Fluid Statics

MODULE 2

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The general equation for accelerating fluids is given by:
∂P ∂P ∂P
= −𝜌𝑎𝑥 , = −𝜌𝑎𝑦 , = −𝜌(𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 ) Eq. 1
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 ∂𝑧

where 𝑎𝑥 , 𝑎𝑦 and 𝑎𝑧 are acceleration in the x, y, and z directions.

Consider the liquid in a container moving on a straight path

with constant acceleration, as shown. There is no
movement in the y-direction, and thus the acceleration in
that direction is zero, 𝑎𝑦 = 0. The Eq. 1 reduce to:

∂P ∂P ∂P
= −𝜌𝑎𝑥 , = 0, = −𝜌(𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 ) Eq. 2
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 ∂𝑧

Then the total differential pressure is:

Figure 1. Rigid body motion of a liquid in a
𝑑𝑃 = −𝜌𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝜌 𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑑𝑧 Eq. 3 linearly accelerating tank

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Integrating Eq. 3 from points 1 to 2 as shown Fig. 2,

𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = −𝜌𝑎𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 − 𝜌(𝑔 + 𝑎)(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) Eq. 4

The vertical rise or drop of the free surface at point 2 relative

to point 1 can be determined by choosing both 1 and 2 on the
free surface (so that 𝑃2 = 𝑃1 ), and solving Eq. 4.
𝑎𝑥
∆𝑧𝑠 = 𝑧𝑠2 − 𝑧𝑠1 = − (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 2
where 𝑧𝑠 is the z-coordinate of the liquid’s free surface. The
equation for surfaces of constant pressure, called isobars, is
obtained from Eq. 3 by setting d𝑃 = 0 and replacing 𝑧 by 𝑧𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑟
which is the z-coordinate of the surface as a function of x.

𝑑𝑃 = −𝜌𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝜌 𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑑𝑧 Eq. 3
Figure 2. Lines of constant pressure.
All points at the free surface has the same pressure.
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Surfaces of constant pressure:
𝑑𝑧𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑥
=− = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 Eq. 5
𝑑𝑥 𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧

Isobars (including the free surface) in an incompressible

fluid with constant acceleration in linear motion are parallel
surfaces whose slope is:

𝑑𝑧𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑥
=− = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 = −tan 𝜃 Eq. 6
𝑑𝑥 𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧

Figure 2. Lines of constant pressure.

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EXAMPLE 1
An 80-cm-high fish tank of cross section 2 m x 0.6 m that is initially
filled with water to be transported on the back of a truck. The truck
accelerates from 0 to 90 km/h in 10 s. If it is desired that no water
spills during acceleration, determine the allowable initial water
height in the tank. Would you recommend the tank to be aligned
with the long or short side parallel to the direction motion?

Solution

The road is horizontal during acceleration so that acceleration has

no vertical component (𝑎𝑧 = 0). The truck goes from 0 to 90 km/h
in 10 s, the acceleration of the truck is

∆𝑉 90 − 0 𝑘𝑚/ℎ 1 𝑚/𝑠
𝑎𝑥 = = = 2.5 𝑚/𝑠 2
∆𝑡 10 𝑠 3.6 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
Figure 3. Example 1.

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The tangent of the angle the free surface makes with

the horizontal is.
𝑎𝑥 2.5
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = = = 0.255 (and thus 𝜃 = 14.3)°
𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 9.81 + 0

Figure 3. Example 1.

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The maximum vertical rise of the free surface occurs at the back
of the tank, and the vertical midplane experiences no rise or
drop during acceleration since it is a plane of symmetry.

Case 1: The long side is parallel to the direction of motion:

∆𝑧𝑠 = 𝑏/2 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 2 𝑚/2 𝑥 0.225 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟓 𝒎

Figure 3. Example 1.

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Case 2: The long side is parallel to the direction of motion:

∆𝑧𝑠 = 𝑏/2 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 0.6 𝑚/2 𝑥 0.225 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟕𝟔 𝒎

Figure 3. Example 1.

The orientation of the tank is important in controlling the vertical rise.

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𝑎 = −2.5 𝑚/𝑠 2
EXAMPLE 2
Milk with a density of 1020 kg/m3 is transported on a level
road in a 7-m-long, 3-m-diameter cylindrical tanker. The
tanker is completely filled with milk (no air space), and it
accelerates at 2.5 m/s2. If the minimum pressure in the
tanker is 100 kPa, determine the maximum pressure and
its location. Figure 4. Example 2.

Solution

The horizontal acceleration is in the negative x direction, The first term is due to acceleration in the
and thus 𝑎𝑥 is negative. Also, there is no acceleration in horizontal direction, and the resulting compression
the vertical direction, and thus 𝑎𝑧 = 0. From Eq. 4, effect towards the back of the tanker, while the
second term is simply the hydrostatic pressure
𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = −𝜌𝑎𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 − 𝜌(𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 )(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) that increases with depth. Therefore, the lowest
pressure in the tank will occur at point 1, and the
𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = −𝜌𝑎𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 − 𝜌𝑔(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) higher pressure at point 2.

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𝑎 = −2.5 𝑚/𝑠 2
EXAMPLE 2
Solving for the maximum pressure,
∆𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = −𝜌𝑎𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 − 𝜌𝑔(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )
= −1020[−2.5 7 + 9.81 −3 ]
= 47,868 𝑁/𝑚2 𝑜𝑟 ≅ 𝟒𝟕. 𝟗 𝒌𝑷𝒂
Figure 4. Example 2.
since 𝑥1 = 0, 𝑥2 = 7 𝑚, 𝑧𝑧 = 3 𝑚, 𝑧2 = 0.

The variation of pressure along the horizontal axis is due to acceleration in the horizontal
direction, while the variation of pressure in the vertical axis is due to effects of gravity and
acceleration in the vertical direction (which is zero in this case)
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EXAMPLE 3
A water tank is being towed on an uphill road that makes
20° with the horizontal with a constant acceleration of 5
m/s2 in the direction of motion. Determine the angle the
free surface of water makes with the horizontal. What
would your answer be if the direction of motion were
downward on the same road with the same acceleration?

Solution: Case I: Uphill Motion

The horizontal and vertical components of the acceleration
are:
𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝑎𝑧 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 Figure 5. Example 3 Case I: Uphill motion
𝑎𝑥 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 5 𝑐𝑜𝑠20°
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = = = = 0.4078 → 𝜃 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟐°
𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑔 + 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 9.81 + 5 𝑠𝑖𝑛20°

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EXAMPLE 3
Case II: Downhhill Motion

The direction of motion is reversed, and both 𝑎𝑥 and 𝑎𝑧

are in negative x and z direction, respectively, and thus
become negative quantities.

𝑎𝑥 = −𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝑎𝑧 = −𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑎𝑥 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 −5 𝑐𝑜𝑠20°
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = = = = −0.5801 → 𝜃 = −𝟑𝟎. 𝟏°
𝑔 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑔 + 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 9.81 − 5 𝑠𝑖𝑛20°

Figure 6. Example 3 Case II: Downhill motion

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