28-Oct-24

Fluid Mechanics-I
Lecture-3
Course Instructor:
Engr Zeeshan Akbar Mahar

FLUID PRESSURE
The pressure of a fluid is measured in two systems:
i. Above vacuum or absolute zero (Absolute pressure)
ii. Above atmospheric pressure (Gauge pressure)
Absolute Pressure
Pressure measured w.r.t vacuum or absolute zero as reference is
known as Absolute Pressure.
Gauge Pressure
Pressure measured w.r.t atmospheric pressure as reference is
known as Gauge Pressure. It is measured by instruments.
Atmospheric pressure is marked as “ZERO”
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FLUID PRESSURE
Vacuum Pressure
The amount of pressure below atmospheric pressure is called
Vacuum Pressure.

𝑃 =𝑃 +𝑃
𝑃 =𝑃 −𝑃
𝑃 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑠 101325 𝑃𝑎,
101.325𝑘𝑃𝑎, 14.7𝑝𝑠𝑖

Example 3.1
What are the gauge and absolute pressure at a point 3m the free surface of a liquid
having a density of 1.53𝑥10 𝑘𝑔/𝑚 , If the atmospheric pressure is equivalent of 750
mm of Hg? Sp. gr. of Hg is 13.6 and density of water is 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚 ?

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"Education is not the learning of

PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
Two types of devices are used for pressure measurement:
i. Manometers
ii. Mechanical Gauges
1. Manometers:
Amount of pressure at a point in a column of fluid balanced by
same of another column of fluid.
i. Simple manometers
ii. Differential manometers

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PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
2. Mechanical Gauges:
Amount of pressure at a point in a column of fluid balanced by
spring resistance or dead weight.
i. Diaphragm pressure gauge,
ii. Burdon tube pressure gauge,
iii. Dead-weight pressure gauge, and
iv. Bellows pressure gauge.

PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
a. Simple Manometers:
It consists of simple glass tube having one of its end is connected
to the point where pressure is to be measured and the other end
is open to atmosphere.
It has further 3 types:
i. Piezometer,
ii. T-tube meter, and
iii. Single column manometer.

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PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
i. Piezometer:
A piezometer is a device used for measuring fluid pressure in a
closed conduit or pipe. It consists of a small tube inserted into
the fluid whose pressure is to be measured.
The tube is typically open at one end and connected to a
pressure gauge or manometer at the other end.
The fluid pressure exerted on the open end of the tube causes the
fluid to rise within the tube to a height proportional to the
pressure.

PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
i. Piezometer:
This height can then be measured using a scale or a gauge,
providing an indication of the fluid pressure at that point in the
system.
Piezometers are commonly used in various engineering and
scientific applications to monitor fluid pressures in systems such
as pipelines, wells, and reservoirs.

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PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
ii. U-Tube Manometer:
A U-tube manometer is a type of pressure measuring device
consisting of a U-shaped tube partially filled with a liquid,
typically a manometer fluid such as mercury, water, or oil. The U-
tube manometer is used to measure the pressure difference
between two points in a system.
The pressure exerted by the fluid in the system causes the liquid
in the U-tube to rise on one side and fall on the other side. The
difference in liquid levels between the two sides of the U-tube is
directly proportional to the pressure difference between the two
points in the system.
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PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
For gauge pressure:

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Example 3.2
The right limb of a simple U-tube manometer containing mercury is open to the
atmosphere while the lift limb is connected to a pipe in which a fluid of specific gravity 0.9
is flowing. The center of the pipe is 12 cm below the level of mercury in the right limb.
Evaluate the pressure of fluid flowing in the pipe if the difference of mercury level in the two
limbs is 20 cm.

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Example 3.3
A simple U-tube manometer containing mercury is connected to a pipe in which a fluid of
specific gravity 0.8 and having a vacuum is flowing. The other end of the manometer is
open to the atmosphere. Find the vacuum pressure in the pipe if the difference of mercury
level in the two limbs is 40 cm and the height of the fluid in the left limb from the center of
the pipe is 15 cm below.

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PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
b. Differential Manometers:
It consists of simple glass tube having both of its ends connected
to the points where pressure difference is to be measured.
U-Tube Differential Manometer

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Example 3.4
A differential manometer is connected at two points A and B of two pipes as shown.
The pipe A contains a liquid of Specific gravity 1.5, While pipe B contains a liquid of
specific gravity 0.9. The pressures at A and B are 1 kgf/cm² and 1.8 kgf/cm² respectively.
Find the difference in mercury level (h) in the differential manometer.

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