Hydrostatics

Fluids Pressure

Week 3
 • Douglas, J. F., Gasiorek, J. M., Swaffiled, J. A. and
Jack, L. B. 2011, Fluid Mechanics, 6th Ed.,
Pearson/Prentice Hall England

• Cengel, A. Y. and Cimbala, J. M. 2014, Fluid

Mechanics Fundamentals and Applications, 2014
Ed., McGraw Hill New York

• Abdul Talib, S., Ahmad, H., Abd Hamid, T. and

References Ariffin, J. 2002, Fluid Mechanics, 2nd Edition,
Penerbit Anda Subang Jaya

• Chang, S.L., Koay, K.C. and Yew, K.L. 2011, Focus

SPM Form Physics, Pelangi Sdn Bhd Selangor

• Bansal, R.K. 2010, A Textbooks on Fluid Mechanics

and Hydraulic Machines, Laxmi Publications, New
Delhi
 Overview
2.1.1 Introduction
2.1.2 Concepts of pressure
2.1.3 Pascal’s law for pressure at a point
2.1.4 Pressure variation in a fluid at rest
2.1.5 Pressure and head
2.1.6 The hydrostatic paradox
2.1.7 Pressure measurement
2.1.8 Hydrostatic forces on plane surface and inclined surface
2.1.9 Hydrostatic thrust on curved surface
2.1.10 Pressure diagram

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Learning Outcomes

Explain the concepts of pressure and pressure difference in static

Explain fluid. (CO1PO1)

Determine pressure head, pressure gauge and absolute pressure.

Determine (CO1PO1, CO2PO2)

Apply the concept of pressure with pressure measurements.

Apply (CO1PO1, CO2PO2)

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2.1 Introduction
• Fluid statics deals with the study of fluids which are not in motion (stationary) – no
shearing stresses and only normal stress i.e. pressure.
• This topic deals with fluids under hydrostatic condition i.e. velocity is zero.

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Recall your physics

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To measure pressure of a
liquid at a particular depth,
consider the liquid column
below.

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Try this

The figure given shows three non-

mixing liquids placed in an enclosed
tank.
a) Calculate the pressure due to the
liquid at point X.
b) Calculate the pressure due to the
liquids at point Y.
c) Calculate the pressure due to the
liquids at point Z.
d) Sketch a graph of pressure, p
against depth, h for h = 0 to 16 m
in the tank.

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2.1.2 Concepts of pressure
• Stress: Force per unit area.
• Normal stress:The normal
component of a force acting on a
surface per unit area.
• Shear stress: The tangential
component of a force acting on a
surface per unit area.
• Pressure: The normal stress in a The normal stress and shear stress at
fluid at rest the surface of a fluid element. For
fluids at rest, the shear stress is zero
and pressure is the only normal stress.
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Pressure: A normal force exerted
140 kg
by a fluid per unit area 70 kg

Afeet=343 cm2

P = 20 kPa P = 40 kPa

P = (70×9.81/1000) kN / 0.0343 m2 = 20 kPa

The normal stress (or “pressure”) on the

feet of a chubby person is much greater
Some than on the feet of a slim person.
basic
pressure
gages.
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• Statics rules apply to fluids at rest, hence, there will be no shearing forces
acting.
• Therefore, all forces exerted between the fluid and a solid boundary must
act at right angles (normal/perpendicular) to the boundary.

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2.1.3 Pascal’s Law for pressure at a point
By considering the equilibrium of a small fluid element below a relationship
can be established between the pressures px in the x-direction, pZ in the y-
direction and pϴ normal to any plane inclined at any angle θ to the horizontal
at this point.

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2.1.4 Pressure variation in a fluid at rest
Figure shows a cylindrical
fluid element of constant
cross sectional area A,
inclined at angle ϴ from the
vertical. There is no shear
acting because the fluid is at
rest.

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Recall your physics

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What is
Patm = 1 atm
atmospheric
Patm = 101kPa
pressure?

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2.1.5 Pressure and head
• Absolute pressure: The actual pressure at a given position. It is measured relative to
absolute vacuum (i.e., absolute zero pressure).
• Gage pressure: The difference between the absolute pressure and the local atmospheric
pressure. Most pressure-measuring devices are calibrated to read zero in the atmosphere,
and so they indicate gage pressure.
• Vacuum pressures: Pressures below atmospheric pressure.

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 Note:
𝑃𝑃𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 𝑃𝑃𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 + 𝑃𝑃𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
Patm = 0 when measuring gauge
pressure (taken as datum)
𝑃𝑃𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 Patm = 101 kPa (typical value) when
measuring absolute pressure.
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Pressure in a liquid at
rest increases linearly
with distance from the
free surface.

In liquid, the elevation

is usually in terms of
depth h and is
measured from the free
surface (downwards).

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Example
• A mountain lake has an average
temperature of 100C and a maximum depth
of 40 m. The barometric pressure is 598
mm Hg. Determine the absolute pressure at
the deepest part of the lake.

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Example
• What are the gauge pressure and absolute pressure at a point 3 m
below the free surface of a liquid having a density of 1.53x103 kg/m3
if the atmospheric pressure is equivalent to 750 mm of mercury? The
specific gravity of mercury is 13.6 and density of water is 1000 kg/m3.

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2.1.6 The hydrostatic
paradox
• From the equation 𝑃𝑃 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌, it is seen that
the pressure exerted by a fluid is dependent
only on the vertical head of fluid and its mass
density ρ; it is not affected by the weight of
the fluid present.
• In figure below the four vessels all have the
same base area A and are filled to the same
height h with the same liquid of density ρ.
• Thus, although the weight of fluid is obviously
different in the four cases, the force on the
bases of the vessels is the same, depending
on the depth h and the base area A.

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2.1.7 Pressure measurement

Fluid pressures can be Some of the common

determined by various devices used are
means and devices barometers,
depending on the piezometers and
types of fluids. manometers.
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2) Piezometers

One end is connected to the

point where pressure to be
measured (in a pipe) and the
other end is open to the
atmosphere.

The rise of liquid gives the

pressure head at point A.

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3) U-tube manometers
• It consists of glass tube bent in U-shape, one end of which is connected
to a point where the pressure is to be measured and the other end
remains open to atmosphere.
• The tube normally contains Hg or any other liquid whose SG is greater
than the SG of the liquid whose pressure is to be measured.

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- 17.658 kPa

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End of Topic 2.1 – Pressure

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