FEATI UNIVERSITY

Helios St., Sta Cruz Manila

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

FLUID MECHANICS
LABORATORY MANUAL

BY
ENGR. TOMAS U. GANIRON, JR.
MARCH 1997

EXPERIMENT

TITLE

MEASUREMENT OF SPECIFIC WEIGHT

AND PRESSURE INTENSITY OF WATER

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF LIQUID

PRESSURE MEASUREMENT USING

MANOMETER/PIEZOMETER

4A

FALL VELOCITY OF SPHERE

4B

FALLING SPHERE VISCOSITY

5A

HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON PLANE

SURFACES

5B

DETERMINATION OF CENTER OF
PRESSURE

6A

BUOYANCY FORCE (ARCHIMEDES

PRINCIPLE)

6B

METACENTRIC HEIGHT

ROTATION OF LIQUID MASS (ROTATING

VESSEL)

GRAVITY DAMS

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT USING A

VOLUMETRIC TANK

10

AN EXPERIMENT ON THE PRESSURE

HEAD APPARATUS

11

VENTURIMETER

12

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE DARCHY

WEISBACK EQUATION

13

VELOCITY MEASUREMENT BY PITOT

TUBE

RULES IN MAKING A REPORT

1. Report must be written in ink or 5 x 11 bond paper.
2. The first few pages of a report must be detached from the manual that contain the
title, object, theory, apparatus and materials, procedure and table of result.
3. The suggested arrangement of the experiment report will be as follows:

Experiment No.
Title
Objective
Theory/General
Lab. Apparatus/Materials
Procedure
Table of Computation
Discussion
Sketch
Conclusion
Reference/s

4. use ink in making sketch and drawing of materials and / or equipment

5. In discussion, the students will cite theories and facts from which the result will
be adapted.
6. Conclusion must be in the students own words and it must be related to the
objective of the experiment.

EXPERIMENT NO. 1

MEASUREMENT OF SPECIFIC WEIGHT AND PRESSURE

INTENSITY OF WATER
GENERAL:
Specific weight is the ratio of the weight density or mass density of a substance to
the weight density or mass density of water. The of fluid is its mass per unit volume.
While the specific weight is its weight per unit of volume. Specific weight represented
the force exerted by gravity on a unit volume of fluid and therefore must have units of
force per unit volume such as pounds per cubic feet (N/M cubic in SI unit)

OBJECTIVE:
To establish a relation between specific weight and pressure intensity of water.

Density and specific weight of fluids are as follow:

Mass Density =

Specific Weight
Acceleration due to gravity

In eqn = p = w
g
It should be noted that density is absolute since it depends on mass which is
independent of location. Specific weight on the other hand, is not absolute for it depends
on the value of the gravitational acceleration, which varies with location, primarily on
latitude and elevation above main sea level. The unit pressure, meaning the intensity of
pressure at any point in a fluid is the amount of pressure per unit area A, on which the
total pressure is Pt.
P=F/A

APPARATUS:
Platform balance
Flow can container
Ruler and water
LABORATORY PROCEDURE:
1. Determine the weight of the container at its base area.
2. Place the container on the Platform balance and load it with a known
quantity of water.
3. Measure the height of the water in the container.
4. Increase the amount of water in the container.
5. Make at least 5 trials.

EQUATION:
Volume of water

Ht. of water x Base Area

Specific Weight

Weight of water
Volume of water

Pressure

Weight of water
Base Area

DATA AND COMPUTATION:

Trial

1
2
3
4
5

Weight
Weight Weight
Ht.
Base Volume Specific Pressure
of
of
of
Of
Area Of H2O Weight
(KPa)
Contain
Water
Water Water (m)
(m)
(KPa)
er
and
(KN)
(m)
(KN)
Container
(KN)

EXPERIMENT NO. 02

DETERMINATION OF APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

USED IN FLUID MECHANICS

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the specific gravity of liquid by means of U-tube.
GENERAL:
Specific gravity of liquid is the ratio of its density to that pure water. A standard
temperature universally it is the ratio of the unit weight of the liquid to the unit weight of
the water at 4 C or 39.2 F. Physicist use 1.0g km equivalent to 100kg/cm, and hence the
specific gravity (w/c is dimensionless) has the same numerical value for a liquid as its
density in that system. As the density of fluid varies with temperature, specific gravity
must be determined and specified at particular temperature.
In the petroleum industry, it is the customary to specific to specify the specific
gravity of oil at 60 F relative to water at 60 F, indicated by 60/60 specific gravity is
usually determined by reading on hydrometer standardized by American Petroleum
Institute (API) w/c is graduated to read degrees (API), specific gravity at 60 F maybe
obtained from degrees API at 60 F by:
S = 141.5 / 131.5 + API
Experimentally the specific gravity of liquid and solids can be determine by
several methods.

