pressure both theoretically and practically and to compare
them after all. Theoretically, calculations of center of pressure " Hcp" by
using the
Hcp= Hcg I ! Hcg x "
Hcg# the center of gravity
"# the cross sectional area
I# the moment of inertia
Hydrostatic force of the fluid pressure acting on the rectangular plane
surface.
$ = % x g x " x Hcg &here'
%# the mass density of water ()*** +g!m, -
g# the gravitational acceleration (m!s.-
"# the cross sectional area of the surface at which the load is acting.
Hcg# the center of gravity of the cross section /y ta+ing 01 about the pivot
point.
The application of this formula may differ according to whether the body is
partially or totally immersed.
2ractically, the center of pressure will be calculated using the principle of
moment equilibrium of the used apparatus about a pivot, only two forces
create a moment about this pivot as the apparatus is designed to have a
curved surface with the pivot as the center, so that forces exerted on this
surface all pass through the pivot and create no moment about it.
2artial Immersion#
$ = % x g x " x Hcg = % x g x y3.!. x b
Hcp = Hcg I ! Hcg x " = .!, x y
Ta+ing moment around the pivot'
m.g.4= $ x Hcp = % x g x y3.!. x b 5a d 6 )!, x y7
Total Immersion#
$= % x g x (y8d!.- x (b x d-
Hcp= (y 6 9- (d3. ! ). (y6 d!.--
Ta+ing the moment around the pivot'
m.g.4= $ x Hcp = % x g x (y 6 d!.- x (b x d- x 5a d!. d3.!). x (y 6
d!.-7
:everal values of Hcp is tal+ing by mass increments of ;*g each trial, and
increasing the water level until the hydrostatic force is sufficient to ma+e the
apparatus in equilibrium.
Procedures:
). The instruments used was ad<usted as the tan+ was filled with water till it
touched the bottom surface of the surface and that point was considered to
be the =ero of the vernier caliper.
.. 1asses were added to the balance pan in increments of about ;*g, and
the water surface was raised in the tan+ until the balance arm is hori=ontal
again.
,. The vernier reading was ta+en to measure the depth of immersion, which
restores the balance arm to its balanced position.
>. " series of readings with increasing values of "m" are then ta+en.
Analysis and Calculation:
?ata#
result
#
Mass
(kg)
depth
(m)
m.g.L
(M1)
F.ycp
(M2)
error
1 0.05 0.048
0.13488
8
0.15595
5

0.0210
!
2 0.1 0.0"4
0.2"9!!
5
0.2"921
8
0.0005
5!
3 0.15 0.082
0.404""
3
0.42!10
!

0.0224
4
4 0.2 0.09" 0.53955
0.5"95!
"

0.0300
3
5 0.25 0.108
0."!443
8
0."4030
9
0.0341
29
" 0.3 0.12
0.80932
5
0.!!283
8
0.03"4
8!
! 0.35 0.134
0.94421
3
0.92!4!
8
0.01"!
35
8 0.4 0.14! 1.0!91
1.0!109
3
0.0080
0!
9 0.45 0.159
1.21398
8
1.203"8
0.0103
08
Sample of calculations:
m.g.4 = *.*>@AB.@)A*..C; = *.),>@@@
$.Hcp = B@)*A(*.),>@@@3.!.-A*.*C;A(*.)(*.)8()!,A*.),>@@@--- =
*.);;B;;
iscussion and Conclusion:
The obtained results showed large discrepancies between the theoretical and
experimental values of the center of pressure, where the experimental ones
were larger than the theoretical ones.
The difference between the two values were smaller in the total immersion
region (y D= )*cm- than in the partial immersion region.
These discrepancies might be a result of errors occurred in the experimental
procedures or apparatus.
some of the possible errors that might have caused the large discrepancies#
). Eeglecting the weights of the balance and the pan.
.. Frrors in determining the depth "y", either due to errors in ta+ing the
reading from the vernier or from parallax errors in determining the touching
point between the water surface and the pin of the measuring device.
!eference:
/.G. 1unson, ?.$. Houng, and T.H. I+iishi, $undamentals of $luid 1echanics,
>th ed., .**., &iley and :ons, Eew Hor+.