AHMEDABAD PUBLIC SCHOOL

SESSION: 2018-19

PHYSICS PROJECT

HYDRAULIC
BRIDGE

SUBMITTED BY: _________________________________________

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 INDEX

1. Certificate _________________ Page 03

2. Acknowledgement ___________ Page 04

3. Abstract ___________________ Page 05

4. Theory ____________________ Page 06

5. Observation ________________ Page 15

6. Applications _______________ Page 17

7. Precautions ________________ Page 19

8. Bibliography _______________ Page 20

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 Certificate of Authentcity
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT MISS ________________________________________

AND ___________________________________________________ OF CLASS XI-A OF

AHMEDABAD PUBLIC SCHOOL HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT THE

PROJECT FOR PHYSICS ENTITLED “HYDRAULIC BRIDGE” AS ASSIGNED BY

THE SUBJECT TEACHER FOR THE ACADEMIC SESSION 2018-19.

THE APPROACH OF THE CANIDATES TOWARDS THE PROJECT HAD BEEN

SINCERE AND SCIENTIFIC.

Date: __________________

________________________________ ________________________________
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Signature of Subject Teacher Signature of Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to express our gratitude to our honorable Principal, Mrs. Moutoshi Sharma and
our physics teacher, Shivam Sir for assigning this informative project to us and giving us this
opportunity to expand our knowledge on the topic and learn new concepts.

We would sincerely like to thank our Parents and siblings who helped us to design, construct,
finalize and present this project successfully in the very short frame of time. We are also
indebted to them for their humble guidance and suggestions to bring out this project.

We have put in our sincere and scientific efforts to bring out this project and without the help
of the above mentioned, it wouldn’t have been successful. We look forward for the readers to
enjoy and understand this project and learn more on the topic.

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 ABSTRACT

The hydraulic bridge is a type of movable bridge that can be raised with the help of a
mechanical installation in order to allow maritime traffic through a body of water.

This project is based on Pascal’s Law which states that pressure exerted anywhere in a
confined incompressible fluid is transmitted equally in all directions throughout the fluid such
that the pressure variations remain same.

The hydraulic bridges were created to satisfy the needs of the fast growing economic and
industrial world in order to cater to the needs of land traffic as well as marine traffic through a
same point efficiently for transport purposes.

The hydraulic bridge not only allowed greater economy while reducing construction costs of
docks along with minimizing the transportation glitch and time, but also enabled undisturbed
marine, terrestrial and air activities in all sorts of weather efficiently with its incompressible
fluid principle.

Earlier, weights were lifted using pulleys, levers, block and tackles, etc. Movements for a
ship’s rudder or steering a vehicle where achieved by mechanical linkages like cams, levers,
couplings, and gears which made the system complicated. These manual or mechanical
methods of operation had several limitations. They also involved huge man power and long
working hours for a particular job. As the population and technology increased exponentially,
the demand for quicker and easier to operate equipment increased. To cater to this need,
hydraulic machines were introduced.

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 THEORY

 BASIC HYDRAULIC PRINCIPLES

A simple hydraulic system consists of hydraulic fluid, pistons or rams, cylinders,
accumulator or oil reservoir, a complete working mechanism, and safety devices. These
systems are capable of remotely controlling a wide variety of equipment by transmitting
force, carried by the hydraulic fluid, in a confined medium. Modern developments in
hydraulics have involved many fields in engineering and transportation. These systems
transfer high forces rapidly and accurately even in small pipes of light weight, small size,
any shape, and over a long distance. These systems play a vital role from small car’s
steering to supersonic aircraft’s maneuvering devices. More powerful and accurate systems
are also used in maneuvering huge ships.

 PASCAL’S LAW

Pascal’s Law, framed by Blaise Pascal, states that “Pressure applied to any part of a
confined fluid transmits to every other part with no loss. The pressure acts with equal force
on all equal areas of the confining walls and perpendicular to the walls." This is the basic
principle for any hydraulic system.
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A container, as shown below, contains a fluid. There is an increase in pressure as the length
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of the column of liquid increases, due to the increased mass of the fluid above.
 For example, in the figure below, P3 would be the highest value of the three pressure
readings, because it has the highest level of fluid above it.

If the above container had an increase in overall pressure, that same added pressure would
affect each of the gauges (and the liquid throughout) the same. For example P1, P2, P3
were originally 1, 3, 5 units of pressure, and 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, 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 inch,
while the cylinder on the right shows a cross-section area of 10 square inches. The cylinder
on the left has a weight (force) on 1 pound acting downward on the piston, which lowers
the fluid 10 inches. As a result of this force, the piston on the right lifts a 10 pound weight
a distance of 1 inch.

