CE 023: FLUID MECHANICS

Lecture 2: Principles of
Hydrostatics
INTENSITY OF PRESSURE
Pressure is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area
over which that force is distributed.

𝑑𝐹
𝑝=
𝑑𝐴

If the intensity of pressure is uniformly distributed over the entire area,

𝑑𝐹 𝐹
𝑝= =
𝑑𝐴 𝐴
PASCAL LAW
Pascal Law states that at any point in a fluid at rest, the pressure is the same in all
directions.
𝐹𝑦 − 𝐹𝑁 cos 𝜃 = 0
෍ 𝐹𝑉 = 0 ↑ +
𝑝𝑦 𝑑𝑥(𝑑𝑧) − 𝑝𝑁 𝑑𝑠(𝑑𝑧) cos 𝜃 = 0
𝐹𝑁
𝑝𝑦 (𝑑𝑠 cos 𝜃)(𝑑𝑧) − 𝑝𝑁 𝑑𝑠(𝑑𝑧) cos 𝜃 = 0
𝑝𝑦 − 𝑝𝑁 = 0
𝐹𝑥 𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑦 = 𝑝𝑁
𝑑𝑦
𝜃
𝑑𝑥 ෍ 𝐹𝐻 = 0 → + 𝐹𝑥 − 𝐹𝑁 sin 𝜃 = 0
𝑝𝑥 𝑑𝑦(𝑑𝑧) − 𝑝𝑁 𝑑𝑠(𝑑𝑧) sin 𝜃 = 0
𝑝𝑥 (𝑑𝑠 sin 𝜃)(𝑑𝑧) − 𝑝𝑁 𝑑𝑠(𝑑𝑧) sin 𝜃 = 0
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑠 cos 𝜃 𝑝𝑥 − 𝑝𝑁 = 0
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝑠 sin 𝜃 𝑝 =𝑝 𝒑𝒙 = 𝒑𝒚 = 𝒑𝑵
𝐹𝑦 𝑥 𝑁
RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE PRESSURE
Gage pressure, or relative pressure, is the
pressure that is measured above or below the
atmospheric pressure.
Absolute pressure is the intensity of pressure
that is measured above the absolute zero
pressure (lowest possible pressure) and can never
be negative in value.
Atmospheric pressure- is the prevailing pressure
in the air surrounding which decreases with
increasing altitude.
Standard atmospheric pressure is the absolute pressure that is measured at sea
level and at a temperature of 15°C (59°F) equivalent to 101.325 KPa or 14.7 psi or 760
mm Hg or 29.9 in. Hg or 2116 lb/ft2 or 1 atmosphere (atm)
PRESSURE VARIATION IN A LIQUID
𝑑𝐹
+ ෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 𝑝=
𝑑𝐴

𝐹2 + 𝑊 sin 𝜃 − 𝐹1 = 0 𝑊
𝛾=
𝑦 𝑥 𝑉
𝑝2 𝑑𝐴 + 𝛾𝐿 𝑑𝐴 sin 𝜃 − 𝑝1 𝑑𝐴 = 0
ℎ
𝑝2 𝑑𝐴 + 𝛾𝐿 𝑑𝐴( ) − 𝑝1 𝑑𝐴 = 0
𝐿
𝑝2 + 𝛾ℎ − 𝑝1 = 0
𝑝2 − 𝑝1 = 𝛾ℎ

The difference in pressure between any two points in a

homogeneous fluid at rest is equal to the product of the
unit weight of the fluid and their difference in elevation
(vertical distance between points).
PRESSURE VARIATION IN A LIQUID

𝑝2 − 𝑝1 = 𝛾ℎ 𝑝𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝑝𝑎𝑏𝑠 − 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝑝𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 0
𝑝2 − 0 = 𝛾ℎ

𝑝2 = 𝛾ℎ

The pressure at any point below a free liquid surface is

equal to the product of the unit weight of the fluid and its
vertical distance from the free liquid surface.
PRESSURE VARIATION IN A LIQUID

+ ෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 0

𝐹1 − 𝐹2 = 0 𝑝2 − 𝑝1 = 𝛾ℎ

𝑝1 𝑑𝐴 − 𝑝2 𝑑𝐴 = 0 𝑝2 = 𝑝1 + 𝛾ℎ
𝑝1 − 𝑝2 = 0 𝑝2 = 𝑝1 + 𝛾(0)
𝑝1 = 𝑝2 𝑝2 = 𝑝1

The pressures along the same horizontal plane in a

homogeneous fluid at rest are equal
Sample Problem 1
Determine the gage pressure at a point in a body of oil (s.g. = 0.80) 3.25m below the
free surface. If the atmospheric pressure on the free surface is 101.325 KPa, what is the
corresponding absolute pressure at the point?
PRESSURE HEAD
Pressure Head is the height of a column of homogeneous fluid that will produce a
given intensity of pressure (gage).

