CE 320: FLUID MECHANICS
Lesson 6
RELATIVE EQUILIBRIUM OF LIQUIDS
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson, you are able to;
1. Determine the relative motion relationship between the mass particles of
fluids subject to acceleration or rotation
Time Frame: 1 week
Introduction
The last discussion of hydrostatics is the preliminary topic for hydraulics.
Although the fluid system experiences motion, this lesson is still considered a part
of hydrostatics with the reason that the whole system is moving as a unit and the
liquid particles are still in equilibrium or at rest.
If a fluid is contained in a vessel which is at rest, or moving with constant
linear velocity, it is not affected by the motion of the vessel; but if the container is
given a continuous acceleration, this will be transmitted to the fluid and affect the
pressure distribution in it. Since the fluid remains at rest relative to the container,
there is no relative motion of the particles of the fluid and, therefore, no shear
stresses, fluid pressure being everywhere normal to the surface on which it acts.
Under these conditions the fluid is said to be in relative equilibrium.
PRE-TEST. Submit your answers through any means
mentioned in the syllabus or as agreed upon not later than
8th week after the class started.
1. An oil tanker 3m wide, 2m deep and 10m long
contains oil of density 800 kg/m3 to a depth of 1m.
Determine the maximum horizontal acceleration that
can be given to the tanker such that the oil just
reaches its top end. If the tanker is closed and
completely filled with the oil and accelerated
horizontally at 3m/s2, determine the total liquid thrust
(hydrostatic force) on the front and rear end.
2. A closed cylindrical vessel of 1m diameter and 2m
height contains water filled to a depth of 1.5m. If the
vessel is rotating at 20radians/sec, how much of the
bottom of the vessel is uncovered?
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To exercise your thoughts, answer the following.
Submit your answers through any means
mentioned in the syllabus or as agreed upon not
later than 8th week after the class started.
1. Taking an elevator with a box on hand, in
which way the weight of the box is lighter,
upward or downward? Why?
2. When stirring a coffee, what are the control
factors that can prevent it to spill? Explain.
RELATIVE EQUILIBRIUM OF LIQUIDS
Relative equilibrium of liquid is a condition where the whole
mass of liquid including the vessel in which the liquid is
contained, is moving at uniform accelerated motion with respect to the earth, but
every particle of liquid have no relative motion between each other.
If the fluid particles in the moving fluid mass do not move relative to each
other, then they are said to be in static position and in this situation dynamic or
relative equilibrium exists between the fluid particles under the action of
accelerating force.
If a container containing a liquid is made to move with a constant
acceleration, the liquid particles initially will move relative to each other and after
some time there will not be any relative motion between the liquid particles and the
walls of the container. The liquid will take up a new position under the effect of
acceleration imparted to the container. The entire liquid mass moves as a single
unit. The liquid attains static equilibrium in new position relative to the container
and law of hydrostatic can be applied to find out liquid pressure.
Mass of liquid in relative equilibrium is free from any shear stress due to the
absence of any motion between each particle and also between the liquid mass
itself and the container. Two cases of relative equilibrium will be treated here:
(1) The translation of liquid mass horizontally and vertically (including
inclined),
(2) The rotation of liquid mass
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION
Horizontal Acceleration
The fluid can be subjected to translation acceleration without relative motion
between fluid particles by moving the vessel containing the fluid with horizontal
acceleration.
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hydraulics
Fig. 7.1 Fluid mass in a horizontal accelerated motion
Using the triangle Law;
𝒂
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝜽 =
𝒈
Where:
W = weight of the fluid
REF = reverse effected force
N = normal force
a = acceleration
https://mathalino.com/reviewer/civil
-engineering/fluid-mechanics-and- g = acceleration due to gravity
hydraulics
Fig. 7.2 force triangle of fluid mass
in a horizontal accelerated motion
Vertical Acceleration
The fluid can be subjected to vertical translation acceleration without relative
motion between fluid particles by moving the vessel containing the fluid with
horizontal acceleration. A fluid in vessel transported by a vehicle is subjected to
horizontal translation acceleration.
By summation of forces along vertical;
Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 − 𝑊 − 𝑅𝐸𝐹 = 0
𝜌𝐴 − 𝛾𝑉 − 𝑚𝑎 = 0
𝑉 = 𝐴ℎ
𝛾
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉 = ( )(𝐴ℎ)
𝑔
𝛾𝐴ℎ
𝜌𝐴 − 𝛾(𝐴ℎ) − ( )𝑎 = 0
𝑔
https://mathalino.com/reviewer/civil 𝒂
-engineering/fluid-mechanics-and- 𝝆 = 𝜸𝒉(𝟏 ± )
hydraulics 𝒈
Fig. 7.3 Fluid mass in a vertical
accelerated motion
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Note: Use (+) sign for upward motion and (-) sign for downward motion. Also (+)
for acceleration and (-) for deceleration.
Inclined acceleration
If a mass of fluid being accelerated
up an incline with an angle α from
horizontal, the horizontal and vertical
components of inertia would have the
respective components.
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-engineering/fluid-mechanics-and-
Fig. 7.4 hydraulics
Fluid mass in an inclined
accelerated motion
Using Triangle law of forces;
𝑥 𝑅𝐸𝐹𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝ 𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝ 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = = = =
𝑊 + 𝑦 𝑊 + 𝑅𝐸𝐹𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝ 𝑚𝑔 + 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝ 𝑔 + 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
but
𝑚𝑎ℎ
𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝= ; 𝑎ℎ = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝
𝑚𝑎 https://mathalino.com/reviewer/civil
-engineering/fluid-mechanics-and-
hydraulics
𝑚𝑎𝑣
𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝= ; 𝑎𝑣 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
𝑚𝑎
Fig. 7.5 force triangle of
fluid mass
Then; in a inclined
accelerated motion
𝒂𝒉
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝜽 = 𝒈±𝒂𝒗
Use (+) for upward motion and (-) sign for downward motion
ROTATION (ROTATING VESSELS)
When a liquid mass is rotated about a vertical axis at a constant angular
speed, every particle experiences a normal acceleration. This acceleration causes
an inertia force (centrifugal force or reversed normal effective force).
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Fig. 7.4 Fluid mass in angular accelerated motion
Where:
ω = angular speed in radians per second
𝑎𝑛 = normal acceleration
𝑣2
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑥 = 𝜔2 𝑥 where x = particle’s distance from
axis of rotation
CF = centrifugal force or reversed normal effective force
𝑊 2
𝐶𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎𝑛 = 𝑚(𝜔2 𝑥) = (𝜔 𝑥)
𝑔
From the force triangle in Fig. 7.4;
𝜔2 𝑥
tan 𝜃 = 𝑔
𝑑𝑥
tan 𝜃 =
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦 𝜔2 𝑥
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑔
ℎ 𝑥
𝜔2 𝑥𝑑𝑥
∫ 𝑑𝑦 = ∫
0 0 𝑔
𝜔2 𝑥 2
𝑦=
2𝑔
For cylindrical vessel of radius r revolved about its vertical axis, the height h of
paraboloid becomes:
𝜔2 𝑟 2
ℎ=
2𝑔
By squared-property of parabola, the relationship of y, x, h, and r is defined by:
𝑟2 𝑥2
=
ℎ 𝑦
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Volume of paraboloid of revolution V πr h
1
𝑉𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑖𝑑 = (𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ)
2
Example 6.1
An open rectangular tank 3m long and 2m wide is filled with water to a depth
of 1.5m. Find the slope of the water surface when the tank moves with an
acceleration of 5m/s2 up a 300 inclined plane. Also calculate the pressure on the
bottom at both ends.
Solutions;
𝑎𝑥 = 5𝑐𝑜𝑠30° = 4.33 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑎𝑦 = 5𝑠𝑖𝑛30° = 2.5 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑎𝑥 4.33
tan 𝜃 = =
𝑔 + 𝑎𝑦 9.81 + 2.5
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𝜃 = 19.38° 4/04/5_relative-equilibrium_tutorial-
solution.pdf
Depth of water at left end (ℎ1 )
ℎ1 = 1.5 + 1.5 tan 19.38 = 2.03 𝑚
Depth of water at left end (ℎ2 )
ℎ2 = 1.5 − 1.5 tan 19.38 = 0.97 𝑚
Now, compute the pressure at the bottom, (points A & B)
𝑎 2.5
𝑃𝐴 = 𝛾ℎ1 (1 + ) = (9.81)(2.03) (1 + ) = 𝟐𝟒. 𝟗𝟖𝟗 𝒌𝑷𝒂 answer
𝑔 9.81
𝑎 2.5
𝑃𝐵 = 𝛾ℎ2 (1 + 𝑔) = (9.81)(20.97) (1 + 9.81) = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟗𝟒𝟏𝒌𝑷𝒂 answer
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Example 6.2
A rectangular tank 2m long, 1.5m wide and 1.5m deep is filled with oil of
specific gravity 0.8. Find the force acting on the bottom of the tank when (a) the
vertical acceleration 5m/s2 acts upwards (b) the vertical
acceleration 5m/s2 acts downwards.
