HARARE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Chemical & Process Systems Engineering

Fluid Mechanics
ECP 2104 Lecture Notes
BY F.M. Saziya
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• Introduction
• 2.1 Hydrostatic Equation
• 2.2 Barometric Equation
• 2.3 Application of Barometric Equation
• 2.4 Buoyancy
• 2.5 Hydrostatic Equilibrium in Rigid Bodies in
motion
• 2.6 Acceleration on a Straight Path
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems
Harare Institute of Technology
Engineering
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• Fluid Statics studies fluids in a state of absolute
and relative rest in relation to the system of
coordinates (includes fluids that are moving
together with the container – rigid body motion -
and fluids accelerating on a straight path)

Liquid

• Cardinal Problem of Fluid Statics P(x,y,z), P(x,r,θ)

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.1 Hydrostatic Equilibrium
Consider a fluid element dxdydz isolated from the rest of the fluid at rest
p=f(x,y,z); (u=0)
z
dx
dy

y dz
pxdydz [px+(δpx/δx)dx]dydz

x
py
ρgdxdydz
pz

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
Projection of Forces along the axes
dFx=pxdydz-[px+(δpx/δx)dx]dydz=- (δpx/δx)dxdydz=0…..Eq 2.1.1

dFy=pydxdz-[py+(δpy/δy)dy]dxdz=- (δpy/δy)dydxdz=0….Eq 2.1.2

dFz=pzdydx-[pz+(δpz/δz)dz]dydx-ρgdxdydz
dFz=- (δpz/δz)dzdxdy- ρgdxdydz =0…………………………………………………Eq 2.3
Since dv=dxdydz≠0 it follows that:
- (δpx/δx) =0……………………….Eq 2.1.1’
- (δpy/δy) =0……………………….Eq 2.1.2’
- (δpz/δz)-ρg=0…………………..Eq 2.1.3’
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• Eq 2.1.1’ and Eq 2.1.2’ demonstrate that in static
fluids, p is not a function of x and y
• Integrating Eq 2.1.3’ for ρ=const and g=const
dpz/dz+ρg=0→dp+ρgdz=0 →∫dp+ρg∫dz=0
giving p+ρgz=C which can be written as:
p/ρg+z=const ……………………………………Eq 2.1.4
Hydrostatic Equation
where : p/ρg – piezometric (static head)
z – geometric head
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.2 Barometric Equation
z
p0
z0

z p

y x

For p0=const, use of hydrostatic equation for the two

levels z0 and z yields: z+p/ρg=z0+p0/ρg
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• If z0-z=h then:
p=p0+ρgh……………………………………………………Eq2.1.5
Barometric Equation
• Equation holds for compressible and incompressible
fluids including their mixtures
• Important principle emanating from the barometric
equation:
“Pressure developed at any point in a compressible fluid
at rest will be transmitted to all points in the fluid” –
Pascal’s Law
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.3 Application of Barometric Equation
a) Pressure Measuring Instruments

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
z1+p1/ρg=z2+p2/ρg →p1=0 insignificant
pressure above mercury column, z1=h, p2=patm
patm=0+ρgh
patm= ρgh

School of Engineering and Technology

Harare Institute of Technology Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems
Engineering
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics

b) Liquid Level in communicating vessels

patm patm

z’ z”

A
0 0

pA=patm+ρgz’ ; pA=patm+ρgz”
patm+ρgz’ = patm+ρgz”
z’=z”
In open or closed communicating containers containing the same fluid and subjected to
the same pressure, the fluid assumes the same level in the containers regardless of the
shapes or cross sections of the containers
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• f)Hydraulic presses

d2 p

p d1

F1=pπd12/4
F2=pπd22/4

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
patm

patm
ρ”

ρ’ z”
z’

A
0 0

pA=patm+ρ’gz’ ; pA=patm+ρ”gz”
patm+ρ’gz’ = patm+ρ”gz”
ρ’z’=ρ”z”
z’/z”=ρ”/ρ’
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
c) Liquid separators

z’
z”

z”=z’(ρ’/ρ”)

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• d)Level of liquids in underground storage
tanks
p

p0

z0 ρ

z0=(p-p0)/ρg

School of Engineering and Technology

Harare Institute of Technology Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems
Engineering
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• e)Egg blow case system
Compressed
Air P
P2

P1 z

ΔP=p1-p2=(hf+z)ρg

School of Engineering and Technology

Harare Institute of Technology Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems
Engineering
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.4 Hydrostatic Equilibrium in Rigid Body Motion

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.4.1 Pressure field

p=f(r, θ,z)
δp/δr=ρrω2; δp/δθ=0; δp/δz=-γ;
Total differential of p=f(r,z)
dp=ρrω2dr-γdz ………………………………..Eq 2.4.1
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
On integrating Eq.2.4.1 we get

