Rigonan, Francis Angelo M.

BSCE 3-3
A-1: Fundamental of Hydraulics-Hydrostatics on Surfaces

1.) Water Supply- Civil engineers design water supply, transmission, distribution,
and treatment systems. Hydraulics is used in water distribution to ensure
adequate pressure, fire protection, and dependability.
2.) Hydroelectric Power- The most common job of a Civil Engineer in hydroelectric
power is to assess the region's rain patterns and hydrologic regime to determine
how tall the dam must be to generate the required amount of power and how
much that power output will vary with seasonal effects. Hydraulics is involved in
the conversion of energy from the rise and flow of water into electrical energy.
3.) Drainage and Flood control- In terms of hydraulics, civil engineers perform
hydrological and hydraulic analysis and modeling, among other things. Flood
control is accomplished through careful planning, design, and operation of
hydraulic structures and facilities such as dams, levees, canals, pump stations,
detention basins, and others.
4.) Sediment Control- Dredging is an example of how hydraulics is used in this
application; hydraulic dredges add water to the sediment and transport it as a
slurry through a pipeline to a disposal site. In addition, as a Civil Engineer, you
can specify which products and techniques are used to achieve stabilization.
5.) Navigation- Hydraulic power units are mostly used on airplanes to move flaps on
wings and rudders, causing the plane to change direction and altitude.
6.) Water disposal- Civil engineers plan or direct projects involving wastewater
disposal.

PRINCIPLES OF HYDROSTATICS

Pascal’s Law
According to Pascal's law of liquid pressure, "pressure is equally exerted
perpendicularly on all sides as pressure is applied on a liquid kept in a closed
container." Because there can be an infinite number of planes inside a fluid, and thus an
infinite number of incidents or normals drawn over them at a point, all of these incidents
should have an equal distribution of compressive force through them.
Variation of Pressure with Depth in a fluid
The interaction of the static fluid with its surroundings takes the form of force, which is
applied uniformly to all contact points. This force is produced when pressure is applied
to a specific unit area. The pressure of the fluid does not remain constant throughout.
The pressure in any body of fluid varies with depth and rises as the depth of the fluid
increases. The pressure in the fluid, however, will be the same at the same level in the
vertical direction. As we descend the fluid column, the weight of the fluid column above
that level causes the pressure to rise.

Transmission of Pressure
Absolute pressure is equal to the sum of gauge pressure and atmospheric pressure.
There is no such thing as negative absolute pressure. The total weight of all gases
above the surface with which it comes into contact is defined as atmospheric pressure,
and gauge pressure is the pressure above or below atmospheric pressure as measured
by pressure gauges.
Manometer
It is a basic and low-cost pressure and pressure difference measurement device. It is
frequently bent into a U-tube and filled with a known specific gravity liquid. The liquid's
surface will move in proportion to pressure fluctuations.
Forces on Plane Surfaces
For a horizontal plane surface immersed in liquid, a plane surface within a gas chamber,
or any plane surface subjected to uniform hydrostatic pressure. The total hydrostatic
pressure on any planar surface is equal to the product of the surface's area and the unit
pressure at its center of gravity. For a homogeneous free liquid at rest, the equation can
be stated in terms of the liquid's unit weight. F=yhA, where h is the depth of liquid above
the submerged area's centroid.
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Total hydrostatics on any surface
The horizontal component of the total hydrostatic force on any surface is equal to the
pressure on the vertical projection of that surface stated as 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑃𝑐𝑔𝐴. The vertical
component of the total hydrostatic force on any surface is equal to the weight of either
real or imaginary liquid above it and stated as
Fy = yV. With the total hydrostatic force given as .

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Pascal’s law
 1.) A 50 kilograms old lady balances on a single heel while wearing high
heels. With a diameter of 1.0 cm, the heel is circular. How much pressure
does the heel put on the horizontal floor?
Given:
Mass of the old lady m = 50 kg.
Gravitational acceleration g = 9.8 m s-2
Weight of the girl (W) = mg = 490 N
Solution:
P=F/A

P= 6.24X10^6 Pa
2.) Francis's barometer was made of mercury. Gian replicated it with
French wine with a density of 984 kg m-3. Determine the height of the
wine column at normal atmospheric pressure.
Given:
Atmospheric pressure is
The density of French
wine
Solution:

3.) A hydraulic car lift can raise vehicles weighing up to 3000 kg. The piston
carrying the load has a cross-sectional area of 425 cm2. What would be
the maximum pressure that the smaller piston would have to handle?
Solution:
Variation of Pressure with Depth in a fluid
1.) Determine the pressure in a vessel of mercury, specific gravity 13.6, at a
point 20 cm below the surface. Express the answer in N/m2.
Solution:

p=γh
p=13.6 (9810) (0.20)

P=26683.2Pa

2.) At what depth in a standpipe containing water is the pressure 200 kPa?

