CEVE 101

Introduction to Fluid Mechanics

Dr. Bedient
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Fluids:
Statics vs Dynamics

Atmospheric Pressure
Pressure = Force per Unit Area
Atmospheric Pressure is the weight of the
column of air above a unit area. For example,
the atmospheric pressure felt by a man is the
weight of the column of air above his body
divided by the area the air is resting on
P = (Weight of column)/(Area of base)

Standard Atmospheric Pressure:

1 atmosphere (atm)
14.7 lbs/in2 (psi)
760 Torr (mm Hg)
1013.25 millibars = 101.3 kPascals
1kPa = 1Nt/m2

Fluid Statics
Basic Principles:
Fluid is at rest : no shear forces
Pressure is the only force acting
What are the forces acting on the
block?
Air pressure on the surface - neglect
Weight of the water above the block
Pressure only a function of depth

Units
SI - International System
Length
Time
Mass
Temp
Force

Meter
Sec
Kg
0
K = 0C + 273.15
Newton = Nt = 1 kg m / s2

Gravity

9.81 m/s2

Work = Fxd Joule = Nt-m

Power = F/t Watt = Joule/sec

Units
English

Length in Ft
Time in Sec
lbm (slug) - 1 slug = 32.2 lbm
Force - lb
Gravity - 32.2 ft/sec2
Work = slug-ft/s2

Properties of Fluids
Density =

(decreases with rise in T)

mass per unit volume ( lbs/ft3 or kg/m3 )

for water density = 1.94 slugs/ft3 or 1000 kg/m3

Specific Weight = (Heaviness of fluid)

weight per unit volume

= g

for water spec wt = 62.4 lbs/ft3 or 9.81 kN/m3

Specific Gravity = SG
Ratio of the density of a fluid to the density of water
SG = f / w

SG of Hg = 13.55

Ideal Gas Law relates pressure to Temp for a gas

P = RT
T in 0K units
R = 287 Joule / Kg-0K
Pressure
Force per unit area:
lbs/in2 (psi), N/m2, mm Hg, mbar or atm
1 Nt/m2 = Pascal = Pa
Std Atm P = 14.7 psi = 101.33 kPa = 1013 mb
Viscosity fluid deforms when acted on by shear
stress
= 1.12 x 10-3 N-s/m2
Surface tension - forces between 2 liquids or gas

Section 1: Pressure
Pressure at any point in a static fluid not fcn of x,y,or z
Pressure in vertical only depends on of the fluid

P = h + P o
Gage pressure: relative to
atmospheric pressure: P = h
10 ft

Thus for h = 10 ft, P = 10(62.4) =

624 psf
This becomes 624/144 = 4.33 psi
P = 14.7 psi corresponds to 34 ft

Pressure in a Tank Filled with Gasoline and Water

What is the pressure at point A? At point B?
G = 42.43 lbs/ft3
SG = 0.68
W = 62.4 lbs/ft3

At point A:

PA = G x hG + PO
= 42.43 x 10 + PO

424.3 lbs/ft2 gage

At point B:

PB = PA + W x hW
= 424.3 + 62.4 x 3

611.5 lbs/ft2 gage

Converting PB to psi:
(611.5 lbs / ft2) / (144 in2/ft2)
= 4.25 psi

Measurement of Pressure
Barometer (Hg) - Toricelli 1644
Piezometer Tube
U-Tube Manometer - between two points
Aneroid barometer - based on spring
deformation
Pressure transducer - most advanced

QuickTime
and a
TIFF
(LZW)
decompresso
are needed to see this pic

Manometers - measure P
Rules of thumb:
When evaluating, start from the known
pressure end and work towards the
unknown end
At equal elevations, pressure is
constant in the SAME fluid
When moving down a monometer,
pressure increases
When moving up a monometer,
pressure decreases
Only include atmospheric pressure on
open ends

Manometers
Simple Example:

P=

h + PO

Find the pressure at

point A in this open utube monometer with an
atmospheric pressure Po
PD = W x hE-D + Po
Pc = PD
PB = PC - Hg x hC-B
PA = PB

Section 2: Hydrostatics
And the Hoover Dam

For a fluid at rest, pressure increases linearly with depth. As a

consequence, large forces can develop on plane and curved surfaces.
The water behind the Hoover dam, on the Colorado river, is
approximately 715 feet deep and at this depth the pressure is 310 psi.
To withstand the large pressure forces on the face of the dam, its
thickness varies from 45 feet at the top to 660 feet at the base.

Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

Basic Concepts and Naming
Pressure = h
= spec gravity of water
h = depth of water
C = Center of Mass of Gate
CP = Center of Pressure on Gate
Fr = Resultant Force acts at CP

Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

Basic Concepts and Naming
C = Centroid or Center of Mass
CP = Center of Pressure
Fr = Resultant Force
I = Moment of Inertia

For a Rectangular Gate:

Ixc = 1/12 bh3
Ixyc = 0

For a circle:
Ixc = r4 / 4
h

Ixyc = 0

Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

The Center of Pressure YR lies below the centroid - since pressure
increases with depth

FR = A YC sin
or FR

= A Hc

YR = (Ixc / YcA) + Yc
XR = (Ixyc / YcA) + Xc
but for a rectangle or circle:

XR = Xc
For 90 degree walls:

F R = A Hc

Hydrostatics Example Problem # 1

What is the Magnitude and Location of the
Resultant force of water on the door?
W = 62.4 lbs/ft3
Water Depth = 6 feet
Door Height = 4 feet
Door Width = 3 feet

Hydrostatics Example Problem #1

Important variables:
HC and Yc = 4
Xc = 1.5
A = 4 x 3 = 12
Ixc = (1/12)bh3
= (1/12)x3x43 = 16 ft4

Magnitude of Resultant
Force:
FR = W A HC
FR = 62.4 x 12 x 4 = 2995.2 lbs

Location of Force:
YR = (Ixc / YcA) + Yc
YR = (16 / 4x12) + 4 = 4.333 ft
down
XR = Xc (symmetry) = 1.5 ft from
the corner of the door

Section 3: Buoyancy
Archimedes Principle: Will it Float?
The upward vertical force felt by a submerged, or partially submerged,
body is known as the buoyancy force. It is equal to the weight of the
fluid displaced by the submerged portion of the body. The buoyancy
force acts through the centroid of the displaced volume, known as the
center of buoyancy. A body will sink until the buoyancy force is equal to
the weight of the body.

FB = x Vdisplaced
FB = W x
Vdisp
= Vdisp

FB
FB

W=
FB

Buoyancy Example Problem # 1

A 500 lb buoy, with a 2 ft radius is tethered to the bed of
a lake. What is the tensile force T in the cable?

FB
W =
62.4
lbs/ft3

Buoyancy Example Problem # 1

Displaced Volume of Water:

Buoyancy Force:

Vdisp-W = 4/3 x x R3

FB = W x Vdisp-w

Vdisp-W = 33.51 ft3

FB = 62.4 x 33.51

FB = 2091.024 lbs up
Sum of the Forces:
Fy = 0 = 500 - 2091.024 + T

T = 1591.024 lbs down

Will It Float?
Ship Specifications:
Weight = 300 million pounds
Dimensions = 100 wide by 150 tall by 800 long
Given Information: W = 62.4 lbs/ft3

Assume Full Submersion:

FB = Vol x W

FB = (100 x 150 x 800) x 62.4 lbs/ft3

748,800,000 lbs

Weight of Boat = 300,000,000 lbs

The Force of Buoyancy is greater than the Weight of the Boat
meaning the Boat will float!
How much of the boat will be submerged?
Assume weight = Displaced Volume
WB = FB
300,000,000 = (100 x H x 800) x 62.4 lbs/ft3
H = Submersion depth = 60.1 feet

FB =