Lab # 2

Calibration of a Pressure Gage & Velocity Measurements

S
Calibration of a Pressure Gage

A deadweight tester consists of :

1. A fitted piston of known

area.
2. A Bourbon gauge seen
through the transparent
dial of the equipment.
3. Known weights.
4. A transparent flexible hose
to the gauge.
Calibration of a Pressure Gage

Procedure:
S Record the weight and diameter of the piston (provided).

S Record the the initial pressure.

S Carefully add weight and after stabilization record the

pressure.
Calibration of a Pressure Gage

Results:
S Calculate total force and true pressure for the total weight. From
F=mg for your weights find the force and then divided with the
area of piston (given) to find the true pressure.

S From the data develop a graph of Indicated Pressure vs. True

Pressure showing the hysteresis.

Discussion:

S Sources of error (air trapped, human judgment).

S Suggests for improvement.

Calibration of a Pressure Gage
Initial Weight Total Total True Indicate
Weight added Weight Force Pressure d Press.
(kg) (kg) (kg) (N) (kN/m2) (kN/m2)
1.0 0
0.5
0.5
0.5
1
1
-1
-1
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
 Pressure Gauge Hysteresis

Pressure Gauge Experiment

180

160
Indicated Pressure (kN/m2)

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Total Weight (kg)

Total P vs. Indicated P. True Pressure

Fluid Mechanics Lab
Velocity Measurements

S
 Velocity Measurements

S Difference of fluids from rigid bodies they flow.

S Principle characteristic Velocity
S In elementary fluid mechanics we use the “ideal” flow.

Viscosity being zero & all forces acting on the flow

are pressure.
S So velocity is assumed constant and uniformly distributed over the cross
sectional area when “ideal” flow.
S In this lab fluid velocity measurement and its limitations will be explored
along with an examination of velocity profiles in open channels under
two conditions.
Velocity Measurements

S Pitot tube for

measuring the velocity
of flowing gases and
liquids.

S It measures the fluid

flow velocity by
converting the kinetic
energy in the fluid
flow into potential
energy.
 Velocity Measurements –
Background Theory

S Pitot Static Tube combines two tubes easily connected to a

manometer.

S The holes on the side of the tube are connected to one side of the
manometer and register the static head, (h1).

S While the central hole is connected to the other side of the

manometer and register the stagnation head (h2).
 Velocity Measurements –
Background Theory
S Consider the pressure on the
level of the center line of the
Pitot tube and using the theory
of the manometer.

S The pressure difference in a

vertical U-tube manometer
can be expressed as

pd= γ * h = ρl*g*h
 Velocity Measurements –
Background Theory

S Bernoulli’s equation has stated that:

Stagnation pressure = static pressure + dynamic pressure

pt = ps + (ρu2/2)
Solving for flow :
 Velocity Measurements –
Background Theory

S So if we substitute the pressure difference from the

manometer we get :

Where ρl is the density of the liquid in the manometer.

 Velocity Measurements
Data & Calculations

S The tube is not without its errors while simple.

S The most important likelihood for error arises from its dependence
on alignment with the fluid flow direction for the correctness of the
measured velocity.

S Termed "Yaw Angle Dependence"

S For an established flow in the open channel flume the fluid velocity
(Δh on the manometer) will change at different directions of the
pitot tube (0o, 30° , 45°).
 Velocity Measurements
Data & Calculations

S % Error = [|uθ – uo|/ uo]*100

where uθ: the velocity at angle θ

uo : the velocity at angle θ= 0ο

S Construct a graph of “Yaw Angle vs. Percent of Error”

 Velocity Measurements
Data & Calculations

Channel Channel Total head Static head Difference Velocity

Depth (ft) Width (ft) (ft) (ft) Δh (ft) (ft/sec)

0D ½W
¼D ½W
½D ½W
¾D ½W
1D ½W
 Velocity Measurements
Questions and Conclusions

S What trend did you notice in the yaw angle-induced error?

S What trend did you notice in the velocity at different

depths?

S Describe and explain the reaction of the static and stagnant

pressure manometer. Why should this reaction have been
predicted?