Department of Mechanical &

Manufacturing Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, UPM

LABORATORY REPORT

Course : Mechanical Engineering Laboratory I

Course Code : EMM3822-1
Session : Semester 3 (2021/2022)
Group : A5
Instructor Name : Dr. Sharafiz bin Abdul Rahim
Submission Date : 10 November 2022
Lab Title : Hydrostatic Pressure

Representative Name : KIROSHINI A/P MUNIANDY

Group Members:
Name Matrics No. Contribution
(%)

1. KIROSHINI A/P MUNIANDY 210324 20

2. KIRENRAJ A/L RAJENDRAN 211534 20

3. WU SILONG 209602 20

4. KEVIN SANTANA ANTHONY 211491 20

5. MOGANESH A/L YOGESWARAN 213018 20

 ABSTRACT

In the disciplines of naval architecture and marine engineering, hydrostatic pressure is

one of the most fundamental concepts encountered. However, it is not usually clearly
presented in textbooks, particularly for floating bodies when there are waves. This short
article seeks to dispel any confusion that might exist regarding hydrostatic pressure. At
the air-water interface, atmospheric pressure is properly taken into account, and in the
presence of waves, a consistent definition that balances the views of hydrodynamicists
who use, for example, potential theory and naval architects who do hydrostatic
calculations is conceivable.

1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

BIL. CONTENTS PAGE

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 3

3. EXPERIMENTAL WORK/METHODOLOGY 4

2.1 Description of Experimental Equipment and Materials

2.2 Experimental Set-Up

4. RESULTS 5-8

5. DISCUSSION 8

6. CONCLUSION 9-10

7. REFERENCES 11

8. APPENDIX 12

2
1.0 INTRODUCTION

In several engineering disciplines, such as shipbuilding, dike, weir, and lock

construction, as well as sanitary and building services engineering, hydrostatic pressure
plays a key role. The force applied by a fluid at equilibrium due to gravity is known as
hydrostatic pressure. A hydrostatic fluid is this kind of fluid. Consequently, the goal of
our hydrostatic pressure lab was to ascertain how much pressure water applied on a flat
surface. Connecting the Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus, a balance pan, and a
counterweight will enable this. Hydrostatic forces can be calculated for objects
submerged in a fluid. These forces are generated by the fluid itself and manifest on the
surface of the body. The specific weight of the fluid, the total area, and the depth of the
centroid of the body are all factors in hydrostatic forces, as illustrated in the equation.
The size and position of these forces are very important when designing hydraulic
systems, ships, and other types of constructions. The location of the hydrostatic force
can be determined by computing the coordinates that raise the centre of pressure. The
centre of pressure and the resulting hydrostatic force are more closely related the
deeper the body is submerged in the fluid. As a result, when evaluating the security and
effectiveness of submerged body applications, design engineers must take hydrostatic
pressure into account.

2.0 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Before building a fluid system, it is important to understand hydrostatic force, the

centre of pressure equation, and a device for completing testing.
An area at rest is subjected to hydrostatic pressure when a fluid applies pressure to the
surface due to its weight. There are many different applications for hydrostatic pressure,
therefore it's crucial to understand the equations, as well as how to calculate the centre
of pressure and measure hydrostatic force when it acts on a surface.
the hydrostatic pressure equipment, which measures hydrostatic force. The device's
theory states that the total of moments around the pivot should be zero. The weight of
the masses applied to the left should equal the hydrostatic force moment acting on the
vertical rectangular quadrant. When additional masses are introduced to the system, the
pivot turns to counteract the moment created by the additional mass and bring the
system back into balance with the addition of water to the chamber. A sequence of
equations can be used to calculate the height of water, centre of pressure, hydrostatic
force, and weight of masses, although the formulae for partially or totally submerged
surfaces change.

3
3.0 EXPERIMENTAL WORK/METHODOLOGY

Description of Experimental Equipment and Materials

This experiment made use of the Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus HM 150.05, a water
vessel, a detent, a slider, a stop pin, a water level scale, a rider, weights, and handles.
The Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus HM 150.05 was employed to study hydrostatic
pressure in stationary liquids.At different water levels and degrees of inclination, the
impact of hydrostatic pressure on water may be observed.