By applying the Archimedes Principle.

By means of hydrostatic pressure on by the used of U-tube.
By means of westhfal specific gravity balance.

A glass, U-tube open to the atmosphere at both ends is a convenient instrument

for determining the specific gravity of liquid provided that another non-miscible liquid
of known specific gravity from one atmosphere surface to another.
APPARATUS:

U-tube
Ruler
Oil
Water
PROCEDURE:
1. Pour a quantity of water into the U-tube. Then pour a certain amount of oil
into one leg of the U-tube. Observe the point of contact between water and oil.
Then measure its height on both legs of the U-tube. Make at least three (3)
trials.
2. Pour a quantity of oil on both legs of the U-tube. Do it at least three (3) trials.
3. Determine the specific gravity of oil.
4. Determine the percentage of error.
DATA AND COMPUTATION:
DATA 1
TRIALS

HEIGHT 1
(CM)

HEIGHT 2
(CM)

St

1
2
3

DATA 2
TRIALS
1
2
3

DATA 1

HEIGHT 1

HEIGHT 2
(CM)

HEIGHT 3
(CM)

St

St

= H1 / H2

% ERROR

= (St ave. - Ss) Ss x 100

St ave.

= (St 1 + St 2 + St 3) / 3

Where:
H1
H2
H3
Ss
St

= Height of water in 1 leg of the U-tube

= Height of the oil in the other leg of U-tube
= H2 H1
= Standard Specific Gravity
= Experimental Specific Gravity

DATA 2
St

= H3/H2

EXPERIMENT NO. 03

PRESSURE MEASUREMENT USING

MANOMETER/PIEZOMETER
OBJECTIVE:
To measure pressure of a liquid using a manometer/piezometer, U-tube
manometer, or a differential manometer.
APPARATUS:
Manometer/Piezometer
U-tube Manometer
Differential Manometer
Meter Stick
Foot Ruler
Pipe flowing full
GENERAL:
P = h

where: P = pressure in N/m2 or Pascal

= specific weight of measuring fluid
(for water, = 9,810 N/m3)
= head or height, m

The manometer to be made of the static pressure in a pipe. (See Figs. 2a,3b and 3c).
A. Piezometer
1. Connect the piezometer to a top of pipe.
2. Turn on valve so fluid (water) will flow in pipe and will rise in the
piezometer.
3. Measure the height, h of the fluid column in piezometer above the tap.
This height is called the piezometer height. Pressure in the pipe at the
point of tap is equal to h.
4. If tap (of piezometer) is on top of pipe, add pipe diameter to h.

B. U-tube Manometer
1. Connect U-tube manometer to tap of pipe. (Preferably, manometer
fluid should be mercury, specific gravity = 13.55)
2. Turn on valve so fluid will flow in pipe.
3. Measure height, h1, and h2 (see Fig. 3b). Calculate pressure pipe.
P = Hg (h2 h1) = SHg w (h2 h1) =
C. Differential Manometer
1. Connect the two (2) arms of the differential manometer to two points
(taps) along a pipeline (in this particular case, use the taps of the
upstream section of the pipe and the throat of a venture meter).
2. Turn on flow.
3. Measure h , h , (see fig. 2c). Calculate pressure differences.
4. Use Formula as Shown in figure.

EXPERIMENT NO. 04A

FALL VELOCITY OF SPHERE

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the effect of three (3) different liquids w/ different mass densities on
the fall velocity of the body.
GENERAL:
Density
The density of a fluid is the mass it possesses per unit volume. Since a
molecule of a substance has a certain mass regardless of its state, it then follows that the
density is proportional to the number of molecules in a unit volume of the fluid. Density
is vital in any problem of flow in w/c acceleration is important.
APPARATUS:
Stop Watch
Fresh water
Oil
Weight Balance

Meter Stick
Sea water
Vernier Caliper

3 Marbles
3-6inch tall transparent cylinders
Graduated Cylinder

PROCEDURE:
1. Weight each three (3) colored marbles diameter.
2. Fill each cylinder of the fall velocity apparatus w/ an equal and measure the
height of water of cylinder A, cylinder B, and cylinder C.
3. Drop each time marble three (3) times in each cylinder and take note of the
elapsed time trial w/ the use of stop watch.

