1

Hydrostatics
Study of Fluids at rest
Dams
Tanks or storage vessels
No Shear stresses in the fluid field
Moving with no relative motion
Uniformly accelerating tank
Rotating cylinders
Nature of Forces
Body Force
Acts throughout the bulk of the body (fluid)
Gravity force
Centrifugal Force
Inertial Force
Electromagnetic force
Nature of Forces
Surface Force
Acts on the surface of the body (fluid)
Pressure Force
Viscous Force
Surface tension Force
s x p
s

x
y
z
z x p
y

y x p
z

x
y
z
2
z y x
g

Pascals Law - I
The pressure at a point in a shear stress free
fluid is independent of direction
2
z y x
g cos s x p p
s y x z

+ =
2
z g
p p , y cos s As
s z

+ = =
Vertical Force Balance
Horizontal Force Balance
= sin s x p p
s z x y
s y
p p , z sin s As = =
When we shrink the element to a point, z tends to zero,
Hence p
z
= p
y
= p
s
Pascals Law - II
Governing Equation for Pressure Field - I
x
y
z
z x p
y x HoT z
z
p
p |

\
|
+

+
z y p
z y HoT x
x
p
p |

\
|
+

+
y x p
z x HoT y
y
p
p
|
|

\
|
+

+
y
z
x
g z y x
2
Governing Equation for Pressure Field - II
Z-direction Force Balance
( ) 0 g z y x y x z HoT z
z
p
p y x p
2
= |

\
|
+

+
+
0 z y x ) z ( HoT g
z
p
= |

\
|
+ +

+
In the limit of shrinking the volume to a point after
dividing the LHS by the volume
0 g
z
p
= +

Governing Equation for Pressure Field - III

Similar Force Balance in x and y directions would yield
0
x
p
=

0
y
p
=

and
Important conclusion is pressure varies only in z direction
This is because there was body force only in z direction
We shall generalize in the next slide after making some
observations
1. The weight acts downwards, whereas positive z is
upwards, so we can write g = -g
z
2. The final equations were force per unit volume = 0
3. In general, we can write the three equations as
Some Observations
0 g
z
p
z
= +

0 g
x
p
x
= +

0 g
y
p
y
= +

4. We can combine the whole set into one vector

equation as
0 g p = +
r
Interpretation of the final equation
0 g p = +
r
p
Is the net surface force (due to pressure) per unit
volume of fluid in the positive direction (in terms of
the components)
g
r

Is the net body force per unit volume of fluid in the

positive direction
Evaluation of pressure distribution
If we define positive z to be pointing upwards
0 g p = +
r
0 ) g (
z
p
= +

or

=
z
z
p
p
ref ref
gdz dp
) z z ( g p p
ref ref
=
Pressure decreases with
increase in elevation
If gravity was the only body force involved, then we
had concluded that there will be pressure variation
only in vertical direction
p
rerf
z
ref
p z
z
g
If is constant
then
Manometry
1. In a constant density fluid, pressure at a given
elevation from datum is same
2. This is exploited in measurement of pressure
using manometers
The product g is called and is denoted by g =
3
Terminology in pressure measurement Measurement of atmospheric pressure
h p p
vap atm
+ =
1. Standard sea level = 760
mm of Hg
2. This is about 10 m of
water column
Toricilli Barometer
2 2 ref 3
h p p + =
1 1 2 A
h p p =
Capillarity effects are
negligible for large bore
tube ie., diameters
greater than 30 mm
P
ref
= 0
U-Tube Manometer
3 2
p p =
1 1 2 2 ref A
h h p p + =
U-Tube Manometer
B 3 3 2 2 1 1 A
p h h h p = +
B 3 3 2 2 1 1 A
p h sin l h p = +
sin
1
is ion Magnificat
Inclined Tube Manometer
Inclination up to 10
o
Ok
Below this angle
miniscis error becomes
large
l l
Pressure Gauges
There are other type of transducers.
You may learn about them in Instrumentation
course
4
F
2
= (A
2
/A
1
)F
1
If A
1
<< A
2
then F1 << F2
Hydraulic press
Mechanical Advantage = A
2
/A
1
=
dz
dp

