UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

KAMPUS SAMARAHAN 2
FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING (EC110)
BASIC HYDRAULICS (ECW 321)
EC1104D
NAME

METRIC NO.

NUR AMYRA HIDAYAH BINTI AMIRUL

ZUBIR BIN SHIBLI

20132233456
2013651848

MOHAMMAD SYAFIQ AKMAL BIN ABDULLAH

2013431936

NORHAZERAH BINTI YUSSOP

NUR HAFIZAN BINTI ASMAIL
AMIRUL SIRAJ MUNIR BIN JAMALARIFFIN @ ZAINAL
LECTURERS NAME: MDM MAUREEN NEGING
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 00 JANUARY 2015

TITTLE
Experiment on centre of pressure

2013251252
2013617608
2013624964

OBJECTIVE
To determine the hydrostatic thrust acting on a plane surface immersed in water and the
position of centre of pressure.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
The effect of hydrostatic pressure is major significant in many area of engineering, such as
shipbuilding, the construction of dykes,weirs and locks, and in sanitary and building services
engineering.
With the Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus the following key topic can be investigated in
experiment:

Pressure distribution in a liquid taking into account gravity

Lateral force of the hydrostatic pressure
Centre of pressure of the lateral force

The hydrostatic pressure of liquid is the gravitational pressure

intrinsic weight as the depth t increase, and is calculated from:

Phyd

.g.t

(6.1)

Density of water

g Acceleration due to gravity (g= 9.81 m/ s 2

t Distance from liquid surface

hyd .

It rises due to the

To calculate force acting on masonry dam or ships hulls, for example, hydrostatic pressure,
two step are required:

Reduce the pressure load on an active surface down to a resultant force

F p , which

is applied at appoint of application of force, the centre of pressure , vertical to the

active surface.
Determine the position of this centre of pressure by determine a planar centre of force
on the active surface.

It is demonstrated how the centre of pressure can be determined. The resultant force

Fp

is

then calculate.

Determine the Centre of Pressure

A linear pressure profile is acting on acting on the active surface shown, because
The hydrostatic pressure rises proportional to the depth t.
The resultant force

Fp

is therefore not applied at the centre of force C of active surface,

but always slightly below it, at the so-called centre of pressure D. To determine the distance e
of pressure from the planar centre of force, the following model demonstration is used:

Imagine an area A in front of the active surface, formed by the height h and the pressure
profile of the hydrostatic pressure p1 p2 . This area is in the form of a trapezium.
The centre of pressure D lies on the extension of the planar centre of force of this area A. A
can be broken down into partial areas A 1 and A 2 . The respective planar centres of force
are identified by black dots.

A balance of moment between the areas is then established around the point O1 in order to
find common planar centre of force (dynamic effect in direction F p ):

O
h
M (1) = 0:A. ( + e =
2

h
2h
A1 . + A2 .
2
3

(6.2)
Where
A 1= p1. h

(6.3)

p2 p
.h
2
A2=
1

(6.4)

A1+ A2

A=

(6.5)

The result is:

p2+ p
p2 p

1
h.
6
1

e=

(6.6)

With the hydrostatic pressure

h
P2=gcos .( y c + )
2

(6.7)

h
P1=gcos .( y c + )
2

(6.8)

The result is:

e=

1 h2
.
12 y c
(6.9)

e is the distance of the centre of pressure from the

force of the active surface which we are looking for.

Determining the Resultant Force

The hydrostatic pressure acting on the active surface can be represented as resultant force
F p of which the line of application leads through the centre of pressure D. The size of this
resultant force correspond to the hydrostatic pressure at the planar centre of force C of the
active surface:

pc = . g . t

(6.10)

pc = Hydrostatic pressure at the planar centre of force of the active

Surface
t c = Vertical distance of the planar centre of force from the surface of
the liquid

In visual terms, the pressure at the planar centre of force corresponds to precisely the mean
value between the highest and lowest pressure, because the linear pressure distribution. If the
wall titled by an angle :
pc = . g . cos . y c
The resultant force

Fp

(6.11)
can now be calculated:

F p =p c . Aactive

(6.12)

CENTRE OF PRESSURE WITH VERTICAL POSITIONING OF THE WATER

VESSEL
3.1 Apparatus
i.
Hydraulic Bench
ii.
The Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus
iii.
A set of weights
3.2 PROCEDURE
3.2.1 Counterbalancing the Water Vessel
1. The water vessel was set to an angle of x=0O using the detent.
2. The rider was mounted, the lever arm on the scale was set at any position.
3. The unit was counterbalanced with the rotation slider. The stop pin was ensure to be
precisely in the middle of the hole.