Experimental Set-Up Experiment 1: Centre of Pressure with Vertical Positioning of

the Water Vessel

The water vessel was first adjusted to an angle of = 0° using the detent. The rotating
slider mechanism was then counterbalanced to ensure that the stop pin was perfectly
centred in the hole. For the experiment's balance measurement, this step is crucial. The
lever arm was then modified to scale I = 150 mm once the rider was installed. The
attached weights were added before the experiment started, with the weights rising in
2N–8N steps. When the unit achieved balance, which was verified by making sure the
stop pin was centred in the hole, the water vessel was filled with water. The process
was then repeated by measuring the scale I of the lever arm at 160mm and 170mm.

Experiment 2: Centre of Pressure with Water Vessel Tilted

To begin, make sure the water container is angled at a 30° angle and that the revolving
slider unit is counterbalanced with the stop pin in the hole's centre.Following that, the
characteristics values for the active surface's lowest water level, St and also t for the
highest water level, Sh of the active surface.The rider was mounted, the lever arm was
adjusted to a scale of I = 150 mm, and the measurement was conducted. The
associated weights had to be inserted before the experiment could start, and they had
to be raised in steps of 2N to 8N. Water was added to the lever until equilibrium was
obtained, which was established by inserting the stop pin into the hole's centre. The
procedure was repeated with the lever set to a scale of I=160mm and I=170mm
respectively.

4
4.0 RESULT

Experiment 1:Center of pressure with Vertical positioning of the water vessel

Angle α [°]

0°

Lever arm I [mm] Appended weight Water level Distance between

FG[N] reading s [mm] centre of pressure
ID [mm]

150 2 70 176.67

150 4 100 166.67

150 6 126 160.96

150 8 154 158.01

Table 1.1

Angle α [°]

0°

Lever arm I [mm] Appended weight Water level Distance between

FG[N] reading s [mm] centre of pressure
ID [mm]

160 2 71 176.34

160 4 102 166.02

160 6 132 160.16

160 8 160 157.57

Table 1.2

5
 Angle α [°]

0°

Lever arm I [mm] Appended weight Water level Distance between

FG[N] reading s [mm] centre of pressure
ID [mm]

170 2 74 175.34

170 4 106 164.88

170 6 135 159.80

170 8 165 157.24

Table 1.3

Figure 1

6
 Experiment 2: Center of pressure with water Vessel Tilted

Angle a [°] Lowest Water Highest level

Level St [mmWC] reading s[mm]

30°

Lever arm I [mm] Appended weight Water level Distance between

FG[N] reading s [mm] centre of pressure
ID [mm]

150 2 92 169.34

150 4 122 161.57

150 6 145 158.77

150 8 174 156.72

Table 2.1

Angle α [°]

30°

Lever arm I [mm] Appended weight Water level Distance between

FG[N] reading s [mm] centre of pressure
ID [mm]

160 2 94 168.67

160 4 124 161.26

160 6 154 158.01

160 8 182 156.31

Table 2.2

7
 Angle α [°]

30°

Lever arm I [mm] Appended weight Water level Distance between

FG[N] reading s [mm] centre of pressure
ID [mm]

170 2 96 168.00

170 4 128 160.68

170 6 158 157.71

170 8 188 156.03

Table 2.3

Figure 2

8
5.0 DISCUSSION

Based on this experiment, the centre of pressure on plane surface is determined

using a water vessel and its appended weight. For the first experiment, the water vessel
was positioned at an angle, α of 0°. The experiment was conducted three times for three
different lever arm lengths which are 150 mm, 160 mm and 170 mm. For each lever arm
length, the appended weight was added with the increment of 2N, starting from 2N
towards 8N. The water level reading, s, was recorded and the distance between centre
of pressure, ID was calculated following the triangular and trapezoidal profile for each
water level reading recorded.

Referring to Table 1.1, the lever arm length was adjusted to 150 mm and the
appended weight was added with an increment of 2N. The water level readings were 70
mm, 100 mm, 126 mm and 154 mm respectively. The distance between the centre of
pressure, ID calculated was 176.67 mm, 166.67 mm, 160.96 mm and 158.01 mm
accordingly. The step was repeated for the lever arm length of 160 mm and 170 mm.