= =
2
1
2
1
2
1
z
z
z
z
p
p
dz g
RT
p
dz g dp
Gases are compressible and hence density is
not constant

=
2
1
z
z 1
2
T
dz
R
g
p
p
ln
Isothermal condition
o
1 2
1
2
T R
) z z ( g
p
p
ln

=
(

=
o
1 2
1
2
T R
) z z ( g
exp
p
p
Pressure distribution in compressible fluid - I
0
T t tan cons T If = =
In general T = T (z)
T = 15
0
C (288.15 K)
p = 101.33 kPa (abs)
= 1.225 kg/m
3
= 12.014 N/m
3
In Troposphere T
varies Linearly
m / K 0065 . 0
z m T T
o
=
=
Airplanes
Temperature Variation in atmosphere

=
2
1
z
z 1
2
T
dz
R
g
p
p
ln

=
2
1
z
z o 1
2
z m T
dz
R
g
p
p
ln
( )
( )
1 o
2 o
1
2
z m T
z m T
ln
m
1
R
g
p
p
ln

\
|
=
mR
g
1 o
2 o
1
2
z m T
z m T
ln
p
p
ln
(

=
Pressure distribution in compressible fluid - II
Linear Temperature Variation
mR
g
1 o
2 o
1
2
z m T
z m T
p
p
(

=
Determination of Hydrostatic forces is
important for the design of storage tanks,
pools, dams, ships and other hydraulic
structures
Applications to sumberged objects
For fluids at rest
The force must be perpendicular to the surface
since there are no shearing stresses present.
The pressure will vary linearly with depth if the
fluid is incompressible.
F
R
= hA
Pressure distribution on plane surface -I
5
y
y
C
y
R
F
R
dF
h
h
c
Free Surface
Centroid, c
Location of resultant force
(center of pressure, CP)
O - origin
x
R
x
C
dA
x
y
x
Pressure distribution on plane surface -II

+ = + = =
A
o
A
o
A
R
dA sin y A p dA ) h p ( dA p F
Pressure distribution on plane surface -III
A y sin A p dA y sin A p
c o
A
o
+ = + =

=
A
c
dA y
A
1
y Note
y-coordinate of centroid
c o R
h A A p F + = As
= sin y h
c c
h
c
is the vertical distance between free surface and centroid
Note that there will also be a force p
o
A that will act in the
opposite direction of F
R
from the other side of the plate.
Hence in the net force, atmospheric pressure will cancel
[ ] [ ]

= = =
A A A
R R
dA sin y y dA h y dF y y F
xx
A
2
I sin dA y sin = =

Pressure distribution on plane surface -IV

Position of the resultant force
Moment of the resultant force = Moment of the distributed force
Since atmospheric pressure
would cancel it is not being
carried around
( )
2
c c xx
Ay I sin + =

c c c xx
Ay sin y I sin + =

c R c xx c c c xx
y F I sin Ay h I sin + = + =

Pressure distribution on plane surface -V
R
c xx
c R
F
I sin
y y


+ =
R
c xy
c R
F
I sin
x x


+ =
Similarly we can find x
R
(Exercise)
Resultant force does not pass through the centroid but
is always below it
The values of second
moment of area for
some shapes. The
nomenclature is a bit
different but easy to
grasp
c R
h A F =
MAGNITUDE OF THE RESULTANT FORCE
LOCATION OF THE RESULTANT FORCE
Direction : F
R
IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE SURFACE
R
c xx
c R
F
I sin
y y


+ =
R
c xy
c R
F
I sin
x x


+ =
Summary
6
2 H
F F = W F F
1 V
+ =
Point O summing moments about an appropriate axis
Pressure distribution on curved surface
Buoyancy force on the body = Weight of the fluid
displaced by the body
Buoyancy Force
When a body is completely submerged in a fluid, or
floating so that it is only partially submerged, the
resultant upward force acting on the body due to
pressure on the surfaces is called buoyancy force
Archimedes Principle Greek Scientist (287 BC 212 B.C)
The line of action of the buoyant force passes through
the centroid of the displaced volume. The centroid is
called the Center of buoyancy
( )( ) b l P P F
1 2 B
=

= =
2
1
2
1
z
z
p
p
1 2
dz dp P P But
( ) ( )

=
|
|

\
|
=
1
2
2
1
z
z
z
z
B
dz b l dz b l F
y
P
1
x
z
l
P
2
b
z
1
z
2
Weight of the fluid displaced by the body
g m dm g
fluid
domain
fluid
= =

Buoyancy Force - II
A simple case
Buoyancy Force - III
Liquid (
f
)
A
B
C
D
General interpretation
Consider an imaginary water lump ABCD
The vertical force on the top surface ABC will be
equal to the weight of the liquid above it
Similarly, the vertical force on the
bottom surface ADC will be equal to
the weight of the liquid above it
Thus the net vertical force on the
lump will be equal to the weight of
liquid lump
If a body replaces the lump, the force
field will not change
Archimedes Principle holds good
for bodies of any general shape
for both gases and liquids
does not require density to be constant
Buoyancy force is important
For naval vehicles
lighter than air vehicles hot air balloons
Buoyancy Force - IV
V
s
Water (
water
)
A
V
s
Other liquid
A h
( ) h A V
V
SG
s
s
m
=
Principle of Hydrometer
s water
V g W =
When immersed in water
( ) h A V g SG W
s water
m =
When immersed in an unknown SG fluid
|
|

\
|
=
s
V
h A
1
1
m
s
V
h A
1
Stem can be
calibrated to read SG
Hydrometer is used to
find the specific gravity
of liquids
Original
level
7
Stability of Floating Objects
The point of action of buoyancy force is called Centre of
Buoyancy
It is the CG of the submerged volume
If CG of the body is below the centre of buoyancy, the
object is stable
Stability of Floating Objects-II
The problem of determining stability is complex as the
centre of Buoyancy shifts when the object is tilted
Short wide bodies are normally in stable equilibrium
Stability of Floating Objects-III
Tall slender bodies are generally unstable
Even though a fluid may be in motion, if it moves as a
rigid body there will be no shearing stresses present
) a g (
x
p
x x
=

) a g (
y
p
y y
=

) a g (
z
p
z z
=

Pressure variation in fluids with rigid

body motion
An acceleration of a particle sets up an inertial force in
the direction opposite to the acceleration (called
d'Alemberts force
The general governing equation for fluid in a
gravitational and accelerational field can be stated as
0 ) a g ( p = +
r r
) a g ( p
r r
= or
Pressure variation in a tank subjected to
rectilinear uniform acceleration-I
, 0
x
p
=

a
y
p
=

g
z
p
=

a
y
p
=

c ) z ( f ay p + + =
similarly g
z
p
=

c ) y ( f gz p + + = c ) ay gz ( p + + =
P is only a function of y and z
a
x
= a
z
= g
x
= g
y
= 0, a
y
= a, g
z
= -g
x
y
z
x
y
z
a
y
g
The equation for a constant pressure line shall be
C c ) ay gz ( p = + + = C ) ay gz ( = + y
g
a
C z =
Choosing the origin such that the free surface left hand
side is the origin, then C = 0 for the free surface
Therefore, the equation of the free surface is
y
g
a
z =
Assuming the fluid to be incompressible, the mid-point
of free surface is unaffected
Pressure variation in a tank subjected to
rectilinear uniform acceleration-I
8
The case of rotating cylinder-I
) a g (
r
p
r r
=

) a g (
p
r
1

=

) a g (
z
p
z z
=

In cylindrical coordinates the governing equation can be

stated as follows
a

= a
z
= g
r
= g

= 0, a
r
= -
2
r, g
z
= -g
The case of rotating cylinder-II
r
r
p
2
=

0
p
r
1
=

g
z
p
=

r
r
p
2
=

c ) z ( f
2
r
p
2 2
+ +

=
similarly g
z
p
=

c ) r ( f gz p + + =
c )
2
r
gz ( p
2
+

+ =
The equation for a constant pressure line shall be
g 2
r
C z
2

+ = C )
2
r
gz (
2
=

C c )
2
r
gz ( p
2
= +

=
p is only a function of r
and z
Choosing the origin such that the free surface centre is
the origin, then C = 0 (z=0, r=0)
The case of rotating cylinder-III
g 2
r
z
2

=
Thus, free surface is a paraboloid of revolution