Solution:
h=pγ/water
h=200/9.81

h=20.39m

3.) A pressure gage on the discharge side of a pump reads 300 kPa. Oil (sp
gr 0.82) is being pumped. Compute the pressure head in meters of oil.
Solution:
h=p/γ=3000.82/(9.81)

h=37.3m of oil

Transmission of Pressure

1.) A pressure gage connected to a tank reads 50 psi. The absolute

pressure in the tank is to be determined. The density of mercury is
given to be = 848.4 lbm/ft3 .
Solution:
Patm = gh
Patm= (848.4 lbm/ft )(32.174 ft/s )(29.1/12 ft)(1lbf/32.174lbm
ft/s^2)(1ft^2/144in^2)
Patm= 14.29 psia
Pabs = Pgage+Patm = 50+ 14.29= 64.29 psia

2.) A pressure gage connected to a tank reads 500 kPa. The absolute
pressure in the tank is to be determined.
Solution:

Pabs =Pgage + Patm =500 +94 = 594 kPa

3.) The pressure in a vacuum chamber is measured by a

vacuum gage. The absolute pressure in the chamber is
to be determined.

Pabs = Patm - Pvac = 92 - 36 = 56 kPa

Manometer
1.) In the piezometers of the figure shown, liquid stands 1.37 m above point
M. What is the pressure at M in kiloPascal if the liquid is (a) water, (b) oil
(sp gr 0.90), (c) mercury, and (d) molasses (sp gr 1.5).
Solution:

p=γh

(a) the column is 1.37 m of water

p=9.81(1.37) p=13.44kPa
p=13.44kPA

(b) the column is 1.37 m of oil (sp

gr 0.90) p=0.90(9.81)(1.37)

p=12.10kPa

(c) the column is 1.37 m of

mercury (sp gr 13.6)

p=13.6(9.81)(1.37) p=182.78kPa
(d) the column is 1.37 m of
molasses (sp gr 1.5)

p=1.5(9.81)(1.37) p=20.16kPa

2.) How high will liquid rise in the piezometers of shown in the figure if the
pressure at M is 68.95 kPa and the liquid is (a) water, (b) oil (sp gr 0.85),
(c) mercury, (d) brine (sp gr 1.15)?

Solution: h=p/γ

(a) The liquid is water

h=68.95/9.81

h=7.03m

(b) The liquid is oil (sp gr

= 0.85) h=68.95/0.85(9.81)

h=8.27m

(c) The liquid is mercury

(sp gr = 13.6)
h=68.95/13.6(9.81)

h=0.5168m

(d) The liquid is brine (sp

gr = 1.15) h=68.95/1.15(9.81)

h=6.11m

3.) In the piezometers of the figure shown, liquid stands 2.6m above point
M. What is the pressure at M in kiloPascal if the liquid is (a) water, (b) oil
(sp gr 0.90), (c) mercury, and (d) molasses (sp gr 1.5).

Solution: p=γh

(a) the column is 1.37 m

of water p=9.81(2.6) p=25.506kPa

(b) the column is 1.37 m of oil (sp

gr 0.90) p=0.90(9.81)(2.6)
p=22.956kPa
(c) the column is 1.37 m of
mercury (sp gr 13.6)
p=13.6(9.81)(2.6) p=346.882kPa

(d) the column is 1.37 m of

molasses (sp gr 1.5)

p=1.5(9.81)(2.6) p=38.259kPa

Forces on Plane Surfaces

The figure below shows a vertical circular gate in a 3-m diameter tunnel with
water on one side and air on the other side.

1.) Find the horizontal reaction at the hinge.

A. 412 kN
B. 408 kN
C. 410 kN
D. 414 kN
2.) How far from the invert of the tunnel is the hydrostatic force acting
on the gate? A. 1.45 m
B. 1.43 m
C. 1.47 m
D. 1.41 m
3.) Where will the hinge support be located (measured from the invert)
to hold the gate in position? A. 1.42 m
 B. 1.46 m
C. 1.44 m
D. 1.40 m

Force on the gate due to air pressure

Force on the gate due to water

Horizontal force at the hinge support

ΣFx =0
RO=728.10−318.09
RO=410.01 kN

Location of Fw from the invert

e=0.0536 m
y=1.5−e=1.5−0.0536

y=1.4464 m

Location of hinge support

ΣMO=0

(y−z) Fw = (1.5−z) Fair

(1.4464−z) 728.10=(1.5−z)318.09

Z =1.4048 m
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Total hydrostatics on any surface

1.) The cross-section of a dam is a quarter-circle. The

hydrostatic force on the dam and its line of action
are to be determined.

Solution:

Fx = Pavg (A) x gh (CA) x g (R/2) A

= (1000 kg/m^3 )(9.81m/s ^2)(7 / 2 m)(7 m 70 m)(1 N/ 1kg*m/s^2)

Fx= 1.682 x 10^7 N

Fy=W= pgV = pg(w*πR^2 /4)

= (1000 kg/m )(9.81m/s )[(70 m) (7 m) /4](1N/1kg*m/^2)

W= 2.643x10^7

= 3.13 x 10^7
N
Tan
θ= 57.5°
 2.) A rectangular plate hinged about a horizontal axis along its upper edge
blocks a fresh water channel. The plate is restrained from opening by a
fixed ridge at a point B. The force exerted to the
plate by the ridge is to be determined. We take the
density of water to be 1000 kg/m3 throughout.
Solution:

= 24.53
kN/m^2

𝐹𝑅 = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒(A) = (24.53 kN/𝑚2)(6 m x 5 m)= 735.9m

= 3.333m

Ma = 0

3.) We are to determine the force on the upper face of a submerged flat
plate.

Thus, the “gage” force (ignoring atmospheric

pressure) on the upper plate surface is F
=11,400 N (to three digits).
=11390 N