ME 305 Fluid Mechanics I

Fall 2023 - Homework 2

Due on November 8th, 2023, Wednesday until 17:00
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1. Sometimes the manometer dimensions may have a significant effect on the measurement results. The
containers (a) and (b) shown in the figure are cylindrical and are such that pa = pb.
Suppose the oil-water interface on the right leg moves up a distance ∆h where ∆h < h. Derive a formula for
the difference pa - pb when
a) d ≪ D, and
b) d = 0.15D. What is the % change in the measured value of pressure difference, compared to part (a)?

Specific weight of
SAE 30 oil can be
taken as 8720 N/m3.

2. The rectangular gate AB has a constant width of 2 m into the paper and weighs 1540 kg. It is hinged at B
and rests against the smooth wall at A. The Bourdon gage reads the air pressure inside the tank as 95 kPa. Find
the water level h which will be just enough to cause the gate to open, using;
a) Pressure Prism Method
b) Direct Integration Method
c) Force Component Method
 ME 305 Fluid Mechanics I
Fall 2023 - Homework 2 Solution
Was due on November 8th, 2023

1. Sometimes the manometer dimensions may have a

significant effect on the measurement results. The containers
(a) and (b) shown in the figure are cylindrical and are such
that pa = pb.

Suppose the oil-water interface on the right leg moves up a

distance ∆h where ∆h < h. Derive a formula for the
difference pa - pb when Specific weight of
SAE 30 oil can be
a) d ≪ D, and taken as 8720 N/m3.

b) d = 0.15D. What is the % change in the measured

value of pressure difference, compared to part (a)?

Solution:

Assumptions
• pa and pb are the liquid/gas interface pressures in the water and oil tanks, respectively.
• Take water density as 1000 kg/m3.
• For part (a) ignore the liquid volume change in both tanks when the manometer fluids move, due to d
≪ D.

Analysis

The specific weight of water is 𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑔 = (1000)(9.81) = 9810 𝑁/𝑚3 .

At the initial equilibrium condition,

𝑝𝑎 + 𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝐿 + ℎ) = 𝑝𝑏 + 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝐻 + ℎ)

and for pa = pb,

𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝐿 + ℎ) = 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝐻 + ℎ) → 𝐻 = (𝐿 + ℎ) − ℎ
𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙

a) For d ≪ D, the liquid volume change in both tanks when the manometer fluids move can be neglected.
When the meniscus (the interface in the manometer) rises by ∆ℎ, this will be due to an imbalance between
the pressures pa and pb. Then, the following equilibrium condition can be written for the new state:

𝑝𝑎 + 𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝐿 + ℎ − ∆ℎ) = 𝑝𝑏 + 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 ( 𝐻

⏟ + ℎ − ∆ℎ)
𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
(𝐿+ℎ)−ℎ
𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙

which yields

𝒑𝒂 − 𝒑𝒃 = (𝜸𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 − 𝜸𝒐𝒊𝒍 )∆𝒉

and with the numerical values substituted, 𝑝𝑎 − 𝑝𝑏 = (9810 − 8720)∆ℎ → 𝒑𝒂 − 𝒑𝒃 = 𝟏𝟎𝟗𝟎 ∆𝒉.
b) For d = 0.15D, we will take into account the liquid volume change in both tanks when the manometer
fluids move. When the meniscus moves up in the right leg of the manometer, a volume equal to the
meniscus rise volume (∆ℎ𝜋𝑑 2 /4) leaves the water tank and enters the oil tank. In that case, the new liquid
heights in the two tanks will be found as

(𝜋𝐷2 /4)𝐿 − ∆ℎ𝜋𝑑 2 /4 𝑑 2

new water height in tank = = 𝐿 − ∆ℎ ( )
𝜋𝐷2 /4 𝐷

and

(𝜋𝐷2 /4)𝐻 + ∆ℎ𝜋𝑑 2 /4 𝑑 2

new oil height in tank = = 𝐻 + ∆ℎ ( )
𝜋𝐷2 /4 𝐷

Then, in the new equilibrium state,

𝑑 2 𝑑 2
𝑝𝑎 + 𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝐿 − ∆ℎ ( ) + ℎ − ∆ℎ) = 𝑝𝑏 + 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 ( 𝐻
⏟ + ∆ℎ ( ) + ℎ − ∆ℎ)
𝐷 𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐷
(𝐿+ℎ)−ℎ
𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙

leading to

𝑑 2 𝑑 2
𝑝𝑎 − 𝑝𝑏 = (𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 [1 + ( ) ] − 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 [1 − ( ) ]) ∆ℎ
𝐷 𝐷

For d = 0.15D,

𝑝𝑎 − 𝑝𝑏 = (𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 [1 + 0.152 ] − 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 [1 − 0.152 ])∆ℎ → 𝒑𝒂 − 𝒑𝒃 = (𝟏. 𝟎𝟐𝟐𝟓𝜸𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 − 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕𝟕𝟓𝜸𝒐𝒊𝒍 )∆𝒉

and substituting the specific weight values, 𝒑𝒂 − 𝒑𝒃 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟕 ∆𝒉

There is a significant change in the results!

