DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Mechanics of Fluid Laboratory Manual

EXPERIMENT 8: DETERMINING CENTER OF PRESSURE IN A VERTICAL

VESSEL

8.1. Student Outcomes (SOs) Addressed by the Activity

a. ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
b. ability to function on multidisciplinary teams

8.2. Activity’s Intended Learning Outcomes (AILOs)

At the end of this experiment the student shall be able to:
a. Describe how the hydrostatic pressure apparatus works
b. Compute for the hydrostatic/lateral force acting on a vertical vessel
c. Compare the computed actual value of hydrostatic/lateral force from the hydrostatic
pressure apparatus to the valuethat can be computed using the hydrostatic force
formula

8.3. Objectives of the Activity

The objective of this activity is to:
a. Determine the center of pressure in a vertical surface of the hydrostatic pressure
apparatus; and the moment arms of the counter weight and the hydrostatic force/lateral
force
b. Calculate the hydrostatic/lateral force acting on the vertical vessel of the hydrostatic
pressure apparatus and compare it with the value that can be computed using the
hydrostatic force formula

8.4. Principle of the Activity

The computation of hydrostatic forces exerted on a plane surface is one of the most important
applications of fluid static. It is of most importance in quantifying the forces that will be exerted
upon both the natural and man-made structures.

The computation of hydrostatic forces on plane surfaces requires the integration of the normal stress
over the surface in question. Since the surface is planar, the resultant force is normal or
perpendicular to the surface with a magnitude equal to the pressure multiply with the area. Below
is the formula for determining the hydrostatic force acting on a plane surface.

𝐹 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

Determining the center of pressure for water level s < 100 mm

1
𝑒= 𝑠
6

1
𝐼𝐷 = 200𝑚𝑚 − 𝑠
3

Figure 8.1:Determining the center of pressure when s < 100 mm

Determining the center of pressure for water level s > 100 mm

1 (100𝑚𝑚)2
𝑒= 𝑥
12 𝑠 − 50𝑚𝑚

𝐼𝐷 = 150𝑚𝑚 + 𝑒

sis the water level

e is the distance of center of pressure from the center of force of the active surface
ID is the moment arm of the hydrostatic force from the hinge

Figure 8.2:Determining the center of pressure when s > 100 mm

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

To get the hydrostatic force

𝑓 𝑥 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑊 𝑥 𝐼

f is the hydrostatic force acting on the active surface

W is the counter weight
I is the moment arm of the counter weight from the hinge

8.5. Materials/Equipment
1 unit Hydrostatic pressure apparatus
1 unit Water
1 Set Weights

8.6. Procedures
1. Set the water level vessel to an angle of 0O using the detent.
2. Counterbalance the unit with the rotating slider. The top pin must be precisely in the
middle of the hole.
3. Fill the vessel with the desired amount of water. (First three trials should be below
100 mm and the last three trials should be above 100 mm).
4. Mount the rider and set the lever arm on the scale. Attach weights until the apparatus
is balance.
5. Calculate the hydrostatic force acting on the vertical surface and compare it using the
hydrostatic force formula.

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

8.7. Activity Report

Group No.: Course:

Group Section:
Members: Activity No.:
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:

8.7.1. Data and Results

Table 8.1: Data of hydrostatic forces when s < 100 mm

ID I Weights fACTUAL fTHEORETICAL
Trial Water Level % error
(m) (m) (N) (N) (N)
1 54mm 0.182 0.185 1 1.016 1.073 5.31
2 66mm 0.178 0.144 2 1.618 1.602 0.999
3 86mm 0.17133 0.186 2.5 2.714 2.721 0.25

Table 8.2: Data of hydrostatic forces when s > 100 mm

ID I Weights fACTUAL fTHEORETICAL
Trial Water Level % error
(m) (m) (N) (N) (N)
1 116mm 0.16263 0.219 3.5 4.71 4.86 3.09
2 140mm 0.15926 0.194 5.5 6.699 6.623 1.15
3 170mm 0.15694 0.25 5.5 8.761 8.829 0.77

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

Computation:

S<100mm

Trial 1

1
𝐼𝐷 = 200𝑚𝑚 − 𝑠
3

1
𝐼𝐷 = 200𝑚𝑚 − (54)
3
=182mm

𝑓𝑎 𝑥 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑊 𝑥 𝐼

𝑓𝑎 𝑥 182𝑥10^ − 3 = 1 𝑥 18.5𝑥10^ − 2
𝑓𝑎 = 1.016 𝑁

𝐹𝑇 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
54𝑥10−3
𝐹𝑇 = 9810 ( ) (75𝑥10−3 𝑥54𝑥10−3 )
2
𝐹𝑇 = 1.07 𝑁

𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 −𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕
% error= 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐

𝟏.𝟎𝟕𝟑−𝟏.𝟎𝟏𝟔
% error = 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟏.𝟎𝟕𝟑
=5.31

Trial 2

1
𝐼𝐷 = 200𝑚𝑚 − 𝑠
3

1
𝐼𝐷 = 200𝑚𝑚 − (66)
3
=178mm

𝑓𝑎 𝑥 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑊 𝑥 𝐼

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𝑓𝑎 𝑥 178𝑥10^ − 3 = 2𝑥 14.4𝑥10^ − 2
𝑓𝑎 = 1.618 𝑁

𝐹𝑇 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
66𝑥10−3
𝐹𝑇 = 9810 ( ) (75𝑥10−3 𝑥66𝑥10−3 )
2
𝐹𝑇 = 1.602 𝑁

𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 −𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕
% error= 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐

𝟏.𝟔𝟎𝟐−𝟏.𝟔𝟏𝟖
% error = 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟏.𝟔𝟎𝟐
=0.999

Trial 3

1
𝐼𝐷 = 200𝑚𝑚 − 𝑠
3

1
𝐼𝐷 = 200𝑚𝑚 − (86)
3
=182mm

𝑓𝑎 𝑥 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑊 𝑥 𝐼

𝑓𝑎 𝑥 171.33𝑥10^ − 3 = 2.5 𝑥 18.6𝑥10^ − 2

𝑓𝑎 = 2.714𝑁

𝐹𝑇 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
86𝑥10−3
𝐹𝑇 = 9810 ( ) (75𝑥10−3 𝑥86𝑥10−3 )
2
𝐹𝑇 = 2.72𝑁

𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 −𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕
% error= 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐

𝟐.𝟕𝟐𝟏−𝟐.𝟕𝟏𝟒
% error = 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟐.𝟕𝟐𝟏
=0.25

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

s>100
Trial 1

1 (100𝑚𝑚)2
𝑒= 𝑥
12 𝑠 − 50𝑚𝑚
1 (100𝑚𝑚)2
𝑒= 𝑥
12 116 − 50𝑚𝑚

𝑒 = 12.626

𝐼𝐷 = 150𝑚𝑚 + 𝑒
𝐼𝐷 = 150𝑚𝑚 + 12.626
𝐼𝐷 = 162.63

100
ℎ̅ = 16 +
2
ℎ̅= 66mm

𝑓 𝑥 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑊 𝑥 𝐼
𝑓 𝑥 162.63 = 3.5 𝑥 21.9𝑥10^ − 2
𝑓 = 4.71 𝑁

𝐹𝑇 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
𝐹𝑇 = 9810(66𝑥10−3 )(100𝑥10−3 𝑥75𝑥10−3 )
𝐹𝑇 = 4.86 𝑁

𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 −𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕
% error= 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐

𝟒.𝟖𝟔−𝟒.𝟕𝟏
% error = 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟒.𝟖𝟔
=3.09