Solution;
Part (a)
The pressure at the bottom when accelerating
upward;
𝑎 5
𝑃𝐴 = 𝛾ℎ (1 + ) = (0.8)(9.81)(1.5) (1 + )
𝑔 9.81 https://bedanbasnyat.files.wordpress.com/201
= 17.77 𝑘𝑃𝑎 4/04/5_relative-equilibrium_tutorial-
solution.pdf
Force at the bottom;
𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝑃𝐴 𝑥𝐴𝐴𝐵 = 17.77(2)(1.5) = 53.316 𝑘𝑁
Part (b)
The pressure at the bottom when accelerating downward;
𝑎 5
𝑃𝐴 = 𝛾ℎ (1 + ) = (0.8)(9.81)(1.5) (1 − ) = 5.77 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑔 9.81
Force at the bottom;
𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝑃𝐴 𝑥𝐴𝐴𝐵 = 5.77(2)(1.5) = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑𝟏𝟔 𝒌𝑵
answer
Example 7.3
An open circular vessel is 1m in diameter and 2m height. It contains water
filled to a depth of 1.5m. If the cylinder rotates about its vertical axis,
(a) what constant angular velocity can be obtained without spilling,
(b) what is the pressure intensity at the center and at the corner of the
bottom if ω = 6 rad/second
Solution;
Part (a) - angular velocity with no water spilled
𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙 = 𝑉𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝐴𝑂𝐵
𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙 = 𝜋(0.52 )(0.5) = 0.3927 𝑚3
1
𝑉𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝐴𝑂𝐵 = ( ) (𝜋)(0.52 )(𝑧) = 0.3927𝑧 𝑚2
2
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0.3927 𝑚3 = 0.3927𝑧 𝑚2 4/04/5_relative-equilibrium_tutorial-
solution.pdf
𝑧 =1𝑚
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CE 320: FLUID MECHANICS
𝜔2 𝑟 2
𝑧=
2𝑔
𝜔2 (0.5)2
1=
2(9.81)
𝝎 = 𝟖. 𝟖𝟓𝟖 𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔𝒆𝒄 answer
Part (b)
𝜔2 𝑟 2 (62 )((0.52 )
𝑧= = = 0.458 𝑚
2𝑔 2(9.81)
0.458
The vortex of the paraboloid will be located 2 = 0.23 𝑚 below the original
water surface
For the pressures at the corner, ℎ𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑟 = 1.5 + 0.23 = 1.73𝑚
𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑟 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑟 = (9.81)(1.73) = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟗𝟕 𝒌𝑷𝒂 answer
For the pressures at the center, ℎ𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1.5 − 0.23 = 1.27 𝑚
𝑃𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 = (9.81)(1.27) = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟒𝟔 𝒌𝑷𝒂 answer
Example 7.4
A closed cylindrical vessel of 1m diameter and 2m height contains water
filled to a depth of 1.5m. If the vessel is rotating at 20radians/sec, how much of the
bottom of the vessel is uncovered?
Solution;
𝜔2 𝑟 2
𝑧=
2𝑔
(202 )(0.5)2
𝑧3 = = 5.1 𝑚
2(9.81)
(202 )(𝑟1 )2
𝑧1 = = 20.38 𝑟1 2 𝑚
2(9.81)
(202 )(𝑟2 )2
𝑧2 = = 20.38 𝑟2 2 𝑚
2(9.81)
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4/04/5_relative-equilibrium_tutorial-
Note; 𝑧1 + 2 = 𝑧2 solution.pdf
20.38 𝑟1 2 + 2 = 20.38 𝑟2 2
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2
𝑟2 2 − 𝑟1 = 0.098 𝒆𝒒. 𝟏
Volume of air above AB = Volume of paraboloid (POQ-MON)
𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙 = 𝑉𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑖𝑑 (𝑃𝑂𝑄−𝑀𝑂𝑁)
𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙 = 𝜋(0.52 )(0.5) = 0.3927 𝑚3
1 1
𝑉𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑖𝑑 (𝑃𝑂𝑄−𝑀𝑂𝑁) = ( ) (𝜋)(𝑟2 2 )(𝑧2) − ( ) (𝜋)(𝑟12 )(𝑧1 )
2 2
1 1
0.3927 = ( ) (𝜋)(𝑟2 2 )(20.38 𝑟2 2 ) − ( ) (𝜋)(𝑟1 2 )(20.38 𝑟1 2 )
2 2
Simplifying;
2 2
𝑟2 4 − 𝑟1 4 = 0.0122 ; (𝑟2 2 − 𝑟1 )(𝑟2 2 + 𝑟1 ) = 0.0122 𝒆𝒒. 𝟐
Solving eq. 1 and eq. 2
𝑟1 = 0.115 𝑚
Area uncovered is;
𝐴𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 𝜋𝑟1 2 = 𝜋(0.1152 ) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟏𝟓 𝒎𝟐 answer
To test your retention on our just concluded
discussions, answer the following questions.
Submit your answers through any means
mentioned in the syllabus or as agreed upon not
later than 8th week after the class started.
Problem Solving. Solve the following.
1. An trapezoidal tank with open top has a bottom width of 3m, 2m high and 1.5m
wide, and has its sides inclined 60° with the horizontal. It is filled with water to a
depth of 1.5m. If the tank is accelerated horizontally along its length at 4.5m/s 2,
how much water is spilled out?
