Thermofluids Lab – MEC454 / LS1/ Rev.

02-2016

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN
MEKANIKAL

Program : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical (EM220)

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing) (Hons)
(EM221) Course : THERMOFLUIDS LAB
Course Code : MEC454

Course Outcome:
CO1 Conduct each experiment correctly through established procedures and good record keeping.
[PO1, LO1, SS1]{C2}.
CO2 Analyze the basic experimental data accordingly as required by each experiment [PO2,
LO3, SS1]{C4}.
CO3 Produce a basic technical report for each experiment in a structured format and
professional manner [PO9, LO4, SS2]{A2}.
CO4 Work in a group as a leader or as a member [PO10, LO9, SS3]{A4}.

LAB SHEET NO: 1

TITLE: HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON PLANE SURFACES

1.0 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are:
1. to determine experimentally the magnitude of the force of pressure (hydrostatic force) and its
point of action (centre of pressure) on a plane surface,
2. to compare the experimental results with the theoretical values.
 Thermofluids Lab – MEC454 / LS1/ Rev. 02-2016

2.0 APPARATUS

(6) (4) (3) (2)

(α)
(1)

(5)

(7)

(1) : Water vessel (5) : Water surface

(2) : Detent (6) : Rider
(3) : Rotating slider (7) : Appended weight
(4) : Stop pin (α) : Angle measurement

3.0 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Consider a plane surface submerged in a liquid as shown below.

Free surface of liquid O


h1

h
h2

y1

y G
y2
y
 Thermofluids Lab – MEC454 / LS1/ Rev. 02-2016

Total pressure

It is the resultant force exerted by a static fluid on a surface when the fluid comes in contact with the
surface. It is also called hydrostatic force.

F  g (1)

where
F is the total pressure (hydrostatic force) ρ is
the mass density of the liquid,
g is the gravitational acceleration,
A is the submerged area of the plane surface,
h is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centroid of the
submerged plane surface ( h  y sin  ).

Centre of pressure

It is the point of application of the total pressure (hydrostatic force) on the surface.

2
sin 
h  h (2)
hA

where

h* is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centre of

pressure,
IG is the moment of inertia of the plane surface about its centroid G.

Notes:
For a rectangle surface:

3
bh
 IG x  12 (3)
 Thermofluids Lab – MEC454 / LS1/ Rev. 02-2016

O

 h1

y1 h*
h2

y*

y2
F

Calculation of hydrostatic force and centre of pressure from experimental data

Case: Triangular profile of pressure distribution

2
hs *  (4)
L O
F  L FG
 (5)


FG s  s2  (6)
s2
h*  200 s
s (7)
200 mm F s/3
s1
3cos

L, , s, and h* in mm

Case: Trapezoidal profile of pressure distribution

h*  (  200 ) cos  s (8)

L O L
F FG (5)


FG s2 s  s2  s1 (6)
h* 2
s (100 )
 150   s
12   50 (9)
200 mm F s1 

 cos  
L, , s, and h* in mm
 Thermofluids Lab – MEC454 / LS1/ Rev. 02-2016

4.0 METHOD OF APPROACH

Part A: Vertical plane surface (α = 0º)

Counterbalancing the water vessel
1. Set the water vessel (1) to an angle of α = 0º using the detent (2).
2. Counterbalance the unit with the rotating slider (3). The stop pin (4) must be precisely in the
middle of the hole.

Note: Remove water, the appended weight (7) and the rider (6) during this
counterbalancing process.

Measurement
1. Set the lever arm to any position. Record the lever arm (the distance from the rider to the
centre of rotation of the water vessel).
2. Place the appended weight (7) and record the value.
3. Add water into the water vessel (1) until the unit is balanced (until the stop pin (4) is at the
centre of the hole). Record the level of water (5) in the vessel.
4. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for at least 5 values of appended weight.

Part B: Inclined plane surface (α ≠ 0º)

1. Repeat steps 1 and 2 of the counterbalancing process for a different angle (α ≠ 0º).
2. Repeat steps 3 to 6 of part A for measurement.

5.0 DATA AND CALCULATION

1. Put the data obtained in the tables. Calculate the remaining parameters using formula given in
the theoretical part (equations (4) to (9)).
2. Calculate the hydrostatic forces and the centers of pressure for both part A and part B
theoretically using equations (1) and (2).

6.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Compare the experimental and theoretical values obtained and comment.

7.0 REPORT

Each group must submit a report no later than one week after the experiment. The report must contain
at least:
1. Cover page
2. Typed introduction, theoretical background, procedures, data and tables (to be done by the
group)
3. Discussion, conclusion and references (to be done individually in the same report)
4. Appendix: Hand written raw data taken during the experiment and signed by the
lecturer (or lab. technician) after the experiment.

NEW EDITION: 26 JULY 2006 BY PROF. MADYA DR. WIRACHMAN WISNOE

REVISION 1: 2014
 Thermofluids Lab – MEC454 / LS1/ Rev. 02-2016

REVISION 2: 7 MARCH 2016 BY PROF. DR. WIRACHMAN WISNOE

 Thermofluids Lab – MEC454 / LS1/ Rev. 02-2016

Part A:  = 0o

Lever Arm Appended Weight Water level Centre of pressure Hydrostatic Force
No.
L (mm) FG (N) s1 (mm) s2 (mm) s (mm) (mm) h* (mm) F (N)
1
2
3
4
5

Part B:  =

Lever Arm Appended Weight Water level Centre of pressure Hydrostatic Force
No.
L (mm) FG (N) s1 (mm) s2 (mm) s (mm) (mm) h* (mm) F (N)
1
2
3
4
5

Signature of Lecturer or Lab. Technician:

Date: