Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Engineering & Emerging Technologies (ICEET), Superior

University, Lahore, PK, 7-8 April, 2016.

1

ANALYSIS OF HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON AN

ANGULAR BLOCK IMMERSED IN WATER

Aashir Nadeem Syed Irtiza Ali Shah*
College of Aeronautical Engg,
College of Aeronautical Engg,
National University of Sciences &
National University of Sciences
Technology, Pakistan
& Technology, Pakistan
irtiza_shah@getech.edu
Mubashar Aftab
College of Aeronautical
Engg, National University of
Sciences & Technology,
Pakistan
Waleed Fayyaz*
College of Aeronautical
Engg, National University of
Sciences & Technology,
Pakistan

advanced sensors using computers are in practice

Abstract - In this work we need to measure the effects. Many universities are teaching this course and
hydrostatic force on the angular arc block so that we many research papers on the same problem are already
may understand the effects of pressure force on the published.
ship hulls, submarines and other underwater subjects,
II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
once these are immersed entirely or partially in water.
Apparatus discussion
The aim of the paper is to compare the hydrostatic
According to our experimental apparatus we
thrust or pressure force on the angular arc block and
have a curved arc block that is mounted on a balanced
the theoretical value of force exerted on the arc block
beam with negligible weight. The beam can pivot
during experimentation. The experiment is a success
about a fixed point “O” giving both clockwise as well
because we are able to derive an expression which
as anticlockwise moments. An adjustable weight (W1)
would give us a relation between the weight added to
is mounted on the side of the balance beam, opposite to
balance the beam and the height of the fluid(water) in
the circular arc block. Opposite to the adjustable
which the arc block is submerged, to counter the added
weight W1 on the other side of the balance beam we
weight so as to cancel all moments about the pivot
connect a variable weight hanger on which different
point. A generic expression has thus been obtained
weights can be supported.
which involves only two variables, other than these
two variables i-e weight (W) and height; all other terms The balance beam is supported on the graduated
such as density temperature, length and area are transparent water tank. The graduation would help us
constant. This helps us in understanding and measure the height of the changing water levels. The
visualizing the line of action of force. In the paper, we only part submerged completely in water is our angular
have explained the apparatus and the experiment by arc
showing actual apparatus, free body diagrams, flow
charts, graphs, tables and CATIA models.Performing a
simple experiment would help us to develop large scale
models experiencing hydrostatic forces.

Keywords- Hydrostatic forces, pressure forces, buoyant

forces, submerged surfaces, immersed bodies.

I. NTRODUCTION
Till date several proposals have been put into block.
discussion regarding measurement of the hydrostatic Fig. 1. Apparatus setup to measure the hydrostatic forces
force. Systems already working on electricity and with reference to weight and height of fluid
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Engineering & Emerging Technologies (ICEET), Superior
University, Lahore, PK, 7-8 April, 2016.
III. RESEARCH APPROACH
Initial Balancing
We have a six sided angular arc block, which
is either completely or partially submerged in water.
Initially the pivot point and the front flat face,
experiencing pressure forces are vertically inline. This
show that now, our apparatus is horizontally and
vertically balanced. As per our experimental
arrangements as per our experimental arrangements the
face of the angular arc block , connected to beam will
not be submerged in water at any time , hence no
hydrostatic force will act on this part of the angular arc
block. Initially no water is added into the water tank
hence no hydrostatic force acts on any part of the arc
block and the beam is at complete equilibrium. This
means that we do not need to put any weight (Wb) in
weight hanger for countering hydrostatic moments,
upon the addition of water a net force acts on the arc
block causing a moment about a fixed pivot point “O”.
This net force is responsible for the clockwise
movement of the arc block, in order to counter the
clockwise moment of block we add (W2) that will give
a counter moment in anticlockwise direction about
point “O”.
IV. MOMENTS AND FORCE DISTRIBUTION
We now describe the faces of the angular arc block it
consist of six faces, face 1 is attached to the balanced
beam. In 2D, we have a front face “face 2” and a rare
face “face 3” the upper curved face is “face 4” the
lower curved face is ‘face 5” and finally a 6 th face on
the right front face 2 and face 3 have forces that will
cancel out the effect of each other. Similarly the forces
acting on the faces 4 and 5 will cancel each other due
to same magnitude but opposite direction. The only
face that is responsible for the moment of arc block is
the “face 6”.The pressure force effects on face 2 and 3
are easy to visualize, in order to understand the
pressure force effects on angular faces 4 and 5 we
bring into discussion two different approaches, in two
different coordinate systems.
 Polar coordinates.
 Rectangular coordinates.
2
Polar
coordinates
Fig. 2. Pressure force distribution along the angular
faces of the arc block
If we put forces into polar coordinates (r, θ), with θ in
circumferential direction, the hydrostatic forces can be
resolve into (r, θ) direction. Since r acts directly
through pivot axis, no moment is contributed by the r
component of the hydrostatic force about the pivot
point “O”. As the fluid is static hence there is no shear
force i-e there is no force in θ direction which in turn
means that face 4 and 5 do not contribute in the
moment of arc block about the pivot point “O”.
V. RECTANGULAR COORDINATES
The forces on the face 4 and 5 are divided into the
Cartesian coordinate system. The horizontal pressure
forces on the right and horizontal pressure forces on
the left side of the arc block cancels out each other.
Hence,
∑ Fx=0
The vertical forces on the face 4 and 5 create a net
buoyant force “Fb” acting at the center of buoyancy. Fb
acts on that point which is submerged into water. The
center of weight of the arc Wa acts at the point that
constitutes complete arc block. Fb is acting upward; Wa
is acting downward which is cancelled by W1. This
show:
Moment due to buoyant forces= moment due to the
weight (W2).
W2L=∑F(H+h)
∑F=W2L/(H+h)
We now have a relation between counterweight W2 and
height (h) that will give us a net force ∑F.
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Engineering & Emerging Technologies (ICEET), Superior
University, Lahore, PK, 7-8 April, 2016.
3

VI. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS

 The apparatus cannot be 100% frictionless.