3.2.2. Performing the Measurement

1. The water is top up until the unit was balanced.
2. The water level, s was read off and record it in the prepared worksheet.
3. The appended weights was increased in increments of 0.5-1N and repeat the
measurement.

3.2.3 Evaluating the experiment

Measured value:
S-water level reading
I-Lever arm of the force due to weight
FG-Force due to weight of the appended weight

3.2.3 Determine the centre of pressure

At a water level s, below the 100 mm mark, the height of the active surface changes with the
water level.The height of the active surface is always 100 mm if the water level is above that
mark.
Meaning:
s - Water level
e - Distance of centre of pressure D from planar centre of force C of the active surface
lD - Distance to centre of motion of the unit:
For a water level s < 100 mm:
(Pressure has a triangular profile)

e=

1
.
6 s
(6.13)
1
3 .S

ID = 200mm -

(6.14)

For a water level s > 100 mm:

(Pressure has a trapezoidal profile)

e=

1
12

(100 mm)
s50 mm

(6.15)
ID = 150mm + e

3.2.4 Determining the Resultant Force

The resultant force corresponds to the hydrostatic pressure at the planar centre of force C of
the active surface. Thus, the height of water level, s must again be differentiated:

Meaning:
Aac t - Superficial content of active surface
b (width of liquid vessel) = 75mm
Pc - Hydrostatic pressure at planar centre of force
Fp- Resultant force for hydrostatic pressure on active surface

For s < 100mm:

(Triangular profile)
s
Pc = . g. 2

and Aact = s. b

(6.17)

For s > 100mm:

(Trapezoidal profile)
Pc = . g(s-50mm) and Aact=100mm. b

(6.18)

The resultant force is produced as

FP = Pc . Aact

3.2.5 Balance of Moment

(6.19)

Calculated variables:
FG - appended weight
I - Lever arm of appended weight referred to centre of motion O.
To check the theory, a balance of moments around the centre of motion O can be established
and checked:
M (O) =0: FGI= FPID

CENTRE OF PRESSURE WITH WATER VESSEL TILTED

3.1 APPARATUS
i.
ii.
iii.

Hydraulic Bench
The Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus
A set of weights

3.2 PROCEDURE
3.2.1 Counterbalancing the Water Vessel
1. an angle and counterbalancing the unit with a rotating slider, the top pin must be
precisely in the middle of the hole for this is set.
2. The characteristic values in the prepared worksheet of the lowest water s 1 and
highest water level s1 of the active surface is recorded.

1.2.1 Performing the Measurement

3. Top up with water until the unit is balanced (stop pin at centre of hole)
4. The water level is read off and entered it in the prepared worksheet.
5. The appended weights is increased in increments 0.5N-1.0N and the measurement is
repeated.

1.2.2 Evaluating the experiment

The different between evaluation of the tilted vessel and that of the vertical vessel lied in the
translation of the water levels onto the tilled active surface. A factor cos must be taken into
account here.

3.2.3 Determine the centre of procedure

When the water vessel is at a tilt, too, a triangular pressure profile is produced when the water
level is below s2 above that level a trapezoidal profile is produced.
Measured values:
S - Water level reading
- Tilt angle of vessel
Meaning:
SL- Water level at lowest point of vessel
SH- Water level at active surface at rim
e- Position of centre of surface
h- Height of active surface
ID- Distance between centres of pressure/centre of motion

For a water level s < sh a triangular profile as follows applies:

sst
h = cos (6.21)
1
e = 6 h( 6.22)
1
Ip = 200mm - 3 h(6.23)

For a water level s> sh a trapezoidal profile as follows applies:

100 mm 2

e=
(6.24)
1
.
12
Ip = 150mm + e (6.25)

3.2.4 Determining the Resultant Force

Meaning:
Aact Superficial content of active surface
b (width of liquid vessel) = 75mm
Pc- Hydrostatic pressure at planar centre of force of active surface
Forc s <sh with h from 2.3:
Pc = g

sst
and Aact= h .b
2

(6.26)

For s < sh the trapezoidal profile as follow as applies:

Pc =

SSt50 mm . cos
)
. g .

