Lecture 3 Pressure and its

Measurement

Fluid Mechanics-I
Dr. Sheeja Janardhanan
Associate Professor, SNAOE, IMUV
Fluid Statics

´ Study of forces acting on a given

control volume of fluid while in rest
´ Fluid statics or hydrostatics is the branch
of fluid mechanics that studies "fluids at
rest and the pressure in a fluid or
exerted by a fluid on an immersed
body".
´ It encompasses the study of the
conditions under which fluids are at rest
in stable equilibrium
Pressure and its Measurement

Fluid Pressure at a Point

!" "
Pressure, p= =
!# #
Unit of pressure N/m2or
Pascal
Pascal’s Law
It states that the pressure
or intensity of pressure at
a point in a static fluid is
equal in all directions
Pascal’s Law Proof
´ Since the element is small weight can be neglected

Balancing forces in x-direction

Balancing forces in y-direction

Measurement of Pressure

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE (patm)

It is the pressure of surrounding fluid under atmospheric
conditions
ABSOLUTE PRESSURE (pabs)
It is net pressure measured with absolute zero pressure as
datum
GAUGE PRESSURE (pgauge)
It is a pressure measured using pressure measuring
instruments with atmospheric pressure as datum
VACUUM PRESSURE (pvacc)
It is the pressure bellow the atmospheric pressure
Mathematically
pabs= patm+ pgauge
pabs= patm-pvacc
 Pressure Measuring Devices
The pressure of fluids is measured using
1. Mechanical Pressure Gauges
2. Manometers

Mechanical Pressure Gauges

a. Diaphragm Pressure Gauge

Pressure Detection
• A fluid in contact with a flexible membrane pushes on
that membrane, bending it.
• The pressure is a measure of how hard it pushes.
• When the outside preference is low, the reference
pressure bends the membrane out.
• As the outside pressure increases, it pushes back on the
membrane, bending it back the other way.
• By measuring how far the membrane bends, the gauge
can detect the outside pressure.
Diaphragm Pressure Gauge
Pressure Measurement
´ There are many different ways to measure the pressure from a dynamic pressure
gauge.
´ One of the simplest ones is to attach a needle to the gauge. When the pressure
increases, it pushes on the needle, moving it up and down along a dial which shows
the pressure.
´ Another way is to use an electric resistance strain gauge. An electric resistance strain
gauge uses a long strip of an electric resistor--a device that resists the flow of
electricity.
´ The resistor is attached to the diaphragm. As the diaphragm bends, it stretches out the
resistor, increasing the resistance. The resistor has an electric current running through it.
The more the diaphragm bends and increases the resistance, the more the current
drops.
´ By measuring the electric current, the gauge can determine how far the diaphragm
has bent, and thus, how much pressure the outside air is creating.
 b. Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge
Pressure Detection
´ An elastic transducer, that is bourdon tube which is fixed and
open at one end to receive the pressure which is to be
measured.
´ The other end of the bourdon tube is free and closed.
´ The cross-section of the bourdon tube is elliptical. The bourdon
tube is in a bent form to look like a circular arc.
´ To the free end of the bourdon tube is attached an adjustable
link, which is in turn connected to a sector and pinion as shown
in diagram.
´ To the shaft of the pinion is connected a pointer which sweeps
over a pressure calibrated scale.
´ The applied pressure acts on the inner walls of the bourdon
tube.
´ Due to the applied pressure, the bourdon tube tends to change
in cross – section from elliptical to circular. This tends to
straighten the bourdon tube causing a displacement of the free
end of the bourdon tube.
Pressure Measurement
´ This displacement of the free closed end of the bourdon tube is
proportional to the applied pressure.
´ As the free end of the bourdon tube is connected to a link – section –
pinion arrangement, the displacement is amplified and converted to a
rotary motion of the pinion.
´ As the pinion rotates, it makes the pointer to assume a new position on a
pressure calibrated scale to indicate the applied pressure directly.
´ As the pressure in the case containing the bourdon tube is usually
atmospheric, the pointer indicates gauge pressure.
 c. Dead Weight Pressure Gauge
Pressure Detection
´ Dead weight pressure gauges are also known as
dead weight testers
´ DWT (Dead Weight Tester) is based on the
principle of Pascal's law
´ In DWT system, silicon oil is used within the closed
boundaries of the Piston cylinder arrangement,
piping, pressurization chamber and in the head
on which the gauge to be tested/ calibrated is
fixed
´ Once the system is full with air free oil, pressure is
gradually increased from the pressurization
chamber
´ As the force increases gradually and equals the
amount of down ward force being exerted by
the dead weights, the total system gains the
state of equilibrium and just at that moment, the
dead weights starts getting lifted up.
Pressure Measurement
´ The sum of pressure values stamped on weights lifted is operating on the pressure
gauge element also, which is under test/ to be calibrated.
´ A known weight is placed on the platform. Now by operating the plunger, fluid
pressure is applied to the other side of the piston until enough force is developed to
lift the piston-weight combination.
´ When this happens, the piston weight combination floats freely within the cylinder
between limit stops.
´ In this condition of equilibrium, the pressure force of fluid is balanced against the
gravitational force of the weights puls the friction drag.
´ Therefore, PA = Mg + F
Hence : P = Mg + F / A
where, P = pressure
M = Mass; Kg
g = Acceleratoion due to gravity ; m/s²
F = Friction drag; N
A = Eqivalent area of piston – cylinder combination; m²
´ This pressure value shown by the gauge should be equal to the known input
pressure P.
´ If the gauge indicates some other value other than p the gauge is adjusted so that
it reads a value equal to p.
d. Bellows Pressure Gauge
Pressure Detection
´ Bellows are thin-walled metallic cylinders, with deep
convolutions, of which one end is sealed and the other
end remains open.
´ The closed end can move freely while the open end is
fixed.
´ When pressure is applied to the closed end, such as in
the animation below, the bellows will be compressed.
Pressure Measurement
´ The closed end will move upwards and the link, which
is the rod in between the closed end of the bellows
and the transmission mechanism, will go up and rotate
the pointer.