 At different altitudes from the sea level the
pressure force will vary. Since:
Pressure=force per unit area
P=F/A
F=PA
F=ρghA
Where:
ρ: density of water in (kg/m3). Fig.3.Catia model for the practical apparatus.
g: gravitational acceleration in (m/s2). This figure is a 3-D view of our apparatus shown in fig 1.
h: height of immersed arc block in (m).
 A: area of face 6 in (m2). Apparatus setup
 A constant room temperature “T” cannot be
maintained.
No working fluid (water) added
VII. IMPLEMENTATION
Following steps were taken to apply theoretical data Fx=0
into a practical experiment

 Bringing apparatus in complete equilibrium Fy=0

without adding water on the tank.
∑F=0 ∑M=0
∑M=0
 Add water into the tank at several levels, to
take readings. Add working fluid(water)
 For each water level adjust the weight “W2”
so as to bring the system in equilibrium each Find h and w2 at different levels
time.
 Note the height “h” at each level.
 Plot a comparison graph for the F against h. Find pressure force F
 Finally, find net force ∑F at each height.
 This force is the required pressure force that Compare for the actual and theoretical F
will try to move the arc block, which
iscountered by weight W2.
 Find the theoretical value of pressure force F Plot the graph of F vs. h
using the above mentioned formula, F=ρghA.
 Find the practical value of pressure force F. End
 Plot the graphs for both theoretical and
practical vales of F Fig.4. Flow chart of the implementation of our experiment.
 Draw a comparison graph of F.
VIII. RESULTS
We have plotted two different graphs. One
with the theoretical value of calculated force and other
with the experimental values while keeping the heights
constant. The difference between the two is also shown
below.
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Engineering & Emerging Technologies (ICEET), Superior
University, Lahore, PK, 7-8 April, 2016.
4

Constant Parameters
ρ(kg/m3) 1000
2
g(m/s ) 9.81
Width, w(m) 0.075
Length, l(m) 0.1
Area, A(m2) 0.0075
Moment arm, L(m) 0.275
Table 3. These are the constant parameters for which
Fig.5. Theoretical force vs. predefined height. This
the experiment is carried out. This table is obtained
graph is obtained using the MS Excel software.
using MS Excel software.
Where:
No. m(kg) W(N) H+h y=(m) F(N) m: mass
1 0.05 0.49 0.06 0.03 2.207 W: weight
2 0.1 0.98 0.077 0.0385 2.833 H: height above the fluid
3 0.15 1.47 0.091 0.0455 3.348 h: height immersed in the fluid
4 0.2 1.96 0.104 0.052 3.826 y: effective height for the theoretical force

5 0.25 2.45 0.116 0.058 4.267

6 0.3 2.94 0.128 0.064 4.709
Table 1. theoretical force vs. predefined height. This
table is obtained using MS Excel software.

Fig 7.Theoretical vs. Practical Force "Comparison".

This graph describes the trend of theoretical and the
practical values of force experienced by angular block,
when submerged in water. This graph is obtained using
the MS Excel software.
Fig 6. Practical force vs. predefined height. This graph
is obtained using the MS Excel software. IX. CONCLUSION
 In case of partially submerged arc block in a fluid;
No. m(kg) W(N) H(m) H+h F(N) the height, counterweight, mass, hydrostatic
1 0.05 0.49 0.06 0.061 2.211 pressure, and hydrostatic forces are related to each
2 0.1 0.98 0.077 0.077 3.504 other exponentially.

3 0.15 1.47 0.091 0.091 4.447  In case of completely submerged arc block in a
4 0.2 1.96 0.104 0.104 5.188 fluid; the height, counterweight mass, hydrostatic
5 0.25 2.45 0.116 0.116 5.814 pressure, and hydrostatic forces are related to each
other linearly.
6 0.3 2.94 0.128 0.128 6.323
Table 2.Practical force vs. predefined height. This
table is obtained using MS Excel software.
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Engineering & Emerging Technologies (ICEET), Superior
University, Lahore, PK, 7-8 April, 2016.
 The counterweight mass, theoretical height, and
hydrostatic force, all increases with the increase in
height.
X. RECOMMENDATIONS
 To enhance the results better apparatus with
minimum friction is to be used.
 Advanced laboratories should be used, the
temperature of which do not vary significantly.
The temperature changes alter the density of
working fluid and hence pressure force is changed.
 The experiment should ideally be performed at sea
level so that the force distribution is correct.
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Appendix
 Hydrostatics is the study of fluid statics and is the
basis to the study of hydraulics, fluid, dynamics.
Hydrostatics is also the basis for the study of
hydraulics, which areused every day in
automobiles, farm equipment, construction
equipment, lifting equipment.
 Buoyant force is an upward force exerted by a
fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed
object. Buoyant forces act on the immersed solid
part. This buoyant force is present due to the fluid,
which is water in our case. The components act in
the horizontal and vertical directions. It is this
buoyant force that produces a net moment about
the pivot point “O”. A floating body displaces its
own weight in the fluid in which it floats.So
FB=Vbodyρg
 Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure water exerts
due to its weight per unit area at some depth. Some
principles which always apply to hydrostatic
pressure are that pressure depends only on the
depth of water above the point in question (not on
the water surface area), pressure increases in direct
proportion to the depth of water, pressure in a
continuous volume of water is the same at all
points that are at the same depth or elevation, and
pressure at any point in the water acts in all
directions at the same magnitude.