MEEG301 Fluid Statics Suresh B.

Shrestha

Fluid Statics

1. Definitions
Fluid Statics: Deals with the forces acting on the fluid when it is at rest.

Body Forces: These are the forces, which act throughout the body of the fluid element and are
distributed over the entire mass or volume of the element.
→ → → →
FB = FBx i + FBy j + FBz k
Surface Forces: It includes all the forces exerted on the fluid element by its surroundings
through direct contact at the surface. A surface force can be resolved into two components, one
along the normal to an elemental area and the other along the plane of the elemental area.
Z
→ → → → dy
FS = FSx i + FSy j + FSz k
 ∂P 
P.dy.dz P + dx .dy.dz
dz ∂x
 
2. The basic Equation of Fluid Statics:
For a differential fluid element, The body force, dx
X
→ → → →
d FB = g .dm = g .ρ.d∀ = g .ρ.dx.dy.dz
Figure 1: Pressure forces on various
sides of the Differential Fluid Element

In a static fluid, no shear stresses can be Now, Total force is given by,
present. Thus the only surface force is the → → →
pressure force. Since pressure is field quantity, d F = d FS + d FB
P = P (x, y, z)
→ →
→ →  ∂P  → d F = −∇P.dxdydz + ρ g dxdydz
d FSx = P.dy.dz i +  P + dx dydz( − i)
 ∂x  →  →
→ →  ∂P  → d F =  − ∇P + ρ g d ∀
 
d FSy = P.dz.dx j +  P + dy dzdx( − j)  
 ∂y 
→
→ →  ∂P  → d F  →
d FSz = P.dx.dy k +  P + dz dxdy( − k ) = − ∇P + ρ g 
 ∂z  d∀  
 
→  ∂P → ∂P → ∂P →  From Newton' s Second Law of Motion,
d FS =  − i− j− k dxdydz
 ∂x ∂y ∂z  →
dF
→  ∂P → ∂P → ∂P →  =0
d FS = − i+ j+ k dxdydz d∀
 ∂x ∂y ∂z 
So,
→
d FS = −∇P.dxdydz  →
 − ∇P + ρ g  = 0
→  
d FS = −gradP.dxdydz  

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MEEG301 Fluid Statics Suresh B. Shrestha

→ Most Pressure Gauges measure a pressure

− ∇P + ρ g = 0 difference between the measured pressure and
Since the above equation is a vector quantity, all the the ambient level (Usually the atmospheric
three components must satisfy individually to pressure). Pressure level measured with respect
achieve above condition, so to atmospheric pressure is called gage pressure.
∂P Thus, Pabsolute = Pgage + Patmosphere
− + ρ.g x = 0 As g is (approximately) constant, the gauge
∂x
pressure can be given by stating the vertical
∂P height of any fluid of density, which is equal to this
− + ρ.g y = 0
∂y pressure. Pgage = ρ.g.h
∂P This vertical height is known as head of fluid.
− + ρ.g z = 0
∂z
We know, gx = gy=0
And gz = -g
∂P Pgage
∴− − ρg z = 0 Pabsolute
∂z Atmospheric Pressure = 101.3 kPa
dP at standard sea level condition
∴ = -ρρ z
dz
This equation is valid for,
(i) Static Fluid
(ii) Body force is the gravity force
(iii) When Z-axis is vertical and upward. NOTE: Pressures are usually measured with
respect to certain reference.

3. Pressure variation in a Static Fluid

From the fundamenta l relation between For liquids, it is convenient to take the origin of
the pressure and elevation, the coordinate system at the free surface
we get, (reference level) and to measure distances as
positive downward from the free surface. So,
dP
= −ρ.g with h measured positive downward, we get
dz
For an incompress ible fluid,
zo − z = h
ρ = constant P − Po = ρgh zo
dP h z
= −ρg = constant
dZ
Let Po is the pressure at the reference level Zo ,
From the above equation, it can be seen that
then the pressure p at the location z is found by integration,
the pressure difference between two points in a
P z static fluid can be determined by measuring the
∫ dp = ∫ ρ.g.dz elevation difference between two points.
Po zo
Devices used for this purpose are called
P − Po = ρ.g.( zo − z) manometers.

PA − P = ρ1g(Z B − Z A ) = −ρ 1 .g.h 1
C
PB − PC = ρ 2 g(Z C − Z B ) = ρ 2 .g.h 2 A
Fluid
PA − PC = ρ 2 .g.h 2 − ρ 1 .g.h 1 Fluid h2
h1 density, ρ2
y density, ρ1
If ρ 2 >> ρ1, then B B’
Pgage = ρ 2 .g.h 2

Note: At any two points at the same elevation in a continuous

4. Hydrostatic
volume of the sameForce onatan
liquid are theInclined Plane
same pressure.
Pressure increases as one goes down a liquid column.