In fact, the correct pressure difference is about 38 % more than the reading for which the level changes in
the tanks are ignored! The error in the reading is

1507 ∆h − 1090 ∆h
× 100 % ≈ 𝟐𝟖 % (underestimating 𝑝𝑎 − 𝑝𝑏 by a very significant 28 %)
1507 ∆h

2. The rectangular gate AB has a width of 2 m into the paper and weighs 1540 kg. It is hinged at B and rests
against the smooth wall at A. The Bourdon gage reads the air pressure inside the tank as 95 kPa. Find the
water level h which will be just enough to cause the gate to open.
 1.2 m

Liquid, SG = 1.4

2.4 m

1.8 m

Solution:
Assumptions
• Air pressure in the tank is uniform.
• The gate thickness is very small.
• Take water density as 1000 kg/m3.
Analysis
A reaction force F perpendicular to the wall at point A is acting on the gate (note that there is no reaction force
parallel to the wall at A since the wall is “smooth”, i.e. no friction). The magnitude of F depends on the rest
of the forces acting on the gate such that when the water level h reaches a certain value at which all other
forces acting on the gate yield a zero net moment about the hinge, reaction force F will become zero (gate
beginning to lose contact with the wall at A). At that point, the gate will begin to open. Therefore, we must
consider the case when there is no reaction force F acting on the gate at A in order to find the water level h
which will just cause the gate to open. Note that Bourdon gage reads gage pressure.
The pressure distribution on the gate (in terms of absolute pressure):
95,000 + 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 + 1.4𝛾𝑤 (1.2)
𝛾𝑤 [ℎ − (1.4)(1.2)] − 95,000
𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 + 𝛾𝑤 ℎ

1.4𝛾𝑤 (2.4)
1.4𝛾𝑤 (2.4)
95,000 + 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 + 1.4𝛾𝑤 (1.2)
𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 + 𝛾𝑤 ℎ 𝛾𝑤 [ℎ − (1.4)(1.2)] − 95,000

𝛾𝑤 (2.4) 𝛾𝑤 (2.4)

Atmospheric pressure acts on both sides; these will cancel out and therefore not considered in the current
analysis. The length 𝐿 of the gate can be found as the hypothenus of a right triangle, 𝐿 = √(2.4)2 + (1.8)2 =
3 𝑚. The specific weight of water will be taken as 9810 kg/m3.
Solution Using Pressure Prism Method
If we use the pressure prism method to determine the resultant pressure forces on the surfaces, then each
resultant force is found as the volume of the virtual pressure prism above that surface, i.e.
𝐹𝐿,∎ = {𝛾𝑤 [ℎ − (1.4)(1.2)] − 95,000}(3)(2) = 58860ℎ − 668,884.8 𝑁
 𝛾𝑤 (2.4)(3)
𝐹𝐿,∆ = (2) = 70,632 𝑁
2
1.4𝛾𝑤 (2.4)(3)
𝐹𝑅,∆ = (2) = 98,884.8 𝑁
2

where 𝐹𝐿,∎ , 𝐹𝐿,∆ are the resultant forces for the rectangular and triangular pressure prisms on the left surface
and 𝐹𝑅,∆ , the resultant force for the triangular pressure prism on the right surface. These forces are:

𝐹𝑅,∆
𝐹𝑅,∆ − 𝐹𝐿,∆ = 28,252.8 𝑁

𝐹𝐿,∎ 𝐹𝐿,∎ 3
=1𝑚
𝐹𝐿,∆ 3 3
= 1.5 𝑚
2
𝐵

Note that the resultant force of the triangular pressure distributions acts at 1/3rd of the length of the gate from
point B and the resultant force of the uniform pressure distribution acts at the center of the gate.
(The determination of the resultant pressure forces using the alternative direct integration and force component
methods will be presented at the end of the solution.)
FBD of the gate in the absence of force F at A (𝑅𝑥 , 𝑅𝑦 are the reaction forces at the hinge):
𝐴 𝑊 = 1560𝑔

1𝑚
28,252.8 𝑁

58860ℎ − 668,884.8 𝑁 𝑅𝑦

𝑅𝑥
1.5 𝑚 𝐵

1.8
= 0.9 𝑚
2
Moment about B is zero since point B is a hinge that cannot sustain a moment. Then,

−(58860ℎ − 668,884.8)(1.5) + (1560)(9.81)(0.9) + 28,252.8(1) = 𝑀𝐵 = 0 → 𝒉 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟖𝟒 𝒎

The water level ℎ must be at least 11.84 m for the gate to open, i.e. 𝑀𝐵 can only be clockwise for the gate to
open.