DATA & COMPUTATION:

Diameter of Marble = ______________________mm
Weight of Marble

= ______________________KN

Fresh water

Sea Water

Oil

Elapsed

Marble
1
A

Fresh Sea
water water

Oil

EXPERIMENT NO. 05B

DETERMINATION OF CENTER OF PRESSURE

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the depth of the center of pressure, Yc of a rectangular
plane immersed in water.
APPARATUS:
Hydrostatic pressure apparatus and accessories (A schematic diagram
of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 4)
GENERAL:
P = A N YO

P = total pressure on rectangle

A = area of rectangle
Yo = depth of centroid of area
W = specific weight of water

FH = P
FV =

where V = submerged volume

Description of the apparatus and how it works are given in Fig.

PROCEDURE:
1. Measure L1, (QR), vertical distance Ro, EG (vertical height of rectangle, and
2.

horizontal width z of rectangle). Check if beam GRS is balanced.

3. Fill tank with water to depth such that pt. E at top of rectangular are is flushed
with the water surface.
4. Since the beam QRS will swing clockwise on account of the moment of the
buoyant force, Fv, maintain equilibrium by adding weight on tray at Q,
Record the added weight, W.
COMPUTATIONS:
P = A w (Yo) = FH

Area

= EG x z

Yo

= radius of quadrant minus EG

= Depth of centroid
= Specific weight of water

MR = 0
W x L1 = FV x X
(FV weight of displaced volume as determined. See Fig. 4)
F1 and P are equal in magnitude and collinear.

Since GJ is a circular are, the pressure vector at each point is concentric at R, thus
the resultant of FV and FH passes at B.
Thus, moment at R as a center equals zero:
FH Yc = FV X
Y = FV X
FH

Yc is the location of the center of pressure

(Refer to Fig. 4. Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus)

DABC is a rectangular tank with width AB, height DA and length perpendicular
to plane of paper. A beam QRS with fulcrum at R is attached to the tank. To the left end,
weight can be loaded on a tray, while on the opposite and is a counterpoise. A float in the
shape of a ring sector of a quadrant of a circle with center at R is affixed to the left arm of
the beam. The vertical rectangle of height EG and width perpendicular to paper has area
A and centroid at 0. (EG and R are on same is balanced by adjusting the counterweight).
When the foal EGJIH is immersed in the water, the beam will tilt clockwise
because of the torque exerted by the buoyant forces Fv. Weight should be added to
maintain equilibrium.
The buoyant force Fv is equal to the weight of the displaced volume. A way of
determining the submerge volume at any level of immersion of the float is to mark the
depth of the water at the level. Then list the float totally out of the water and mark the
new depth. The amount by which the water level subsided is the displaced volume.

EXPERIMENT NO. 06

BUOYANCY FORCE
(ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE)
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the buoyancy force on a floating object.
GENERAL:
When an object floats in liquid, the weight of the object is balanced by the
buoyancy force.
APPARATUS:
Test tube
Mate stick
Sand

Graduated cylinder
Liquids (water, oil, kerosene)

LAB. PROCEDURE:
1. Place grains of sand in the test tube, just enough so that the test tube will float
upright when placed in the liquid.
2. Weigh the test tube and sand; Wo = mass of test tube and sand x gravity.
3. Fill the graduated cylinder with the liquid to about 3/4. Determine the level of
the liquid in the scale. Mark level as Vi = ________________ml.
4. Allow the test tube with sand to float in the liquid. Note that the level of liquid
changes. Mark new level as Vf = ________________ml.
5. Determine V = Vf Vi in ml.