(6.27)

Aac t = 100mm .b

(6.28)

The result force is produced as:

Fp = Pc Aact

(6.29)

3.2.5 Balance of moments

The result can be checked with the balance of moments, as described in section 1.5

DATA
Worksheet for Centre of Pressure
Angle,

( 0) = 00

Lowest water level, st (mmWC) = 0 mm

Highest water level, sh (mmWC) = 90 mm

Lever arm,
(mm)

Appended
weight, FG (N)

Water level reading,

S (mm)

Calculated lever
arm, D (mm)

Resultant force,
Fp (N)

150

0.832

24

192.00

0.212

150

0.834

40

186.67

0.589

150

0.842

54

182.00

1.072

150

0.847

64

178.67

1.507

150

0.852

74

175.33

2.015

150

0.856

82

172.67

2.474

150

0.861

90

170.00

2.980

Table 1

Worksheet for data acquisition

Angle,

( 0) = 100

Lowest water level, st (mmWC) = 60 mm

Highest water level, sh (mmWC) = 136mm

Lever arm,
(mm)

Appended
weight, FG (N)

Water level reading,

S (mm)

Calculated lever
arm, D(mm)

Resultant force,
Fp (N)

260

0.832

60

180.37

1.26

260

0.834

76

174.95

2.05

260

0.842

88

170.89

2.76

260

0.847

101

166.49

3.66

260

0.852

112

162.77

4.52

260

0.856

124

158.70

5.57

260

0.861

136

154.64

6.71

Table 2

DISCUSSION
1. Centre of Pressure With Vertical Positioning of the Water Vessel
Based on the Table 1, the angle and the lever arm is fixed, which is 0 and 150mm. The
original weight of the hanging hook is 84.8 g. We used the formula, F = ma to convert the
unit of gram (g) into Newton (N). After that, the original weight of the hanging hook is added
with the appended weights in increments of 5-3 N.
Since the water level reading of our group is less than 100mm, the formula used:
To Determine the Center of Pressure is:
For water level s < 100mm
e = 1/6 .s
ID = 200mm 1/3 .s
To Determine the Resultant Force is:
Pc = .g.s/2 and Aact = s.b
The resultant force is produced as:
Fp = Pc .Aact
To check the theory, a balance of moments around the center of motion o can be established
and checked:
M (0) = 0: FG.I = FP.ID
However, our answer for FG.I FP.ID

2. Centre of Pressure with Water Vessel Tilted

Based on Table 2, the angle and the lever arm is fixed, which is 10 and 260mm.
Since the water level reading of our groups is less than 136mm,Sh the formula used is :
To determine the center of Pressure
For a water level s < sh
ss t
h = cos
e=

1
6 h

ID = 200mm -

1
3 h

To determine the resultant force

ss t
Pc = g
and Aact = h. b
2
The result force is produced as:
Fp = PcAact
The calculation is shown in the worksheet for calculation
Some precautions should be taken during the experiments:
1. Safety must be consider when set up all the apparatus like Hydraulic Bench, because
its heavy.
2. Make sure the stop pin is at center of the hole when filling the water into the water
vessel and be careful when pouring the water into it because it may be over the limit
that we want.
3. In order to get the accurate reading, avoid any movement at the table when taking the
reading of water level scale
4. Make sure eyes is perpendicular to the water level scale to get an exact reading and to
avoid the parallax error.
5. Make sure the water vessel is clean enough and dry before doing the experiment.

CONCLUSION
Therefore, we can conclude that our experiment is fail because we cannot prove that M (0) =
0: FG.I = FP.ID.It is due to the bubble that is not perfectly centered, it was definitely at the
center but its position was more northward. Therefore, some precautions should be taken by
the group to make sure that the experiment is success.
REFERENCE
1. Mdm. Maureen Neging, Laboratory Manual of Hydraulics and Water Quality, Faculty
of Civil Engineering, Uitm Samarahan 2.

2. John.F.Douglas, Janusz M.Gasiorek, John A.Swaffield, and Lynne B.Jack , Fluid

Mechanics, Pearson, 5th Edition, 2006.
3. Resultant force, Retrieved from www.physicalclassroom.com/class/vectors/Lesson
-1/Resultant on 9th January 2015.