An Experiment to Determine the Center of Pressure on a Plane Surface Objective

Determination of the center of pressure on a plane surface.

Equipment setup

Fig. 1 : Plan of the Device

Theory
Let breadth of the quadrant = B And unit weight of the fluid = Refer to Fig.1, the force on element may be expressed as

dF = ( y cos h) Bdy The moment of force on element about 0 = dF y = B ( y cos h) ydy Therefore, total moment about 0 = M = B ( y cos h) ydy

Case 1: Fully submerged Plane

Limits R1 and R2
M = B ( y cos h) ydy
R1 R2

cos y 3 hy 2 B cos 3 B 2 M = B R2 R13 R2 R12 h = 3 2 R 3 2 1

R2

(1)

Case 2: Partially Submerged Plane Limits R2 and h sec M = B

R2 h sec R2

( y cos h) ydy

cos y 3 hy 2 B cos 3 B 2 M = B = R2 h 3 sec 3 R2 h 2 sec 2 h 2 h sec 3 2 3

3 B cos R2 BR22 h B sec 2 h 3 M = + 3 2 6

(2)

Readings and calculations:

Inner radius of the quadrant, R1= 100mm = Outer radius of the quadrant, R2 = 200mm = Breadth, B = 75mm = 0.075 m 0.1 m 0.2 m

Moment arm, R3= 200 mm = 0.2 m B 2 R2 R12 = 12.222 N Slope of the curve, 2 Hence, the unit weight of the fluid, = 10864 N/m3

Table 1. Fully submerged plane

W (gm) 300 350 400 450 500 300 350 400

M=9.81WR3/1000 (Nm) 0.59 0.687 0.785 0.883 0.981 0.59 0.687 0.785

h (mm) 100 90 80 70 62 84 77 70

H (m) 0.100 0.090 0.080 0o 0.070 .062 0.084 0.077 30o 0.070

Table 2. Partially submerged plane W (gm) 50 100 150 200 250 50 100 150 200 250 M=9.81WR3/1000 (Nm) 0.0981 0.1962 0.2943 0.3924 0.4905 0.0981 0.1962 0.2943 0.3924 0.4905 h (mm) 154 140 128 118 108 132 120 108 102 92 h (m) 0.154 0.140 0.128 0.118 0.108 0.132 0.120 0.108 0.102 0.092 h3 (m3) 3.65* 2.74* 2.09* 1.64* 1.26* 2.29* 1.73* 1.26* 1.06* 7.79* M+BR22h/2 2.608 2.477 2.380 2.315 2.250 2.249 2.152 2.054 2.055 1.989

0o

30o

Figure1: graph of moment vs height for (0o)

Figure2: moment vs height at (30) degree

Discussion of results
As shows in figure one (1) & (2) which is the readings of case of fully submerged plane between the readings of moment versus with the height of the water we found that the moment is inversely proportional to the height. The slope of the curve was founded to be 12 N. Hence, the unit weight of the fluid is 10,864 N/m3 and specific weight is 1107 kg/m3. Also as we saw in figure (3) & (4) which is the readings of case of partially submerged plane between the readings shows that moment versus with the height of the water we found that the moment is inversely proportional to the height. All the result of the fully and partially are linier but inversely between the high and moment.

Conclusions:
The objective of this experiment was done to determine of the center of pressure on a plane surface. In the case of fully submerged, the moment was found to be inversely proportional to the height and 12N was the slope of the curve. Also in the case of partially submerged, the moment was found to be inversely proportional to the height.