Note: 1 ml. = 1cc

ANALYSIS:
Wo Bf when the object floats in liquid

DATA AND RESULTS:

WATER
Water
Oil
Kerosene

W (Dynes)

V (ml)

Where:
Wo

= weight of test tube with sand

Wi

= weight of displaced liquid

W = DV/g

= volume displaced in liquid

D = 1g/cc; g = 980 cm/s2

W (Dynes)

Wo/Wi

EXPERIMENT NO. 7

METACENTRIC HEIGHT
OBJECTIVE :
To measure metacentric height of a floating body.
APPARATUS :
Metacentric apparatus
Plumb bomb

Meter stick
Protractor

GENERAL:
A body will be in its upright positions if the weight and the force are collinear.
Due to wind or wave action, the body is made to tilt and the two forces (W and BF) are
longer collinear producing a couple which is equal to W (X) or BF (X).
The point of intersection between the lines of action of the BF and the axis is
called the Metacenter, M and the distance from metacenter to the center of gravity of the
body is the metacentric height.

EQUATION:
MG

= Metacentric height

= Center of gravity of floating body

= Center of Buoyancy when body is in upright position

= Width of the floating body

= Length

= Depth of Floatation

= Center of buoyancy

MG

= MG + GB

MB

= b2 / 12a (1 + tan2 e/2)

GB

= Measure

The criterion for stability of a submerged body is that the center of buoyancy must
be above the center of mass of the body.
PROCEDURE:
1. Fill the container with water
2. Take the following measurement.
b = ________________
a = ________________
L = ________________
3. Tilt the body and measure the angle using a protractor.
Record 0 = _______________

COMPUTATION:

SUMMARY:

EXPERIMENT NO. 08

ROTATION OF LIQUID MASS

(ROTATING VESSEL)
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the angular velocity of an open vessel fully and partially filled with
water.
GENERAL:
Considering that the liquid in the open container is at rest, the free surface will
assume the horizontal position MN.
If the container is then rotated about its vertical axis with an angular velocity, an
initial disturbance of the liquid mass is experienced but after a short time the condition of
relative equilibrium is reached. The free surface is now curved and assumes the new
position MON. To study the form of this substance and the pressure variation in the
rotated mass of liquid, we apply the same principle used in rotational motion.

APPARATUS:
Hydro synthetic machine with container
Meter stick
Stop watch
Stirring rod

LAB. PROCEDURE:
1. Measure the cross section of an empty container in SI units.
L = _______________________cm
W = _______________________cm
H = _______________________cm

A.

OPEN VESSEL FULLY FILLED WITH WATER

Run the water until the container reaches the max. ht.. Stir and rotate the water
with 25 cycles. Measure the ht. of the container. Determine the angular
velocity of an open container. Compute the volume of the water during and
after rotation.

B.

OPEN VESSEL PARTIALLY FILLED WITH WATER

Allow the water to run in the container until reaches 30cm. Repeat the same
procedure in open vessel fully filled with water.

TABULATION:
Type of open
Vessel
1. Fully filled
w/ water
2. Partially
filled w/ water

Vol. of empty
container
(cm3)

Ht. of
Water
(cm)

Angular
velocity
(rad/s)

Vol. of
Water
(cm3)

PRACTICAL QUESTION:
1. How much area at the top is not covered by water during and after rotation?
2. (Refer to Procedure B)
3. Is the volume spilled out in Procedure A and B? By how much?

CALCULATION:

DISCUSSION:

FIGURE/SKETCH:

RECOMMENDATION:

CONCLUSION:

EXPERIMENT NO. 09

GRAVITY DAMS
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the stability against sliding and over turning under
a. FS vs. Overturning
b. FS vs. Sliding
GENERAL:
Any dam that does not depend on arch action to resist the various forces to which
it is subjected is called gravity dams.
Dams are built for the primary purpose of impounding water in the reservoir
upstream of its location according, the main external forces which must be taken into
consideration when designing gravity dam, the greatest is the gravity force of the dam
itself.
APPARATUS:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Hydroelectric power plant and accessories

Stop watch
Meter stick
Steel tape

LAB. APPARATUS:
1. Measure the cross section of the electronic power plants in SI units
approximate a triangle.
2. Allow the water to flow the cross section of the dam until it reaches its
constant height.

3. Determine the height of the water and the hydrostatic, gravity and uplift force

of dam.
4. Locate the total hydrostatic pressure above the heel of dam.
This is the eccentricity (e)
5. Calculate the following:
RV =
RH =
RM =
OM =
FS vs. Sliding
FS vs. Overturning
Where coefficient of friction is 0.75
6. Determine the point where resultant intersects the base and the maximum and
minimum pressure developed in the foundation.

