Experiment to determine the centre of pressure on a partially submerged plane surface

OBJECTIVE OF EXPERIMENT:

To determine the centre of pressure on a partially submerged plane surface EQUIPMENT SET UP: Hydraulics Bench F1 10 and Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus F1 12.

SUMMARY OF THEORY Partial immersion: mgL = [(g/2)](by)[(a+d)-y/3] m/y = [(b)/(2L)][a+d]- [(b)/2L](y/3)

PROCEDURE: 1. Place the quadrant on the two dowel pins and using the clamping screw, fasten to the balance arm. Measure a, L, depth d and width b, of the quadrant end face. With the Perspex tank on the bench, position the balance arm of the knife edges (pivot). Hang the balance pan from the end of the balance arm. Connect a length of hose from the drain cock to the sump and a length from the bench feed to the triangular aperture on the top of the Perspex tank. Level the tank using the adjustable feet and spirit level. Move the counter balance weight until the balance arm is horizontal. 2. Close the drain cock and admit water until the level reaches the bottom edge of the quadrant. Place a weight on the balance pan, slowly adding water into the tank until the balance arm is horizontal. Record the water level on the quadrant and the weight on the balance pan. 3. Fine adjustment of the water level can be achieved by overfilling and slowly draining, using the stop cock. 4. Repeat the above for each increment of weight until the water level reaches the top of the quadrant end face. Then remove each increment of weight noting weights and water levels until the weights have been removed.

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS:

FILLING TANK Weight Height m of water (g) y (mm) 50 43 100 64 150 79 200 93

DRAINING TANK Weight Height m of water (g) y (mm) 200 44 150 63 100 78 50 93

AVERAGE m y (g) (mm) 50 100 150 200 43.5 63.5 78.5 93

m/y

1892.25 4032.25 6162.25 8649.00

0.026 0.025 0.024 0.023

Therefore, graph m/y against as shown:

From the graph

P1 = x : 30

y : 0.0265

P2 = x : 50 y : 0.025 My = (y2 y1) / (x2 x1) = (0.025 0.0265) / (50 -80)

= 0.000033

C = 0.029

CONCLUSION From this experiment, we can conclude that center of pressure can be determine by the graph parameters.