ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY: ILAGAN CITY CAMPUS

CE 76B: COURSE CORRELATION II

(GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, FLUIDS AND MECHANICS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING)

Module 2.2
Chapter 2: Principles of Hydrostatic

UNIT PRESSURE OR PRESSURE, p

Pressure is the surface per unit area exerted by a liquid or gas on a body
p = Force,F or surface, with the force acting at right angles to the surfaces uniformly
Area,A in all directions.

PASCAL’S LAW
Pascal Law is developed by French mathematician Blaise
Pascal, states that the pressure on a fluid is all direction and
in all parts of the container. From Figure 2.2.1, as liquids
flows into the large container at the bottom, pressure
pushes the liquid equally up into the tubes above the
container. The liquid rises to the same level in all of the
tubes, regardless of the shape or angle of the tube.
Figure 2.2.1 Illustration of Pascal Law
ABSOLUTE AND GAGE PRESSURE
 GAGE PRESSURE (RELATIVE PRESSURE)
Gage Pressure are pressure above or below the atmosphere and can be measured by the
pressure gauges or manometers.
 ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE & VACUUM
Atmospheric Pressure is the pressure at any one point on the earths surface from the weight of
the air above it. A vaccuum is a space that has all matter removed from it. It is impossible to
create a perfect vacuum in the laboratory ; no matter how advanced a vacuum system is, some
molecules are always present in the vacuum area.
Under Normal Conditions at sea level:
Patm = 2166 lb/sq.ft
= 14.7 psi
= 29.9 inches of mercury (hg)
= 760 mm Hg
= 101.325 kPa
 ABSOLUTE PRESSURE
Absolute pressure is the pressure above absolute zero(vacuum).

pabs = pgage + patm

Note:
 Absolute zero is attained if all air is removed. It is the lowest possible attainable
 Absolute pressure can never be negative
 The smallest gage pressure is equal to the negative of the ambient atmospheric pressure

Prepared By: Engr. Chezanie Miya S. Asuncion

1st Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY: ILAGAN CITY CAMPUS
CE 76B: COURSE CORRELATION II
(GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, FLUIDS AND MECHANICS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING)

Figure 2.2.2 Relationship between absolute and gage pressures. (All pressure units in kPa)

Note:
Unless otherwise specified in this book, the term pressure signifies gage pressure.

MERCURY BAROMETER

A mercury barometer is an accurate and relatively simple

way to measure changes in atmospheric pressure. At sea
level, the weight of the atmosphere forces mercury 760
mm (29.9 in) up a calibrated glass tube. Higher elevations
yields lower readings because the atmosphere is less
dense there, and the thinner air exerts less pressure on
the mercury.

Figure 2.2.3 Illustration of mercury barometer

ANEROID BAROMETER

In aneroid barometer, a partially evacuated metal drum

expands or contracts in response to changes in air
pressure. A series of levers and springs translates the up
and down movement of the drum top into circular
motion of the pointers along the aneroid barometer’s
face.

Figure 2.2.3 Illustration of aneroid barometer

Prepared By: Engr. Chezanie Miya S. Asuncion

1st Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY: ILAGAN CITY CAMPUS
CE 76B: COURSE CORRELATION II
(GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, FLUIDS AND MECHANICS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING)

VARIATIONS IN PRESSURE

Consider any two points (1&2), whose difference in

elevations is h, to lie in the ends of an elementary prism
having a cross-sectional area a and a length of L. Since this
pro\ism is at rest, al forces acting upon it must be in
equilibrium.
Note: Free Liquid Surface refers to liquid surface subject to
zero gage pressure atmospheric pressure only.

With Reference to Figure 2-4:

W=γV Figure 2.2.4 Forces acting on elementary prism
W=γ(aL)
[ΣFx= 0]
F2 -F1=Wsin
p2a-p1 a = γ(aL) sin
p2-p1 = γ(L) sin but L sin = h

Therefore, the difference in pressure between any two points in a homogeneous fluids at rest is
equal to the product of the unit weight of the unit weight of the fluid (γ) to the vertical distance
(h) between the points.

p2 -p1 = γh

Also,
p2 =p1 + wh

This means that any change in pressure a point 1 would cause an equal change at point 2.
Therefore; a pressure applied at any point in a liquid at rest is transmitted and undiminished to
every other point in the liquid.

Let us assume that point 1 in the figure 2.2.4 lie on the free liquid surfacd, then the gage
pressure p1 is zero and Eq. p2=p1+wh becomes

p = wh

This means that the pressure at any point “h” below a free liquid surface is equal to the product
of the unit weight of the fluid (γ) and h.

Consider that point 1 and 2 in Figure 2.2.4 lie on the same elevation , such as h=0; then Eq
p2=p1+wh becomes,

p1 = p2

Prepared By: Engr. Chezanie Miya S. Asuncion

1st Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY: ILAGAN CITY CAMPUS
CE 76B: COURSE CORRELATION II
(GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, FLUIDS AND MECHANICS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING)

This means that the pressure along the same horizontal plane in a homogeneous fluid at rest are
equal.

PRESSURE BELOW LAYERS OF DIFFERENT LIQUIDS

Consider the tank shown to be filled with liquids of

different densities and with air at the top under a gage
pressure of pA, the pressure at the bottom of the tank is:

pbottom =Σγh+p= γ1h1 + γ2h2 + γ3h3 +pA

PRESSURE HEAD

Pressure head is the height “h” of a column of homogeneous liquid of unit weight γ that will
produce an intensity of pressure p.

h= p/γ

To Convert Pressure head (height) of A to liquid B

hB= hA (SA / SB) or hB= hA (  A /  B) or hB= hA (γ A / γ B)

To Convert Pressur head (height)of any liquid to water, just multiply its height by its specific gravity.

hwater= hliquid x sliquid

MANOMETER
A manometer is a tibe, usually bent in a form of a U, containing a liquid of known specific
gravity, the surface of which moves proportionally to changes of pressure. It is used to measure
pressure.

TYPES OF MANOMETER
 Open Type – has a atmospheric surface in one leg and is capable of measuring gage
pressure.

Prepared By: Engr. Chezanie Miya S. Asuncion

1st Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY: ILAGAN CITY CAMPUS
CE 76B: COURSE CORRELATION II
(GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, FLUIDS AND MECHANICS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING)

 Differential Type – without atmospheric surface and capable of measuring only

differences in pressure.

 Piezometer – the simplest form of open manometer. It is a tube tapped into a wall of a
container or conduit for the purpose of measuring pressure. The Fluid in the conainer
or conduit rises in this tube to form a free surface.

Limitations of piezometer
 Large pressures in the lighter liquids require along tubes
 Gas pressure cannot be measured because gas cannot form a free surface

Steps in Solving Manometer Problems

1. Decide on the fluid in feet or meter, of which the heads are to be expressed, (water is
most advisable)
2. Starting From an end point, number in order, and the interface of different fluids.
3. Identify points of equal pressure (Taking into account that for a homogeneous fluid at
rest, the pressure along the same horizontal plane are equal). Label these points with
the same number.
4. Proceed from the level to level, adding (if going down)or subtracting (if going up)
pressure heads as the elevation decreases or increases, respectively with due regard for
the specific gravity of the fluids.

Prepared By: Engr. Chezanie Miya S. Asuncion

1st Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022