Solution Using Direct Integration Method

Obtaining the resultant pressure force using direct integration method:

On a flat surface which has a contact surface area of 𝐴 with the fluid, the resultant of the distributed pressure
force is found as:
 𝑑𝐹
⏞
𝐹 = ∫ 𝑝𝑑𝐴
𝐴
A
For the gate in question, the pressure on either side varies along the 𝑝𝑜 g
surface in the form 𝑝 = 𝑝𝑜 + 𝛾𝑤 𝜉 sin 𝜃 where 𝑝𝑜 is the pressure at the ∆ℎ𝐶𝐺 𝐿
𝜉
top edge level of the plate (point A), 𝜉 is the coordinate along the gate
𝐶𝐺
starting from A and 𝜃 is the gate inclination from the horizontal plane,
𝜃
and the infinitesimal surface area, 𝑑𝐴 = width × 𝑑𝜉 for a constant B
width gate.

Then,

𝐿
𝐿2
𝐹 = ∫ 𝑝𝑑𝐴 = ∫ (𝑝𝑜 + 𝛾 𝜉 sin 𝜃)𝑑𝐴 = 𝑝𝑜 𝐴 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 × width ∫ 𝜉𝑑𝜉 = 𝑝𝑜 𝐴 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 × width
2
𝐴 𝐴 0

𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝑝𝐶𝐺

⏞ 𝐿
→𝐹= (𝑝𝑜 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 ) 𝐿 × width = 𝑝𝐶𝐺 𝐴
⏟
2⏟ 𝐴
∆ℎ𝐶𝐺 −𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦

Therefore, the resultants on the left and right sides of the gate are (excluding 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 contributions)
𝑝𝐶𝐺 𝐴
𝐹𝐿 = ⏞ ⏞
𝛾𝑤 (ℎ + 1.2) (3)(2) = 58,860ℎ + 70632
𝛾𝑙𝑖𝑞

𝐹𝑅 = ⏟ ⏞ 𝛾𝑤 (1.2 + 1.2) (3)(2)

(95,000 + 1.4 ⏟ = 767,769.6 𝑁
𝑝𝐶𝐺 𝐴

To find the distance to center of pressure along the plate from point A, 𝜉𝑜 , we can directly use the moment
integral as

𝑑𝐹 width×d𝜉 𝐿 𝐿
⏞ = ∫ 𝜉(𝑝𝑜 + 𝛾 𝜉 sin 𝜃)
𝜉𝑜 𝐹 = ∫ 𝜉 𝑝𝑑𝐴 ⏞
𝑑𝐴 = width × [∫ 𝑝𝑜 𝜉𝑑𝜉 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 ∫ 𝜉 2 𝑑𝜉 ]
𝐴 𝐴 0 0

𝐿2 𝐿3
= width × [𝑝𝑜 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 ]
2 3

Also 𝐹 = 𝑝𝐶𝐺 𝐴 = 𝑝𝐶𝐺 (width × 𝐿)

𝐿 𝐿2
2
𝐿 𝐿 3 𝑝𝑜 2 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 3
→ 𝜉𝑜 𝐹 = 𝜉𝑜 𝑝𝐶𝐺 (width × 𝐿) = width × [𝑝𝑜 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 ] → 𝜉𝑜 =
2 3 𝑝𝐶𝐺

Inserting the numerical values while neglecting 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 :

2.4 𝑚
𝐿 𝐿2 𝐿 𝐿2 𝐿 𝐿 3 3
𝑝𝑜 2 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 3 𝛾𝑤 ℎ 2 + 𝛾𝑤 sin 𝜃 3 ℎ 2 + ⏞𝐿 sin 𝜃 3 ℎ 2 + (2.4) 3 1.5ℎ + 2.4
𝜉𝑜,𝐿 = = = = =
𝑝𝐶𝐺 𝛾𝑤 (ℎ + 1.2) ℎ + 1.2 ℎ + 1.2 ℎ + 1.2
 2.4 𝑚
𝐿 𝐿2 𝐿 𝐿
𝑝𝑜 2 + 𝛾 sin 𝜃 3 [95,000 + 1.4 𝛾𝑤 (1.2)] 2 + 1.4 𝛾𝑤 ⏞
𝐿 sin 𝜃 3
𝜉𝑜,𝑅 = =
𝑝𝐶𝐺 95,000 + 1.4 𝛾𝑤 (1.2 + 1.2)

3 3 3
95,000 2 + 1.4 (9810)(1.2) 2 + 1.4 (9810)(2.4) 3 142,500 + 24,721.2 + 32,961.6
= = = 1.564 𝑚
95,000 + 1.4 (9810)(2.4) 95,000 + 32,961.6