𝒑
𝒑 = 𝜸𝒉 𝒉=
𝜸

For absolute units:

𝒑 𝒑𝒂 where:
=𝒉+
𝜸 𝜸 𝑝 = pressure
𝑝a = atmospheric pressure
𝛾 = unit weight of liquid
h = pressure head
Sample Problem 2
A pressure of 165 KPa is equivalent to how many meters of
a. water?
b. mercury?
c. In absolute units, what are the corresponding pressure heads, assuming standard
conditions?
MEASUREMENT OF STATIC PRESSURE
Barometer is a device for measuring intensities of pressure exerted by the
atmosphere. It was invented in the mid-17th century (1643) by Evangelista Torricelli,
using mercury as a preferred fluid, since it has a high density, very small vapor
pressure, and high freezing point.

𝑝2 = 𝑝1 + 𝛾ℎ

𝑝𝐶 = 𝑝𝐴 + 𝛾𝐻𝑔 ℎ
𝑘𝑁 𝑘𝑁
101.325 = 0 + (9.81 3 )(13.6)(ℎ)
𝑚² 𝑚
𝒉 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓𝟗𝟓 𝒎
𝒉 = 𝟕𝟔𝟎 𝒎𝒎
𝒉 = 𝟐𝟗. 𝟗𝟐𝟏𝟑 𝒊𝒏
MEASUREMENT OF STATIC PRESSURE
Manometer is a device consists of a transparent tube that is used to measure
pressure by balancing the pressure against a column of liquid in static equilibrium.

Types of Manometer:

Open Type a manometer with an atmospheric surface in one

end and capable of measuring relative or gage pressures.

Differential Type a manometer without an atmospheric surface and

used for measuring pressure differences.

Piezometer is the simplest type of manometer which consist of a

tube usually tapped into the wall of a container or conduit in which
the liquid can freely rise without overflowing.
MEASUREMENT OF STATIC PRESSURE
U-tube Manometer consist of a tube, usually bent in the form of
U, containing a liquid of known specific gravity, the surface of
which moves proportionally to changes of pressure.

Bourdon Gage- this gage consists of a coiled metal tube that is

connected at one end to the vessel where the pressure is to be
measured. The other end of the tube is closed so that when the
pressure in the vessel is increased, the tube begins to uncoil and
respond elastically. Using the mechanical linkage attached to the
end of the tube, the dial on the face of the gage gives a direct
reading of the pressure, which can be calibrated in various units,
such as KPa or psi.
Sample Problem 3
If liquid A is water and liquid B is mercury (s.g. = 13.6), determine the pressure
at the center of the conduit (point M) if x = 65 cm and y = 85 cm.
Sample Problem 4
The funnel is filled with oil and water to the levels shown. Determine the depth of oil ℎ′
that must be in the funnel so that the water remains at a depth C, and the mercury level
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
made h = 0.8 m. Take 𝜌𝑜 = 900 , 𝜌𝑤 = 1000 , 𝜌𝐻𝑔 = 13,550 .
𝑚3 𝑚3 𝑚3
STATIC PRESSURE VARIATION IN COMPRESSIBLE FLUIDS
𝑝2 − 𝑝1 = −𝛾 𝑑ℎ
𝑝 𝑝𝑎𝑏𝑠 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑠
𝑑𝑝 = − 𝑔 𝑑ℎ
𝑅𝑇
𝛾 = 𝜌𝑔
𝑑𝑝 𝑔
=− 𝑑ℎ
𝑝 𝑅𝑇

𝑝1 ℎ1
𝑑𝑝 𝑔
න =න − 𝑑ℎ
𝑝2 𝑝 ℎ2 𝑅𝑇
𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑇 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡(𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙) 𝑝1 −
𝑔
ℎ1 −ℎ2
𝑔 =𝑒 𝑅𝑇
ln 𝑝1 − ln 𝑝2 = − (ℎ1 − ℎ2 ) 𝑝2 where:
𝑅𝑇
𝒈
𝑝1 𝑔 − 𝒉𝟏 −𝒉𝟐 T = constant absolute temperature (K)
ln =− ℎ1 − ℎ2 𝒑𝟏 = 𝒑𝟐 𝒆 𝑹𝑻
𝑝2 𝑅𝑇 𝑁−𝑚
R = gas constant (𝐾𝑔−𝐾)
Sample Problem 5
Determine the difference in pressure 𝑝𝐵 − 𝑝𝐴 between the centers A and B of the pipes,
which are filled with water. The mercury in the inclined-tube manometer has the level
shown 𝑆𝐻𝑔 = 13.6
Sample Problem 6
The natural gas in the storage tank is contained within a flexible membrane and held
under constant pressure using a weighted top that is allowed to move up or down as
the gas enters or leaves the tank as shown in the figure. Determine the required weight
of the top if the (gage) pressure at the outlet A is to be 600 KPa. The gas has a
𝑘𝑔 𝐽
temperature of 20°C, 𝜌𝑔 = 0.665 and 𝑅 = 518.3 .
𝑚3 𝑘𝑔−𝐾
- END -