2.

1 Pressure

Intended Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module, the students will be able to:

To understand the characteristics of pressure in a given situation.

To compute the pressure under various circumstances.

In general, fluids can exert both normal and shear forces on their surfaces of contact. However, if the
fluid is at rest relative to the surface, then the viscosity of the fluid will have no shearing effect on the
surface.

Instead, the only force the fluid exerts is a normal force, and the effect of this force is called
pressure.

From a physical point of view, the pressure of a fluid on the surface is the result of the impulses
exerted by vibrating fluid molecules as they contact and bounce off the surface.

Pressure
Pressure is defined as a normal force exerted by a fluid per unit area. If force is distributed
uniformly into the area, we can say:
 We speak of pressure only when we deal with a gas or a liquid. The counterpart of pressure in
solids is normal stress.
Pascal’s Law.

In the 17th century, the French mathematician Blaise Pascal was able to show that the intensity
of the pressure acting at a point in a fluid is the same in all directions.

Other pressure units commonly used in practice, especially in Europe, are bar and standard
atmosphere.

1 bar = 105 Pa = 100 kPa

1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa

Absolute and Gage Pressure

If a fluid such as air were removed from its container, a vacuum would exist and the pressure within
the container would be zero. This is commonly referred to as zero absolute pressure.

Any pressure that is measured above this value is referred to as the absolute pressure, Pabs. For
example, standard atmospheric pressure is the absolute pressure that is measured at sea level
and at a temperature of 15°C. Its value is

Patm = 101.3 kPa

Any pressure measured above or below the atmospheric pressure is called the gage pressure, Pg,
because gages are often used to measure pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure.

The absolute pressure and the gage pressure are therefore related by:

Pabs = Patm + Pg

Realize that the gage pressure can either be positive or negative.

For example, if the absolute pressure is Pabs = 301.3 kPa, then the gage pressure becomes

Pg = 301.3 kPa - 101.3 kPa = 200 kPa.

Likewise, if the absolute pressure is Pabs = 51.3 kPa, then the gage pressure is

Pg = 51.3 kPa - 101.3 kPa = -50 kPa

 (a negative value producing a suction, since it is below atmospheric pressure)

In this text we will always measure the gage pressure relative to standard atmospheric pressure;
however, for greater accuracy the local atmospheric pressure should be used, and from that the local
gage pressure can be determined. Also, unless otherwise stated, all pressures reported in the text
and in the problems will be considered as gage pressures. If absolute pressure is intended, it will be
specifically stated or denoted as, for example, 5 Pa (abs.).

Supplemental Video Discussion: Pressure

(https://youtu.be/oBhBaICHJl8)

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