2. An oil tanker 3m wide, 2m deep and 10m long contains oil of density 800 kg/m3
to a depth of 1m. Determine the maximum horizontal acceleration that can be
given to the tanker such that the oil just reaches its top end. If the tanker is
closed and completely filled with the oil and accelerated horizontally at 3m/s 2,
determine the total liquid thrust (hydrostatic force) on the front and rear end.
3. A cylindrical tank used in lifting water to the top of a tower is 1.5m high. If the
pressure at the bottom of the tank must not exceed 16kPa, what maximum
vertical acceleration can be imposed in the cylinder when it is filled with water?
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4. A cylindrical vessel closed at the top and bottom is 300mm inn diameter, 1m
long and contains water up to a depth of 0.8 m. The air above the water surface
is at a pressure of 60 kPa. If the vessel is rotated at a speed of 250 rpm about
its vertical axis, find the pressure head at the bottom of the vessel at the center
point and at the edge.
5. An open circular cylindrical pipe of radius R and height h is completely filled with
water with its axis vertical and is rotated about its axis at an angular velocity .
Determine the value of in terms of R and h such that the diameter of the exposed
center portion is equal to the radius of the cylinder.
6. A 400mm high open cylinder and 150mm in diameter is filled with water and
rotated about its vertical axis at an angular speed of 33.5 rad/s. Determine (a)
the depth of water in the cylinder when it is brought to rest, and (b) the volume
of water that remains in the cylinder if the speed is doubled.
7. An open circular cylinder of 1m diameter and 2m depth is completely filled with
water and rotated about its axis about 45 rpm. Determine the depth at the axis
and amount of water spilled. Also find the speed of rotation at which the central
axial depth is zero.
8. A rectangular tank 6m long, 2m wide and 2m deep contains water to a depth of
1m. It is accelerated horizontally at 2.5 m/s2 in the direction of its length.
Determine;
a) Slope of the free surface
b) Maximum and minimum pressure intensities at bottom
c) Total force due to water acting on each end of tank.
Check the difference between these forces by calculating the inertia force
of the accelerated mass.
9. A closed rectangular tank 4m long x 2m wide and 2m high is filled with water to
a depth of 1.8m. If the allowable force at the rear wall of the tank is 200kN, how
fast can it be accelerated horizontally?
10. An open cylindrical vessel 1.2m in diameter and 2.1m high is 2/3 full of
water. Compute the amount of water in liters that will be spilled out if the vessel
is rotated about its vertical axis at a constant angular speed of 90 rpm.
11. A closed horizontal cylindrical tank 1.5m in diameter and 4m long is
completely filled with gasoline (s.g.=0.82) and accelerated horizontally at 3m/s
2 . Find the total force acting at the rear wall and at the front wall of the tank.
Find also the accelerating force on the fluid mass.
Congratulations!!! A joyful Module 1 ride
indeed. To recap what we have learned, let us
have a module summary.
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Module Summary:
1. A fluid is a state of matter that yields to sideways or shearing
forces. Liquids and gases are both fluids. Fluid statics is the
physics of stationary fluids.
2. In fluid statics, all pressures are always perpendicular to the
surface area.
3. Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance or object,
defined as ρ= mV . The SI unit of density is kg/m3.
4. Pressure is the force per unit perpendicular area over which the
force is applied, p = FA . The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal: 1
Pa = 1 N/m2.
5. Pressure due to the weight of a liquid of constant density is given
by p = ρ gh, where p is the pressure, h is the depth of the liquid,
ρ is the density of the liquid, and g is the acceleration due to
gravity.
6. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.
7. Absolute pressure is the sum of gauge pressure and atmospheric
pressure.
8. Open-tube manometers have U-shaped tubes and one end is
always open. They are used to measure pressure. A mercury
barometer is a device that measures atmospheric pressure.
9. The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal (Pa), but several other units
are commonly used.
10. Pressure is force per unit area.
11. A change in pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted
undiminished to all portions of the fluid and to the walls of its
container.
12. A hydraulic system is an enclosed fluid system used to exert
forces.
13. Buoyant force is the net upward force on any object in any fluid. If
the buoyant force is greater than the object’s weight, the object
will rise to the surface and float. If the buoyant force is less than
the object’s weight, the object will sink. If the buoyant force equals
the object’s weight, the object can remain suspended at its present
depth. The buoyant force is always present and acting on any
object immersed either partially or entirely in a fluid.
14. Archimedes’ principle states that the buoyant force on an object
equals the weight of the fluid it displaces.
15. Stability considerations are particularly important for submerged
or floating bodies since the centers of buoyancy and gravity do not
necessarily coincide. A small rotation can result in either a
restoring or overturning couple
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