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 MEEG301 Fluid Statics Suresh B. Shrestha

Any force between the fluid and the boundary must be acting Legends:
at right angles to the boundary. To determine completely the x = x-coordinate of the elemental strip
resultant force acting on a submerged surface; following y = y-coordinate of the elemental strip
xc= x-coordinate of the centroid of the area
must be known yc= y-coordinate of the centroid of the area
! Magnitude of the force. x’ = x-coordinate of the centre of pressure
! Direction of the force. y’ = y-coordinate of the centre of pressure
! The line of action of the force h = height of the elemental strip from the surface
hc = height of the centroid from the free surface
z →
F R =Resultant Force
→
dA = Area Element
→ x
hc h
dA dF
→ y F
FR dy yc
R
Side View y'
Force between the fluid and the
dx boundary acting at right angles to the
y b d
dA
Cp C x
xc
x'

x-y plane viewed

Pressure Distribution at the plate
from above
y
The total Resultant force acting on an Let r’ is the position vector of the point of application of the
inclined planed submerged in a fluid of resultant force, from an arbitrary origin of coordinates, then
density ρ can be evaluated by the → → → → →
integration of the elemental area of the r' × FR = ∫ r × d F = − ∫ r × P.d A
plate. A
→ → → → → →
→ →
dA = dx.dy. k r' = x' i + y' j and r =x i+y j
→ → → →  → → → → → →
d F = −P.d A (x' i + y' j ) ×  − FR k  = (x i + y j ) × dF = − ∫ (x i + y j ) × P.d A
 
→ →
∴ F R = ∫ − P.d A Evaluating the cross product, we obtain,
A → →  → →
h x' FR j − y' FR i = ∫  xP j − yP i dA
P = Po + ∫ ρgdh A 
Where, 0
∴ y'.FR = ∫ y.P.dA
From the Geometry, A
h = y.sinθ x'.FR = ∫ x.P.dA
∴P = Po+ρgysinθ A
The Point of application of the resultant Where x’ and y’ are the coordinates of the center of pressure.
force must be such that the moment of the
resultant force about any axis is equal to
Note: The Resultant force is the sum of the infinitesimal forces.
the moment of the distributed force about The moment of the resultant force about any axis is equal to
the same axis. the moment of the distributed force about the same axis.

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 MEEG301 Fluid Statics Suresh B. Shrestha

Using the above equations, the magnitude and (ii) Coordinates of the Centre of pressure,
direction of the Resultant force is usually Cp:
determined as follows; Taking moment about x-axis,
y' FR = ∫ y.P.dA
(i) Magnitude of the Resultant, FR: A
y' (Po + ρgh c ) A = ∫ y.(Po + ρgh c ) dA
FR = ∫ P.dA A
A y' PoA + y' ρgh c A = ∫ y.PodA + ρgh c ∫ ydA
FR = ∫ (Po + ρgh)dA A A
A y' PoA + y' ρgh c A − ∫ y.PodA = ρgh c ∫ ydA
FR = ∫ (Po + ρgy sin θ)dA A A
A y' ρgh c A = ρgh c ∫ ydA
FR = ∫ Po dA + ρgsinθ ∫ ydA A
A A
y' ρgsinθ y c A = ρgsinθ ∫ y 2 dA
FR = PoA + ρgsinθ ∫ ydA A
A 2
FR = PoA + ρgsinθy c A ∫ y dA
A
y' =
FR = PoA + ρgh c A yc A
FR = (Po + ρgh c ) A I xx
y' =
FR = Pc A yc A
From Parallel axis theorem,
Where, Pc = Pressure at the location of the
centroid of Area.
I xx = I x 'x ' + Ay c2
Therefore,
(i) This result is valid for any pressure, Po, I x 'x '
at the free surface of the liquid. y' = y c +
Ay c
(ii) If Po acts on both the sides of the Similarly,
surface, then Po makes no contribution
to the net hydrostatic force and it may
I x 'y '
be dropped.
x' = x c +
Ay c

! A static fluid can have no shearing force acting on it, and that
! Any force between the fluid and the boundary must be acting at right angles to the
boundary. This is also true for curved surfaces and any imaginary plane in a static fluid.
! For an element of fluid at rest, the element will be in equilibrium - the sum of the
components of forces in any direction will be zero.
! The sum of the moments of forces on the element about any point must also be zero.

