Total Pressure on a Vertically Submerged Surface - Centre of Pressure Apparatus

OBJECTIVE: To determine the total pressure on a vertically submerged surface in water and
to determine its location.
THEORY: When a static mass of fluid comes in contact with a surface, either plane or curved, a
force is exerted by the fluid on the surface. This force is known as the total pressure or the
thrust or the hydrostatic pressure and the point where the total pressure acts on the surface is
known as the center of pressure (CP). The total pressure always acts normal to the surface.
The magnitude of total pressure force F is given by the expression:
F = g  h  A (i)
where  is the mass density of water, g is the acceleration due to gravity, h is the distance of
centre of gravity of the submerged surface from the free surface, and A is the area of the
submerged surface.
For a vertically submerged surface, the location of total pressure F acting through the
center of pressure at a distance hp from the free surface is given by the relation:
IG
hp  h  (ii)
Ah
where IG is the moment of inertia of the vertical submerged surface about an axis passing
through the centroid and parallel to free surface, which is the intersection of the plane of the
vertical surface (produced, if necessary) and the free surface.

Experimentally, hp can be determined by the weight balancing technique so that the thrust
acting on the vertical surface is equal to the weight placed on the hanger.
In the equilibrium condition, taking moments about the pivot P, one can write
FY=MgS (iii)
Also, from Figure, hp can be expressed as:
hp = Y – (r – h1) (iv)
where Y is the distance of center of pressure from pivot P, M is the balancing mass added to
the hanger, S is the distance of hanger from pivot P, r is the distance of bottom of quadrant
from pivot P and h1 is the water depth from the bottom of quadrant.

By calculating Y from Eq. (iii), hp can be calculated using Eq. (iv)

EXPERIMENTAL SET UP

The experimental set up is of Edibon make, Madrid (Spain) based company. The set up
consists of a quadrant model made of acrylic material. The model is fixed on an arm of a
balance bridge that swings around the pivot and is placed on the top of a transparent tank
made of acrylic material. The balance bridge has a hanger with removable weights at one end
and a mobile counterweight at the other end. The transparent tank is placed over a flat acrylic
base which has adjustable supporting legs for leveling and a bubble level. The tank also has a
drain valve. The level of water in the tank is read by using a graduated scale etched on the
quadrant.

The quadrant model consists of plane and curved surfaces. The water pressure acting on the
top curved surface of the quadrant is equal and opposite to the water pressure acting on the
bottom curved surface of the quadrant. In addition, these pressures on the curved surfaces do
not cause any moment with respect to the pivot as being in the radial direction.

Thus, only the vertical rectangular surface of the quadrant is subjected to the thrust and is
causing a moment with respect to pivot P which can be determined by the weight balancing
technique.

PROCEDURE

1. Level the experimental set up by adjusting the supporting legs so that the bubble is in the
centre.
2. Place the hanger on the balance bridge and by using mobile counterweight; make the
rectangular face of the quadrant vertical with respect to the balance bridge.
3. Fill some water in the tank so that some portion of the quadrant is submerged in water.
4. As quadrant gets submerged in water, a thrust is exerted on the rectangular vertical face,
which will cause tilting of the quadrant. This thrust is balanced using weight balancing
technique by keeping weights on the hanger so that rectangular face of the quadrant is again
in its initial vertical position. Alternately, for a fixed weight on the hanger, quantity of water
can be adjusted so that the rectangular face is again vertical.
5. Note water depth in the tank using a graduated scale etched on the quadrant.
6. Repeat steps (4) and (5) for various combinations of weights on the hanger and for partially
submerged and fully submerged condition of the rectangular vertical surface.

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATIONS

Width of vertical surface, b =

Height of vertical surface, h =
Distance of bottom of quadra from pivot P, r =
Distance of hanger from the pivot, S =

Run number

Water depth from B, h1

Water depth from C, h2

h = (h1+h2)/2

Area of submerged surface, A

F [Using Eq. (i)]

Moment of inertia, IG

Balancing mass, M

Theoretical hp [Using Eq. (ii)]

Experimental hp [Using Eq. (iv)]

(Note: If water level is below point C, then h2 = 0)

GRAPH
Plot the theoretical hp versus the experimental hp on an ordinary graph paper, with
theoretical hp as abscissa. Draw a line of perfect agreement and note the scatter of data by
drawing error lines.

DISCUSSION:
 ROUGH OBSERVATION SHEET Date:

Width of vertical surface, b = 70 mm

Height of vertical surface, h = 100 mm
Distance of bottom of quadra from pivot P, r = 200 mm
Distance of hanger from the pivot, S = 285 mm
Maximum depth of the submerged quadrant = 160 mm

Run number Water depth from B Balancing mass M Partially submerged/

Fully submerged

Instructor’s Signature