EXPERIMENT 1 HYDROSTATIC FORCE

OBJECTIVES The objectives of the experiment are: 1. To determine experimentally the resultant hydrostatic force (total force) applied on a submerged surface. 2. To determine the experimental and the theoretical center of pressure. 3. To explain clearly the principles of forces exerted on a plane or curved surface. . To demonstrate technical s!ills in laboratory tests that yield valid results.

LEARNING OUTCOME

"y the end of this chapter students should be able to:#

1. $nderstand hydrostatics concept and principles. 2. %ble to calculate hydrostatic forces for plane&inclined ' curved surfaces and by pressure diagrams. 3. %ble to calculate centre of pressure for plane&inclined ' curved surfaces and by pressure diagrams.

APPARATUS The apparatus (hich is sho(n in )ig. 1.1 is designed in a (ay that only the moment due to hydrostatic pressure distribution on the vertical end of (ater vessel should be included. The (ater vessel is designed as a ring segment (ith constant cross#section. The top and bottom faces

are concentric circular arcs centered on the pivot so that the resultant hydrostatic force at every point passes through the pivot axis and does not contribute to the moment.

)igure 1.1 # *etails of the apparatus THEORY/BACKGROUND )igure 1.2 sho(s the submerged surface vie(ed from the left side of the tan! in )igure 1.1. The depth of the centroid belo( the surface of the (ater is h. The x#y coordinate system has its origin at the centroid. The y#direction position of the center of pressure is y+.
y+ = h + , %h

(here , is the moment of inertia of the surface about the x#axis& and % is the surface area. The location of the center of pressure can be measured using the apparatus s!etched in )igure 1.3. The counter(eight is adjusted so that the beam is hori-ontal (hen there is no (ater in the tan! and no (eight in the pan. .hen the tan! is /lled (ith (ater the unbalanced hydrostatic force causes the beam to tilt. %dding (eight . to the pan at a distance 0 from the pivot 1 exerts a moment . 0 that counterbalances the resultant moment due to the hydrostatic forces on the 2uarter#annulus#shaped body %"34. .hen the (ater level is as sho(n in the /gure& there are hydrostatic forces on surfaces %"& "5 and %T. 5ince "5 and %T are concentric cylindrical surfaces (ith the common axis passing through 1& the hydrostatic forces on "5 and %T do not exert any moment about 1. %s a result .0 is e2ual to the moment due to the hydrostatic force ) acting on the vertical plane surface %".

)igure 1.2 # *etailed nomenclature for locating the center of pressure

)igure 1.3 # %pparatus for measuring the location of the center of pressure
L

e hp F c b

)igure 1. # 5!etch of the %pparatus

)rom figure 1. :

1) 2) 3) ) 8) 9) :)

.06)a hp 6 a 7 e hp 6
WL e F

%6"y hs 6 ,6 )6
1 y 2
by 3 12

1 gby 2 2

Theoritical )ormulae :

) 6 ; g hs % <) hp 6 hs =
I Ahs

PROCEDURES

1. 5et the (ater vessel to an angle of > 6 ?@ using the detent. 2. Aount the rider& set the lever arm on the scale.(1B? mm) 3. Counterbalance the unit (ith a rotating slider. The stop pin must be precisely in the middle of the hole for this purpose. . 3ut the ?.8 D (eight at the hanger. 8. Top up the (ater vessel (ith (ater until the unit is balanced. (5top pin at center of hole). 9. +ead off (ater level e and y and enter it in the prepared table. :. +epeat step 7 9 by increasing the (eight. (,ncrements of ?.8 D) The (or!sheet in the appendix can be used for reading the re2uired data.

RESULTS AND CALCULATION

DISCUSSIONS

*iscussion % strong person can lift 1?? !g& (hose (eight is B<1 D or about 1 !D. %lso& the person can apply the force at a point farthest from the hinges (1 m farther) for maximum effect and generate a moment of 1 !D E m. The resultant hydrostatic force acts under the midpoint of the door&and thus a distance of ?.8 m from the hinges. This generates a moment of 8?.9 !D E m& (hich is about 8? times the moment the driver can possibly generate. Therefore& it is impossible for the driver to open the door of the car. The driverFs best bet is to let some (ater in (by rolling the (indo( do(n a little& for example) and to !eep his or her head close to the ceiling. The driver should be able to open the door shortly before the car is filled (ith (ater since at that point the pressures on both sides of the door are nearly the same and opening the door in (ater is almost aseasy as opening it in air

CONCLUSIONS

,n conclusion& the theoretical values calculated& differ significantly from those measured during the experiment. 5ome of this error can be explained by the human error in measurements of depth. 1ther sources of error are in the apparatus itself& ranging from a less than ideal door seal& to (aves and disturbances that could have made the depths of (ater seem larger than they (ere.

REFERENCES

1. )leischmann& 5hirley. )luid Aechanics GH+ 398 *esigned#"ased )luids 0ab. Hrand +apids: Hrand Ialley 5tate $niversity& 2??8. 2. Aunson& Joung& and 1!iishi. )undamentals of )luid Aechanics& )ifth Gdition. Kobo!en: Lohn .iley ' 5ons& ,nc.