Note that 𝜉𝑜,𝐿 and 𝜉𝑜,𝑅 are measured from point A on the gate. The actual distance of the resultants to the
hinge B on the gate are:

1.5ℎ + 2.4 3ℎ + 3.6 − 1.5ℎ − 2.4 1.5ℎ + 1.2

𝐿 − 𝜉𝑜,𝐿 = 3 − = = 𝑚
ℎ + 1.2 ℎ + 1.2 ℎ + 1.2

𝐿 − 𝜉𝑜,𝑅 = 3 − 1.564 = 1.436 𝑚

FBD of the gate at the instant reaction force at A becomes zero:

𝐴 𝑊 = 1560𝑔
1.436 𝑚

767,769.6 𝑁

𝑅𝑦
58,860ℎ + 70,632 𝑁

𝑅𝑥
1.5ℎ + 1.2 𝐵
ℎ + 1.2

1.8
= 0.9 𝑚
2

Moment about B is zero since point B is a hinge that cannot sustain a moment. Then,

1.5ℎ + 1.2
Σ𝑀𝐵 = −(58,860ℎ + 70,632) ( ) + (1560)(9.81)(0.9) + 767,769.6(1.436) = 0
ℎ + 1.2

Solving for ℎ, once again yields, 𝒉 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟖𝟒 𝒎

Solution Using the Force Component Method

(with 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 contributions, again, cancelling out)

On the top surface of the gate, the vertical component of the pressure force is

ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓
𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒
(1.8)(2)
⏞ 1.2 + 3.6
(95,000)
𝐹𝑉,𝑡𝑜𝑝 = ⏟ ⏞𝐻
𝐴 + 1.4𝛾𝑤 (1.8)(2)
⏟ 2
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟
𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒
𝑎𝑡𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒

For the bottom surface of the gate, a further analysis is necessary:

Note that 𝐹𝑉,𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 is equal (but opposite in direction) to the force the same surface would have on its top
side if it were completely immersed in water for the given configuration on the left side of the gate (see
below). The top side force would be the weight of water (𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ) above the surface, per force component
method. Then, 𝐹𝑉,𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = 𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 as well.

not the actual configuration; just how

the vertical component of pressure
force on the bottom surface of the
(infinitesimally thin) gate is found (at a
O given depth in a uniform fluid, the
𝐹𝑉,𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = 𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 pressure is the same in all directions!)

Then,

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒

⏞ ℎ + (ℎ + 2.4)
𝐹𝑉,𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = 𝛾𝑤 (1.8)(2)
⏟ 2
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒

The horizontal components are evaluated based on the below pressure distributions on the projected areas:

𝐹𝐻 95,000 + 1.4 𝛾𝑤 (1.2)

𝐴′ 𝐴 𝐴′

𝐹𝑉 𝛽
𝐹𝑅 for 𝐹𝐻,𝑡𝑜𝑝
Top side: 𝐴𝑉
𝑂
𝛽
𝐵′ 𝐵

𝐴′′ 𝐵′′ 𝐵′
95,000 + 1.4 𝛾𝑤 (1.2 + 2.4)

𝛾𝑤 ℎ
𝐴′′ 𝐵′′ 𝐴′

𝐴 𝐴′
𝛽
Bottom side: 𝐴𝑉 for 𝐹𝐻,𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚
𝑂

𝐹𝑅
𝛽 𝐹𝑉
𝐵 𝐵′ 𝐵′
𝛾𝑤 (ℎ + 2.4)
𝐹𝐻
Using the results of direct integration method (can alternatively use the pressure prism method, too),

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓
𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎,
𝛾𝑙𝑖𝑞 (2.4)(2)

𝐹𝐻,𝑡𝑜𝑝 = ⏟ ⏞ 𝛾𝑤 (1.2 + 1.2))

(95,000 + 1.4 ⏞𝑉
𝐴
𝑝𝐶𝐺

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓
𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎,
𝑝𝐶𝐺 (2.4)(2)

𝐹𝐻,𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = ⏞
𝛾𝑤 (ℎ + 1.2) ⏞𝑉
𝐴

The determination of the center of pressure for moment calculations is not performed here but is similar to
the previous method. One simplification in writing a static equilibrium moment equation would be to
express the moment of each (horizontal/vertical) component in terms of their simpler subcomponents
(whose lines of action are known), e.g. the bottom surface vertical force can be expressed as shown for
moment purposes.

𝐶𝐺∎
𝐶𝐺∎

𝐶𝐺∆
𝑊∎

𝐶𝐺∆

𝑊∆
𝑊∎ 𝑊∆

𝐹𝑉,𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = 𝑊∎ + 𝑊∆
𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑊∎ + 𝑊∆