FLUID PRESSURE CONCEPT

AND MEASUREMENT

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2.0 CONCEPT OF PRESSURE &
MEASUREMENT

 Forces exerted by fluids is important to be

calculated in designing the water structures and/or
structures that deal/in-contact with fluid.
 False design and error in design can
cause damage/failure. For example:
collapse of wall, dam, water tank,
leakage or damage in joints/pipe
fittings etc.
 Therefore, it is important to understand
the concept of pressure and avoid any
mistakes in measuring the pressure.

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2.0 CONCEPT OF PRESSURE &
MEASUREMENT
 What is Pressure?
Force (F) exerted by a liquid on a plane
area (A) formulated as:
P= F/A (N/m2) ……….(i) or,

The product of the unit weight ρg of the

liquid, the depth hcg of the centre of the
gravity of the area, and the area (A). The
equation is
P=ρghcg A (N/m2)………...(ii)
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 2.0 CONCEPT OF PRESSURE &
MEASUREMENT

 Unit converter for pressure as follows;

1 bar = 100,000 N/m2 = 0.1MPa
1 kgf/m2 = 9.806614 N/m2 =9.806614 Pa
1 atm (standard) = 101325 Pa = 1.01325 bar

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2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE
Hydrostatic Pressure
 The pressure at a given depth in a
static liquid is a result the weight of
the liquid acting on a unit area at that
depth plus any pressure acting on the
surface of the liquid.

 The pressure due to the liquid alone

(i.e. the gauge pressure) at a given
depth depends only upon the density
of the liquid and the distance below
the surface of the liquid h.

 Pressure is not really a vector even Figure 2.1

though it looks like it in the sketches.
The arrows indicate the direction of
the force that the pressure would
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exert on a surface it is contact with.
 2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE

Hydrostatic Pressure

•The pressure at a given depth is

independent of direction -- it is the
same in all directions.
* The pressure on a submerged
object is always perpendicular
to the surface at each point on
the surface (figure 2.2).

Figure 2.2 Figure 2.3

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Vertical Force
P1 x AB x S = (Pθ AC x S ) cos θ
Figure 2.4
(avoid the mass of fluid within the prism)

But, AB = AC cos θ
P1 AC cos θ x S = P θ AC x S cos θ P1
Therefore, P1 = P θ
s

A B P2
Horizontal Force
P2 x BC x S = (Pθ AC x S ) sin θ θ
But, BC = AC sin θ Pθ s
P2 AC sin θ x S = (P θ AC x S) sin θ
C
Therefore, P2 = P θ

From all above, It can be conclude that P1= P2= P θ

Therefore, pressure at one point in fluid is the same in all direction. (Pascal Law)
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 2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE

Atmospheric Pressure (Patm)

 Head of air above the surface

 Standard at sea level for Patm = 10.35m

of water, or 34 ft, or 760mm of Hg
(mercury)
 or Patm = 101.3kN/m2 (at sea level)

 Fluid pressure on free surface is equal

to the Atmospheric Pressure.
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 2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE

Gage Pressure (P gauge)

 Measured above or below atmospheric
pressure.
 Most of pressure related with fluid
measured using gauge.
 If atmospheric pressure exist in the
fluid, the gauge will show “0” reading.
This is due to the atmospheric pressure
was set as the datum.
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 2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE
Absolute Pressure (P absolute)
 Combination of Atmospheric Pressure
with the Gauge Pressure.
 P absolute = P gauge + P atm

Vacuum Pressure
 Pressure below the atmospheric
pressure
 If it is measured by the gauge,
negative (-) reading will appears.
 P vacuum = P atm – P absolute 10
 2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE

 Example 2.1:
A vacuum gauge connected to a
chamber reads 5.8 psi at a
location where the atmospheric
pressure is 14.5 psi. Determine
the absolute pressure in the
chamber.
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 2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE

 Answer:
from the formula;
P vacuum = P atm - P absolute

therefore;
P absolute = P atm – P vacuum
= (14.5 – 5.8) psi
= 8.7 psi
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 2.1 TYPES OF PRESSURE

Try This!

Find the absolute pressure in kPa unit if

Barometer shows the reading of 60 kPa.
Given that Barometer reading at sea level
is 740 mmHg and specific gravity of mercury
is 13.6.

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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid
Variation of Pressure intensity with
height in a static fluid

The pressure exerted by a static fluid depends

only upon the depth of the fluid, the density of p
the fluid and the acceleration of gravity. A

The pressure in a static fluid arises from the

weight of the fluid and is given by the
expression;
h
P static fluid = ρgh
where ρ = m/V = fluid density
g = acceleration of gravity
h = depth of fluid
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2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid
Variation of Pressure intensity
with height in a static fluid

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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid

 Try This!: If the height of the fluid's surface above the

bottom of the five vessels is the same, in which vessel is the
pressure of the fluid on the bottom of the vessel the
greatest ? The amount of liquid in each vessel is not
necessarily the same.

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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid
Answer:

The pressure P is the same on the bottom of each

vessel.

Why the pressure does not depend upon the shape of the
vessel or the amount of fluid in the vessel rests upon three
things:

i. Pressure is force per unit area and this is not same as

the total weight of the liquid in a vessel.
ii. A fluid can not support its self without a container.
Thus the walls of the container exert a pressure on the
fluid equal to the pressure of the fluid at that depth.
iii.The pressure at given level is transmitted equally
throughout the fluid to be the same value at that level.
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2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid

Example 2.2 (a)

For the dam shown in below figure, find
the horizontal pressure (in lb/ft2)acting at
the face of the dam at 20-ft depth

20 ft

40 ft

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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid
 Answer;
P = ρgh
= (1000kg/m3)(9.81m/s2) x h
= 9810kgms-2/m3 x h
= 9810 N/m3 x (0.3048)3 m3/ft3
4.448 N/lb
= 62.45 lb/ft3 x 20ft
= 1249 lb/ft2

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2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth
of Fluid

P atm In stacked-up fluid

h1 layers (figure 2.5),
h2 the pressure change
across a fluid layer of
density, ρ and height,
h3

h4 h is ρgh
1 h5

figure 2.5

P atm + ρ1gh1 + ρ2gh2 + ρ3gh3 + ρ4gh4+ ρ5gh5 = P1

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2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth
of Fluid
 Example 2.2 (b)
The system in fig 2.2 (b)
is at 20°C. If atmospheric SAE 30 oil 1.5m

pressure is 101.03kPa water

2.5m

and the absolute pressure

at the bottom of the tank Olive oil 2.9m

is 231.3kPa, what is the

specific gravity of olive mercury 0.4m

oil? Figure 2.2 (b)

Answer: s.g =1.39 Answer: γ =13.60kN/m3 21

 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth
of Fluid
 One might guess that the
deeper you go into a liquid Figure 2.6: Variation of
or gas, the greater the Pressure with Depth
pressure on you from the
surrounding fluid will be.
 The reason for the
increased pressure is that
the deeper into a fluid you
go, the more fluid, and
thus the more weight, you
have over top of you.
 We can calculate the
variation of pressure with
depth by considering a
volume of fluid of height h
and cross-sectional area 22
 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth
of Fluid
If this volume of fluid is to be in equilibrium, the net force acting on the
volume must be zero. There are three external forces acting on this volume of fluid.
These forces are:

1. The force PTA due to the pressure on top of the volume of fluid. If the fluid is
open to the air, PT = PO = 1.01 x 105 Pa, which is atmospheric pressure.
2. The weight of the volume of fluid, w = Mg . Remembering the definition of
density, ρ = M/V , and that the volume of the fluid may be calculated as V = Ah , we
can write the weight of the fluid as w = ρghA .
3. The force pushing up on the bottom of the volume of fluid, PBA , due to the fluid
below the volume under consideration.

If we take the up direction to be positive and add the forces we get

PBA - ρghA - PTA = 0,

which gives
PB = PT + ρgh. (1)

This provides the general formula relating the pressures at two different points in a
fluid separated by a depth h .

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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth
of Fluid
Idea:
Pascal's Principle
Figure 2.7: Pascal's Principle

states that any

pressure applied to
an enclosed fluid is
transmitted
undiminished to
every point of the
fluid. Thus, in
Fig.2.7
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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth
of Fluid

 Pressure of P1 = F1/A1 applied downward to

the surface on the left of the container gets
transmitted as an equal pressure upward of
P2 = P1 on the surface on the other side of
the container. The force on the other side is
therefore: F2 = P2A2 = F1 . (2)
 Thus if A1 < A2 , the transmitted force, F2 ,
is greater than the applied force, F1 . This is
the principle behind the hydraulic press.
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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to
Depth of Fluid
 Example 2.2 (c) F=?
Plunger
area 5
in2

Figure 2.2 (‘c) shows

a setup with a vessel
containing a plunger Cylinder weight
= 10,000lb
and a cylinder. What Cross sectional
area = 500 in2 15ft
force F is required to
balance the weight of
the cylinder if the
weight of the plunger
is negligible? Oil s.g = 0.78

Figure 2.2 (c )
Answer: 74.6 lb 26
 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid
Pressure variation with depth
for an equilibrium position;
Force = Force
(p+dp)dA = pdA + mg
pdA + dp.dA = pdA + mg
1. h1
p
h2

dp.dA = mg 2. h dA
We know that m = ρV and V =dAdh
Therefore,
dp.dA = ρVg = ρgdA.dh
dp = ρgdh
Resolution between point 1 and 2,
dh
P2 –p1 =ρg (h2-h1)
If h = h2 –h1,
P2-p1 = ρgh p2 = p1 + ρgh
If h=0 and P1=0, (atm pressure)
p2 = ρgh
Figure 2.8
p+dp
H = P/ ρg is the pressure head (unit in mmHg or m of water)
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 2.2 Pressure Variation Subject to Depth of
Fluid
 Example 2.2 (d)
Below figure illustrates an oil tank exposed to the atm at left
side and concealed at the right side. Determine the gauge
pressure at point A, B, C, D,E and F. What is the value of
pressure at the right side of the tank. Assume that s.g for oil
is 0.9).
Solution:
PA = 0 (due to exposed to atm)
PB = ρgh = 0.9x103x9.81x3
= 26.5 kN/m2
PC = PA+ρgh
= 0+0.9x103x9.81x6
= 53.0 kN/m2.
PD = PB = 26.5 kN/m2. (due to same level)
PE = PA = 0 (due to same level)
PF = PE–0.9x103x9.81x1.5
= -13.2 kN/m2 (below atm pressure)
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 2.3 Pressure Measurement
 This section will discuss some device used to
measure pressure.
 For measuring purpose, the pressure is frequently
expressed as the height of a liquid column, known as
pressure head (tekanan turus).
 For example: a pressure head of 760mm of mercury
correspondent to the pressure exerted at the base of
the column of mercury 760mm high.
 For fluid with an open surface, pressure at any point
equivalent with the depth of the point from the free
or open surface
 Besides, if the fluid were in a pipe or close channel,
the pressure should be measure using the pressure
measurement devices (i.e gauge, piezometer etc.)
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 2.3 Pressure Measurement
Piezometer
 Piezometer column is a simple device for measuring
moderate pressure of liquids.
 If the pressures to be measured are very high, the length of
the glass tube required will be very large or impracticable.
 A piezometer is also a small-diameter observation well used
to measure the hydraulic head of groundwater in aquifers.
 Similarly, it may also be a standpipe, tube, vibrating wire
piezometer or manometer used to measure the pressure of
a fluid at a specific location in a column.
 Unsuitable for measuring negative pressure, since air will be
sucked into the source through the tube.
 Suitable to measure pressure in pipe.
 Fluid in pipe is same in piezometer tube.
 Tube diameter should at least 0.5 inch or 12 mm → avoid
capillary error.

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 2.3 Pressure Measurement

The height of the liquid in

the tube will give the value
of the pressure head
directly. To reduce
capillary error, the tube
diameter should be at least
0.5 in (12 mm).
• Pressure at point A =
ρgh1
figure 2.9: Piezometer
• Pressure at point B =
ρgh2
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 2.3 Pressure Measurement

Example 2.3 (a)

In Figure 2.3 (a), if h= 25.5 in, determine
the pressure at A. The liquid specific
gravity of 1.85.
Solution: h
P=ρgh or γh……….(1)
Given, s.g = 1.85 therefore γsub = 1.85 x 9810 kgm/s2 . m3
(1N= 1 kgm/s2 ) = 18148.5 kgm/s2.m3 A

From …(1)
P = γh
= 18148.5 kgm/s2.m3 x 25.5 in x 0.0254m/inc
= 11754.78 kgm/s2.m2
= 11754.78 N/m2 or 11.75 KN/m2

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 2.3 Pressure Measurement

Manometer
Types of manometer:
 Simple u-tube manometer

 Differential manometer

 Inverter manometer

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2.3 Pressure Measurement

Simple U-tube manometer

 A common simple manometer
consists of a U shaped tube of
glass filled with some liquid.
 Typically the liquid is mercury
because of its high density. figure 2.10:
 This simple manometer is U-tube manometer
suitable to measure fairly
higher pressure.
 Usually, one end of the tube will
be connected with gauge and
the other end was open to
atmospheric pressure.
figure 2.11:
simple U-tube manometer 34
2.3 Pressure Measurement

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 2.3 Pressure Measurement

Differential manometer
 Much similar to the
U-tube manometer
except that a
pressure source is
connected to each
end of the
manometer.
 pressure difference
between two point in figure 2.12:
liquid. Differential manometer
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2.3 Pressure Measurement

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 2.3 Pressure Measurement

Inverter U-tube
manometer
 Used to measure
small pressures.
 Mercury is used
to measure
pressure if fluid is
low density, ie oil. figure 2.13:
Inverter U-tube manometer
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2.3 Pressure Measurement

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 2.3 Pressure Measurement
Burdon Gauge
 Used for measurement of
pressure and vacuum
 Suitable for all clean and non-
clogging liquid and gaseous
media.
 The Bourdon Tube is a thin
walled tube of oval cross section
which may be of ‘C’ form or
spirally wound. This tube
expands when pressure is
applied internally; this expansion
is converted into rotation of a
concentric pointer with a gear
movement.
 C-type Bourdon tubes are used
for low pressure ranges and
helical / spiral tubes for higher figure 2.14: Burdon gage
pressure ranges.
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 2.3 Pressure Measurement

Transducer
 Converts pressure into
electric signal in digital
form.
 Commonly used →
“Strain-gauge base
transducer”.
 As pressure changes →
the deflection of the
diaphragm
 changes → changes the
electrical output → figure 2.14: Transducer
provide pressure.
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