LESSON 2

PRESSURE MEASUREMENT

AND HYDROSTATIC FORCES ON

PLANE AND CURVED SURFACES

GROUP 1

BEZ, JUNWIL JAYRO

MOLINA, JEO RAFAEL

RICO, JOHN ARBY

Pressure Measurement
The process of measuring pressure is a must since it is the key to understand various problem in
which our industry faces, hence by doing this it is possible to acquire and understand the
principles which lies beneath our technology.
The measurement of Pressure is defined by force per unit area that a fluid exerts on its
surroundings, and can be also described as either static; one with no motion and dynamic: one
with motion, hence given by this equation:
F
P=
A
Where: F is the function of force and A is the area, thus the common unit in pressure is
N
Pascal ( 2 )
m
Most common types of Pressure measurement are as follows
1. Absolute Pressure – measured related to the perfect vacuum rather the sum of gauge
pressure and atmospheric pressure, and given by this equation
Pabs=Pgauge+ Patm
2. Gauge Pressure – pressure which is closely relative to the atmospheric pressure.
Pgauge=P−Patm
3. Vacuum Pressure – the difference between the atmospheric pressure and absolute
pressure and given by the equation
Pvac=Patm−Pabs
4. Atmospheric Pressure – type of pressure caused by the weight or mass of the different
gas in our atmosphere, hence given by this equation
−mgh
kT
Ph=P o e
Where:
Ph=Pressure at height h
Po =sea level pressure
g=acceleration due ¿ gravity
k =Boltzman n' s constant
T =absolute temperature
m=mass of one air molecule
Manometer
Is a type of device Which contains a fluid of known specific gravity, hence by measuring the
difference in the elevation of liquid surfaces enables you to find out the difference in pressure. In
addition to this, there are also other types of manometer in which have their own capabilities
when it comes to pressure measurement.
1. U-tube manometer – compromised of u-formed tube in which, when filled with a liquid,
it states the different values of pressures that may be observed
2. Differential U- tube manometer – almost similar to the first type of manometer, but this
manometer has an open location connected to another pressure location thus is usually
used in observing different points
3. Inverted U-Tube manometer – contains inverted u-tube which has a light liquid and used
in measuring tiny differences between 2 points
4. Small/Micro manometer – this one is used in measuring the tiniest amount of pressure
variation
Hydrostatic Forces
Result force caused by the pressure acting on submerged surfaces. Connected in fluids
mechanics since the principle of the calculation of the hydrostatic force and the center of the
pressure are the fundamentals of fluid mechanics. Consequently, for the fluids at rest, their force
must be perpendicular to the surface since there are no signs of stress being present, hence
pressure varies according to the depth of the storage in which the fluid is incompressible.
Hydrostatic Forces in Plane Surfaces

Figure 1. Open Tank

For plane surfaces like a bottom of a liquid-filled tank, the magnitude of the resultant force is
equivalent to the multiplication of the pressure on the bottom and the area of the bottom hence, it
is given by this equation
 F r= pA

Since the pressure is constant and uniformly distributed at the bottom, the resultant force which
is present over the bottom acts through the centroid of the area. Hence the force on the plane
surface is given by the equation
p=γh
Hence the magnitude of the resultant force in plane surfaces can be found in this equation form:

Where h c is the vertical distance from the fluid surface to the centroid of the area.
Thus the equation for the pressure at the centroid is given by : pgh
On the other side, although we know that the resultant force should pass through centroid of the
area, we can also determine the resultant force by the summation of moments around the x-axis,
hence it is given by this equation
Hydrostatic Forces on an Inclined Area

Figure 2. Inclined Surface Area

In this type of plane surfaces, the height, h, is now the vertical distance to the centroid. Since the
measurement of the pressure at the centroid is given above, we can deduct that the magnitude of
the force is the area multiply by the pressure that is present in the centroid of the area, hence does
not depend on the angle of the inclination of the surface. Hence in this type of surface we can
apply the theorem of Parallel Axis where:
I xx , o=¿ I + A y2c ¿
xx ,c

Thus by applying the conditions needed for the resultant force of an inclined surface to be solved
we are presented with
I xx ,c
y R=Y c +
Yc A
I xx ,c
Where the component in the equation is the distance between C and CP along the y-axis
Yc A
Centroids and Area for Common Shapes
Rectangle

Circle
Triangle

Semi-circle
Quarter-Circle

Hydrostatic Forces on Curved Surfaces

Figure 3. Curved Surfaces

On a curved surface the forces on individual elements differ in direction, so a simple summation
of them may not be made. Instead, the resultant forces in certain directions may be determined,
and these forces may then be combined vectorially. It is simplest to calculate horizontal and
vertical components of the total force. The magnitude of the resultant force of the curved surface
is given by the equation

F R =√ (F H )2 +( FV )2

Where: F H =F 2
 F V =F 1+ w

Examples for Pressure Measurement

1. A car tire gauge measures a tire pressure of 32.0 psi. The local atmospheric pressure is
14.2 psi. What is the absolute pressure of the air in the tire?