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MEEG301 Fluid Statics Suresh B. Shrestha

Variation of Pressure Vertically In A Equality Of Pressure At The Same Level In A

Fluid Under Gravity Static Fluid
Consider the figure below we can see an Consider the horizontal cylindrical element of fluid in the
element of fluid which is a vertical column of figure below, with cross-sectional area A, in a fluid of
constant cross sectional area, A, surrounded density ρ, pressure P1 at the left hand end and pressure
by the same fluid of mass density ρ. The P2 at the right hand end.
pressure at the bottom of the cylinder is P1 at
level Z1, and at the top is P2 at level Z2. The
fluid is at rest and in equilibrium so all the P1, A ρ P2, A
forces in the vertical direction sum to zero. i.e.
we have,
P2, A

Weight
The fluid is at equilibrium so the sum of the forces acting
in the x direction is zero.
P1.A = P2. A
ρ
Z2 This result is the same for any continuous fluid. It is still
true for two connected tanks which appear not to have
any direct connection, for example consider the tank in
Z1 the figure below.

P1, A
Force due to P1 on A (+ve Z-axis) = P1. A
Force due to P2 on A (-ve Z-axis) = P2. A
Force due to weight of element = m.g Q
P
=ρ.g.A (z2-z1)
Taking upward as positive, in equilibrium we Z1
Z2
have
P1. A - P2. A - ρ.g.A (z2-z1) = 0
P1 - P2 = ρ.g. (z2-z1) The pressures at points P and Q can be shown equal for
P1 - P2 = ρ.g. z the continuous fluid medium.
Thus in a fluid under gravity, pressure PP = PQ
decreases with increase in height z = (z2-z1).

Submerged vertical surface - Pressure diagrams

For vertical walls of constant width it is usually much easier
to find the resultant force and centre of pressure. This is
done graphically by means of a pressure diagram.
Consider the tank in the diagram below having vertical walls
and holding a liquid of density ρ to a depth of H. To the right 2/3H ρgz
can be seen a graphical representation of the (gauge) H
pressure change with depth on one of the vertical walls. R
Pressure increases from zero at the surface linearly by
P = ρ.g.h, to a maximum at the base of P = ρ.g.H ρgh

The area of this triangle represents the resultant force per The force acts through the centroid of the
unit width on the vertical wall, So pressure diagram. For a triangle, the
Area = ½ x base x height centroid is at 2/3 its height, For a vertical
Area = ½ x ρ.g.H x H plane the depth to the centre of pressure is
given by 2/3H.

5. Hydrostatic Force on a curved submerged surface

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 MEEG301 Fluid Statics Suresh B. Shrestha

In a curved surface, the differential

z z = zo
pressure force on each element acts in a
different direction because of surface
curvature. This change in direction makes
→
the evaluation of hydrostatic force on a dAx
dA
curved surface more involved.
dAy y
F
F dAz
R
F
R x
R Figure shows an area element normal to the
Figure shows elemental forces at various curved surface being projected on x, y and z
locations on a curved surface. axes

The Resultant force can be determined for x and y Note:

directions as in the case of an inclined plane on the # The minus sign indicates that a curved
projected planes in these directions. surface with a positive dAz projection is
→ → subjected to a force in the negative z-
d F = −P.d A direction because the liquid lies on the
→ → upper side of the surface.
F R = − ∫ P.d A
A # The line of action of the vertical force
→ → → → component passes through the centre of
F R = FRx i + FRy j + FRx k
gravity of the volume of liquid between the
The components along x and y submerged surface and the free surface of
directions are given by, the liquid.
→ →
FRx = F R . i = − ∫ P.dA x # Resultant hydrostatic force on a curved
Ax submerged surface is specified in terms of
In General, the magnitude of the resultant force its components.
in l direction is given by,
# Components and lines of action can be
FRl = − ∫ P.dA l determined the same way as for the plane-
Al submerged surface.
Where, dA l = projection of area element on a plane
perpendicu lar to l direction. # The line of action of each component of the
For the vertical Component, resultant force is found by using the
equality of the moments of the resultant and
Fz = −ρg∀ the distributed force.

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MEEG301 Fluid Statics Suresh B. Shrestha

6. The second moment of area of some common shapes

The table below gives some examples of the 2nd moment of area about a line through the
centroid of some common shapes.

Shape Area A 2nd moment of area, Ix’x’, about

an axis through the centroid
Rectangle

d x’ x'

bd bd3/12

Triangle

d x’ x' bd/2 bd3/36

b

Circle

x'
R
x'
πR2 πR4/4

Semicircle

x' πR2/2 0.1102/R4

x'
R

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