∫dp=ρω2∫rdr-γ∫dz

p=[(ρω2r2)/2]-γz+constant…………………..Eq 2.4.2

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• On a horizontal plane;
z =constant and dz=0
therefore dp/ dr =ρrω2
• Along a surface of constant
surface area e.g the free surface dp=0 such that
dp=ρrω2dr-γdz=0→ρrω2dr=γdz whence
dz/dr=ρrω2/γ= ρrω2/ρg=rω2/g→dz=[rω2/g]dr
∫dz=ω2/g∫rdr →z=r2ω2/2g+const……….Eq 2.4.3
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.4.2 Distance of the free surface (zs) from the bottom of the container

• z=r2ω2/2g+Ci……….Eq 2.4.3 - Equation of surfaces of constant

pressure (isobars)
• Value of Ci different for different isobars
• For the free surface, when r=0, Eq 2.4.3 gives
zs(0)=Ci=h0→ zs=r2ω2/2g+h0…………………………….Eq 2.4.4

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.4.3 Derivation of Free Surface and max. vertical height Equations
Volume of a cylindrical shell element of radius r, height zs, and
thickness dr is: dV=2πrzsdr.
The volume of the paraboloid formed by the free surface therefore
is:
V=∫0VdV=∫r=0R2πrzsdr=2π ∫r=0R(r2ω2/2g+h0)rdr= πR2(R2ω2/2g+h0)
This volume must be equal to the original V=πR2H where H is the
original height of the fluid before rotation. Equating these two
and making h0 subject of the formula gives ; h0=H-R2ω2/4g
Substituting h0 into Eq.2.4.4 gives:
zs=H-ω2/4g(R2-2r2) ..Eq 2.4.5

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• zs=H-ω2/4g(R2-2r2) ………………………….Eq 2.4.5
Free surface equation
Maximum vertical height occurs at the edge
where r=R →Δzs=zs(R)-zs(0)=(ω2/2g)R2
• Δzs=(ω2/2g)R2…………………………………..Eq2.4.6
Maximum height equation

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.4.4 Pressure distribution
• For ρ=const, the pressure difference between two
points 1 and 2 in the fluid is determined by integrating
dp=ρrω2dr- ρgdz to yield:
• ∫dp=ρω2∫rdr- ρg∫dz giving:
p2-p1= ρω2[(r2)2-(r1)2]- ρg(z2-z1)
• Taking point 1 to be p1=p0(r=0, z=0) and point 2 to be
any point of interest, then the pressure field is
expressed as:
p=p0+ [(ρω2r2)/2]-ρgz………………………….Eq 2.4.7
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
Rigid Body Motion Experiments

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.5 Fluid Acceleration on a straight path
Free surface
g
Δzmax θ

z az
h0 a

ax
x
b

2.5.1 Equations of motion:

δp/δx=-ρax; δp/δy=0;δp/δz=-ρ(g+az)
dp=(δp/δx)dx+(δp/δz)dz=-ρaxdx-ρ(g+az)dz
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
dp=-ρaxdx-ρ(g+az)dz………………………..Eq 2.5.1
For ρ=const integrating Eq 2.5.1 for any two
points 1 & 2 on the free surface gives:
∫dP= ρax∫dx-ρ(g+az)∫ dz
p2-p1=-ρax(x2-x1)- ρ(g+az)(z2-z1)……….. Eq 2.5.2

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
θ
2
Δz=z2-z1 1
x1-x2

Taking point 1 to be the origin (x=0, z=0) and

where pressure is therefore P0 and point 2 to be
any point on the fluid the pressure distribution
can be expressed as:
p=p0-ρaxx-ρ(g+az)z………………………………….Eq 2.5.3
Pressure distribution Equation
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
θ
2
Δz=z2-z1 1
x1-x2

Drop of free surface Δz at point 2

determined by choosing p1 and p2 on the
free surface such that p1=p2
Δz=z2-z1=[ax/(g+az)](x2-x1)…………………Eq2.5.4
Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering
Harare Institute of Technology
 Lines of constant pressure
Lines of constant pressure
• dp= 0 in Eq. 2.5.1 and rearranging gives:
• dz/dx=ax/(g+az)=constant ……..Eq 2.5.5
Isobars
Slope of isobars:
dz/dx=ax/(g+az)=tanθ……………..Eq2.5.6

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
2.6 Buoyancy and Stability

• A fluid exerts an upward force on an object immersed in it –

Buoyant Force
• Buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced and
acts through the centroid of displaced volume - Archimedes

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• For floating bodies, the weight of the entire body
must be equal to the buoyant force which is the
weight of the fluid whose volume is equal to the
volume of the submerged portion of the floating body

ρ<ρf

Floating body suspended body

ρ=ρf

ρ>ρf
ρf sinking body

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology
 Lecture 2:Fluid Statics
• For floating bodies, the weight of the entire body
must be equal to the buoyant force which is the
weight of the fluid whose volume is equal to the
volume of the submerged portion of the floating body

fluid Weight

Fb
GB
Weight W

Stable Neutrally Stable Unstable

Dept. of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering

Harare Institute of Technology