Given: Pgauge=32.0psi and Patm=14.2 psi

Absolute pressure = Pgauge+Patm
Pabs = 32.0 psi + 14.2 psi = 46.2 psi

2. If the pressure inside a storage tank is 0.9 atm at sea level, then what is the gauge
pressure inside the tank?

Given: Pressure =.9atm , and we know that the atmospheric pressure at sea level is
equivalent to 1.0 atm
Pgauge = P-Patm
Pgauge = 0.9atm + 1.0 atm = -0.1 atm

Examples for Hydrostatic Force on Plane Surfaces

1. A vertical rectangular plate 5m wide and 3.5m high, with its top submerged on water 3m
deep. Determine the total resultant acting on one side and the location of center of
pressure.

kN
Given: L=5 m, W =3.5 m, γ =9.81 , D=3 m
m3
1
h c =D+( )(W )
2
1
h c =3 m+
2()
( 3.5 m )=4.75 m

A=L× W
A=5 m×3.5 m=17.5 m 2

F=γ hc A
kN
F=( 9.81 )(4.75 m)( 17.5m¿¿ 2)=815.456 kN ¿
m3
 L W3
Ixx ,C=
12
(5 m)(3.5 m)3
Ixx ,C= =17.865 m4
12

y c =h c
y c =4.75 m

Ixx ,C
e=
yc A
17.865m4
e= =0.215 m
( 4.75 m)(17.5 m2)

Y cp =hc +e
Y cp =4.75 m+0.215 m=4.965m

2. A vertical triangular isosceles plate with top base 3.5ft long and height 5ft is submerged
in water so that its base is 6ft deep. Determine the total resultant acting on one side and
the location of center of pressure.

lbs
Given: b=3.5 ft , h=5 ft, γ =62.4 , D=6 ft
ft 3
1
h c =D+( )(h)
3
1
h c =6 ft +()3
(5 ft )=7.667 ft

bh
A=
2
(3.5 ft )(5 ft )
A= =8.75 ft 2
2

F=γ hc A
lbs
F=( 62.4 3
)(7.667 ft )(8.75 ft 2 ¿ ¿ 2)=4186.182 lbs¿
ft

b h3
Ixx ,C=
36
(3.5 ft )(5 ft )3
Ixx ,C= =12.153 ft 4
36
 y c =h c
y c =7.667 ft

Ixx ,C
e=
yc A
12.153 ft 4
e= 2
=0.181 ft
(7.667 ft)(8.75 ft )

Y cp =hc +e
Y cp =7.667 ft + 0.181 ft=7.848 ft

Examples for Hydrostatic force on Curved Surfaces

1. We are given a reservoir which is 13 feet deep and has a circular gate with a radius of 6
feet. The width of the reservoir and the gate is 2 feet. Determine the vertical and
horizontal reactions.

lb
Given: r =6 ft, w=2 ft , γ W =62.4
ft 3

Horizontal Reaction

Fx = γ w A p hc

Ap = (6ft) (2ft) = 12 ft 2

6 ft
Hc = 7ft + = 10ft
2

lb
FH = (62.4 ) (12) (10)
ft 3

FH = 7488lbs

Vertical Reaction
 W = γ w

π lb
W= (6ft¿2 (2ft) (62.4 3 )
4 ft

W = 3528.63lbs

Fy = γ w

lb
Fy = (13ft) (6ft) (62.4 )
ft 3

Fy = 9734lbs

Fv = 9734lbs – 3528.63lbs

Fv = 6210.8lbs

2. A sort of tank with a rigid ground which is filled with water including a gate, hinge (Point
H) and a force P that is pushing to keep the gate from falling. The water is observably 6
feet high from the ground because the gate has a radius of 6 feet. The pressure at the top
would be zero, and the width of the gate is 18 feet. Find the force P needed to keep the
lb
gate from falling providing the specific weight of water which is 62.4 3 .
ft

lb
Given: w = 18ft, γ w = 62.4 , r = 6ft, P = ?
ft 3

1
wH20 = (π (6 ft ¿ 2)(18 ft )=162 π
4

lb
(162π ¿ (62.4 ¿
ft 3

wH20 = 31757.7lbs

Fp = PcA

lb
Fp = 3 (62.462.4 ) (6ft) (18ft)
ft 3

Fp = 20217.6lbs

⥀Σ MH = 0
 4 (6)
-Fp (2ft) + P (6ft) – (wH20) ( ¿=0
3π

P = 20,200lbs

REFERENCES
B. R. Munson, D.F Young and T. H. Okiisshi, (1998). Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics,
John Wiley and Sons, Inc. .
Gerhart, P. M., Gerhart, A. L., & Hochstein, J. I. (2016). Munson, Young and Okiishi's
Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. John Wiley & Sons.
Kudela, H. Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface. Retrieved from
https://cnj.atu.edu.iq/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Lecture6.pdf
UNDU, K. (2016). Fluid mechanics. Retrieved from
http://ftp.demec.ufpr.br/disciplinas/EMEC7033/Fluid_Mechanics_2E-KUNDU_.pdf