The 1 pound load on the 1 square inch area causes an increase in pressure on the fluid in the
system. This pressure is distributed equally throughout and acts on every square inch of the 10
square inch area of the large piston. As a result, the larger piston lifts up a 10 pound
weight. The larger the cross-section area of the second piston, the larger the mechanical
advantage, and the more weight it lifts.
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 The formulas that relate to this are shown below:

P1 = P2 (since the pressures are equal throughout).

Since pressure equals force per unit area, then it follows that.

F1/A1 = F2/A2

It can be shown by substitution that the values shown above are correct,

1 pound / 1 square inches = 10 pounds / 10 square inches

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

A = cross sectional area

D = the distance moved

Or,
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A1/A2= D2/D1
 HYDRAULIC PRESSURE & FORCE

Pressure can be defined as “the force acting on unit area, applied in a direction
perpendicular to the surface of the object”.

Pressure = Force/ Area.

So, hydraulic pressure can be stated as the force exerted by a fluid on unit area, anywhere
on the surface within the container.

 A SIMPLE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

A closed toothpaste tube can be considered as an example for a simple hydraulic system.
The toothpaste can be considered as a hydraulic fluid working inside the system which is
confined. Four or five holes are made on the tube. By keeping the cap of the toothpaste
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tube closed, apply pressure at a particular point on the tube. This makes the toothpaste to
 come out from all the holes evenly. This is a simple example to understand Pascal’s law.
Thus force applied at a particular point on a fluid in closed system, transfers equal force on
all other parts of the system. Further, the force acts perpendicular to the walls of the
confined area.

Other example is the hydraulic brakes used in automobiles. The driver applies force at the
brake pedal (one particular point on fluid in closed system), thus transmitting this force onto
the hydraulic fluid under the piston (brake pedal), transfers equal force to all other brake shoes,
thus stopping the vehicle. Also, this same principle is used in hydraulic lifts and other
machineries.

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 IMPORTANT PROPERTIES
  ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS:
 Advantages:

• The hydraulic system uses incompressible fluid which results in higher efficiency.
• It delivers consistent power output which is difficult in pneumatic or mechanical drive
systems.
• Hydraulic systems employ high-density incompressible fluid. The possibility of leakage is
less in a hydraulic system as compared to that in a pneumatic system. The maintenance cost is
less.

• These systems perform well in hot environmental conditions.

 Disadvantages:

• The material of storage tank, piping, cylinder, and piston can be corroded with the hydraulic
fluid. Therefore one must be careful while selecting materials and hydraulic fluid.
• The structural weight and size of the system is more which makes it unsuitable for the
smaller instruments.
• The small impurities in the hydraulic fluid can permanently damage the complete system,
therefore one should be careful and suitable filter must be installed.
• The leakage of hydraulic fluid is also a critical issue and suitable prevention method and
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seals must be adopted.

• The hydraulic fluids, if not disposed of properly, can be harmful to the environment.
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OBSERVATION/DEMONSTRATION OF THE PROJECT
STEP 1

STEP 2

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STEP 3

STEP 4

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 APPLICATIONS
 APPLICATIONS

There are several other areas where hydraulics is applied. They are:

1. Automobile garage
2. Petrol pumps
3. Measuring weights of heavy-lift trucks
4. Hydraulic cranes
5. Automobile steering gears
6. Automobile brakes, (disc brakes)
7. Ship’s steering gear
8. Robotics
9. Aircraft’s rudder ad other maneuvering systems
10. Industries and power plants
11.Servo – mechanisms and control systems, etc.

Hydraulic Bridges in India:

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1. Bandra-Worli Sea link

 2. Howrah Bridge

3. Pamban Bridge

Hydraulic Bridges in the world:

1. London’s tower bridge

2. Chicago Drawbridge 18

3. Ashtabula Lift Bridge

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 PRECAUTIONS

 Ensure construction safety and take appropriate measures

 Ensure the water proofing and check for any leakages or damages in the water channel

system

 Design the structures with accurate measurements and precise architecture

 Take into account the climatic conditions and need to build a hydraulic bridge before

launching the project

 Never mix low and high pressure coupler components (that is, do not connect a low-

pressure component to a high-pressure system). Mismatched components may cause a

rupture in a hose or fitting

 Coat the cylinder rods with a lubricant that provides rust protection

 Use a chain hoist, floor jack, or other type of assistive device if you need to remove

heavy hydraulic pumps or control valves

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

- www.articles.extension.org

- www.modernhydraulics.net

- www.wikipedia.com

- www.sciencebuddies.org

- www.socratic.org

- www.nasa.us

- www.sciencing.com

- www.hydraulicspneumatics.com

- Physics NCERT Class XI

- Physics Lab Manual

- Physics journals like “Wired”, “CERN Courier” and “Physics World”

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