Referring to Table 1.2, the water level reading, s recorded for the lever arm
length of 160 mm was 71 mm, 102 mm, 132 mm and 160 mm. The distance between
the centre of pressure, ID calculated was 176.34 mm, 166.02 mm, 160.16 mm and
157.57 mm accordingly. Referring to Table 1.3, the water level reading, s was taken for
the lever arm length of 170 mm which was 74 mm, 106 mm, 135 mm and 165 mm. The
distance between the centre of pressure, ID calculated was 175.34 mm, 164.88 mm,
159.80 mm and 157.24 mm accordingly. Figure 1 shows that the distance between the
centre of pressure decreases as the water level reading increases for three different
lever arm length.

Moreover, the distance between the centre of pressure decreases as the length
of lever arm increases. This shows that the length of arm lever plays an important role
in the results. For the second experiment, the water vessel was tilted at an angle of 30°
and the lowest water level reading, st and the highest water level reading, sh was
recorded.

The procedure of Experiment 1 was repeated for Experiment 2. Referring to

Table 2.1, the water level reading, s for the lever arm length of 150 mm was 92 mm, 122
mm, 145 mm and 174 mm for every 2N increment of appended weight. The distance
between centre of pressure was 169.34 mm, 161.57 mm, 158.77 mm and 156.72 mm
accordingly. Referring to Table 2,2, the first reading for water level for the 160mm length
of lever arm was 94 mm and continues with 124 mm, 154 mm and 182 mm while the

9
reading for distance between the centre of pressure starts from 168.67 mm and
continues with 161.26 mm, 158.01 mm and 156.31 mm.

Referring to Table 2.3, the last length lever which was 170mm starts with the
reading of water level of 96 mm, 128 mm, 158 mm and 188 mm. The reading for the
distance between the centre of pressure is 168.00 mm, 160.68 mm, 157.71 mm and
156.03 mm.Additionally, Figure 2 demonstrates how, for three different lever arm
lengths, the distance between the centre of pressure reduces as the water level
measurement rises. The only variable that differs between the outcomes of Experiment
1 and Experiment 2 is the angle of arm level, which goes from 0° to 30°. According to
the findings in Figures 1 and 2, the 30° arm lever reads the water level higher than the
0° arm lever, while the reading for the distance between the centre of pressure is lower.
There is a chance that something may go wrong in this experiment and the reading will
be distorted.The sensitivity of the counterbalance reading is one of the flaws found. The
fact that the reading line has such a wide gap might lead to some errors when
determining the water level. In addition, because the stop pin is not exactly in the
centre, the reading may contain some mistake. Depending on how slightly the water
injected exceeds the limit or if someone shakes the table where the device is
positioned, the stop pin may move to the left or to the right. While the experiment has
been underway, various human mistakes have taken place, such the eyes not being
parallel when reading the height of the water.This may be avoided by running the
experiment again with different sets and averaging the results to improve accuracy.

10
6.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this experiment can be used to determine the hydrostatic force acting on
the water vessel when it is vertically positioned at 0 and the hydrostatic force acting on
the tilted vessel when it is at a 30 degree angle. However, it is simpler to determine the
centre of pressure for the vertically positioned water vessel than the tilted vessel. The
outcome shows that, for vertical orientation, the centre of pressure on the flat surface
that is partially submerged is inversely proportional to the height of the fluid (water) in
the chamber. Aside from that, the distance between the pressure centre reduces while
the weight and water level in the chamber increase in direct proportion to each other as
the weight increases. In tilting water containers, the water level and weight are also
proportionate; as the weight increases, the water level in the chamber increases as well.
The distance of the lever arm is inversely proportional to the value of the water level
reading. During the experiment, a number of human errors have taken place, like the
eyes not being parallel when reading the height of the water. The balancing bridge arm
was splashed with rainwater when it was raining. These errors could be one of the
factors affecting the outcome.

7.0 REFERENCES

• Habib Ahmari and Shah Md Applied Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual. Retrieved from
https://uta.pressbooks.pub/appliedfluidmechanics/chapter/experiment-1/

• Cengel, Y.A. & Cimbala. J.M. (2018). Fluid Mechanics: Fundamental and Application.
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education

11
8.0 APPENDIX

12