Trial 2

1 (100𝑚𝑚)2
𝑒= 𝑥
12 𝑠 − 50𝑚𝑚
1 (100𝑚𝑚)2
𝑒= 𝑥
12 140 − 50𝑚𝑚

𝑒 = 9.259

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

𝐼𝐷 = 150𝑚𝑚 + 𝑒
𝐼𝐷 = 150𝑚𝑚 + 9.529
𝐼𝐷 = 159.56

ℎ̅ = 50 + 40
ℎ̅= 90mm

𝑓 𝑥 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑊 𝑥 𝐼
𝑓 𝑥 159.56 = 5.5 𝑥 19.4𝑥10−2

𝑓 = 6.699 𝑁

𝐹𝑇 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
𝐹𝑇 = 9810(90𝑥10−3 )(100𝑥10−3 𝑥75𝑥10−3 )
𝐹𝑇 = 6.623 𝑁

𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 −𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕
% error= 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐

𝟔.𝟔𝟐𝟑−𝟔.𝟔𝟗𝟗
% error = 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟔.𝟔𝟐𝟑
=1.15

Trial 3

1 (100𝑚𝑚)2
𝑒= 𝑥
12 𝑠 − 50𝑚𝑚
1 (100𝑚𝑚)2
𝑒= 𝑥
12 170 − 50𝑚𝑚

𝑒 = 6.94

𝐼𝐷 = 150𝑚𝑚 + 𝑒
𝐼𝐷 = 150𝑚𝑚 + 6.94
𝐼𝐷 = 156.94

ℎ̅ = 50 + 70
ℎ̅= 120mm

𝑓 𝑥 𝐼𝐷 = 𝑊 𝑥 𝐼
𝑓 𝑥 (156.94𝑥10−3 ) = 5.5 𝑥 25𝑥10−2
𝑓 = 8.761 𝑁

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

𝐹𝑇 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
𝐹𝑇 = 9810(120𝑥10−3 )(100𝑥10−3 𝑥75𝑥10−3 )
𝐹𝑇 = 8.829 𝑁

𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 −𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕
% error= 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒇𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐

𝟖.𝟖𝟐𝟗−𝟖.𝟕𝟔𝟏
% error = 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟖.𝟖𝟐𝟗
=0.77

OBSERVATION/CONCLUSION:

In the experiment we conducted, the purpose of it is to determine the center of pressure in

a vertical surface of the hydrostatic pressure apparatus and the moment arms of the counter
weight and the hydrostatic force/lateral force. Also, calculating the hydrostatic/lateral force acting
on the vertical vessel of the hydrostatic pressure apparatus and compare it with the value that can
be computed using the hydrostatic force formula. The formula will be a magnitude equal to the
pressure multiply with the area.

I can say that, the hydrostatic pressure will not be that high because the instrument was
tilted below the moment arm. In able to perform the experiment, first set the water level vessel to
an angle of 0 degrees using the detent. Then, Counterbalance the unit with the rotating slider. The
top pin must be precisely in the middle of the hole. Next, Fill the vessel with the desired amount
of water. After that, mount the rider and set the lever arm on the scale. Attach weights until the
apparatus is balance. Lastly, calculate the hydrostatic force acting on the vertical surface and
compare it using the hydrostatic force formula. The laboratory is appropriate to perform the
experiment because it is spacious. When it comes to precautions, just be careful to the hydrostatic
pressure apparatus and weights. The weights are heavy enough to break the tiles and hurt your
foot when it fell.

After the experiment we conducted, I must say that they have different hydrostatic
pressures due to its water level. According to the data we gathered,as the water level gets higher
the higher hydrostatic force you will get.By following the procedures above, we are also able to

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017

perform the experiment keenly and carefully. In performing this experiment, you must be patient
and meticulous in reading the results because it might lead you to parallax that affects you in
gathering inconsistency of data.

8.8. References

Franzini, J. B., &Finnemore, E. J. (2002). Fluid mechanics with engineering applications

(10thed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Hydrostatic Pressure in Liquids (2014). Retrieved from

http://www.gunt.de/networks/gunt/sites/s1/mmcontent/produktbilder/07015005/Datenblatt/07015
005%202.pdf

REVISION STATUS/DATE 1/November 2017