EXPERIMENT NO. 10

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT USING A

VOLUMETRIC TANK
OBJECTIVE:
To measure Q which is the rate which is the rate of discharge or flow from a
course in units of volume per unit time.
APPARATUS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Volumetric tank or container of measurable capacity

Stop watch
Weighing scale
Water source
Tape measure

GENERAL:
Q1

in m3/s

= Total volume
Elapsed time

Q = volume discharge
M2

Weight
Elapsed time

in kg-wt/s

M = mass discharge
Q2

= __M__ where = mass density of liquid

= 1 Kgm3 for water

LAB. PROCEDURE:
A. For Q1:
1. Measure volume of tank/container in m
2. Turn on flow reservoir or source od steady flow.
3. Catch flow into container at same time that stopwatch is started.
4. Determine time in seconds to fill tank/container.
5. Repeat at least two (2) times with different opening of pipe measure.
B. For M2 (if weighing scale is available for use)
1. Place container on weighing scale and determine weight of empty
container, Wo,
in kg-wt.
2. Turn on flow from reservoir or source.
3. Record time that the mass-weight of container and flow reach several
values of W1, W2... etc.
DATA AND COMPUTATIONS:
PART A:
3

Volume = ________________________ m
t1 = _________________ m

t2 = ______________________ s

t3 = _________________ s
Q1

= Vol.
t1

= __________________ m3/s

= Vol.
t2

= ____________________m3/s

= Vol.
t3

= ___________________m3/s

Q3

= Q1 + Q2 + Q3 = ____________________m3/s
3

or

Q1

1 1 1
= V (t1 + t2 + t3) = ______________________m3/s

PART B:
W
:

M=
: time = t

Wn Wo

W/t :
Wo :
:
t0 = 0
:
0
________________________________________________________________________
W1
:
:
t1 =
:
M1 =
W2
:

t2 =

t3 =

M2 =
W3

M3 =
M2

= M
3

= ____________________

= M2

= ____________________

EXPERIMENT NO. 11

AN EXPERIMENT ON THE PRESSURE

HEAD APPARATUS

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the pressure by measurement of the head and apply Bernoullis
equation and determining pressure in venturimeter.
GENERAL:
Pressure is the outward force, which a substance exerts on its surroundings. It is
defined as the force on a unit surface area and is commonly measured in pounds per
square inch or in dryness per square centimeter. Generally, the pressure of a gas is due to
the collisions of the gas molecules with the walls of the container. For an ideal gas the
pressure is directly proportional to the absolute temperature and inversely proportional to
the volume. the pressure of the liquid gas that is not moving is called hydrostatic pressure
and is due to the weight of the fluid and the reactive forces applied by the containing
walls. Hydrostatic pressure is constant for all points at the same depth and is independent
of the shape or cross section of the container. Also, pressure is important in the science of
fluids in motion, or hydrodynamics. Bernoullis equation is the basic relation between
streamline flow of an incompressible, non-viscous fluid and its pressure, velocity, crosssection, the higher velocities and lower pressures occur when the cross-section is smaller.
The reduced pressure near a constriction is the basis for several types of fluid pumps,
including the automobile carburetor, in which this effect is used to draw gasoline vapor.

APPARATUS:
Hydro synthetic machine
Vernier caliper
Meter stick
Stop watch
LAB. PROCEDURE:
1. Measure the diameter of large and small pipes.
2. Allow the water to flow through the venturimeter.
Compute the rate of the volume discharge or Q.
3. After each trial, adjust the value to increase the Q. Record the data.
4. Compute the pressure from the gathered data and use of the Bernoullis
equation.
DATA AND COMPUTATIONS:
Dia. big pipe

= _____________________________ mm.

Dia. small pipe

= _____________________________ mm.

No. of Trials
1
2
3

h1

h2

Q (m3/s)

EXPERIMENT NO. 12

VENTURI METERS
OBJECTIVE:
To measure the rate of flow in a pipe and to determine the coefficient of discharge Cd.
GENERAL:
A contraction in a stream tube tend to produce an accelerated flow and fall of
pressure which is directly related to flow rate and thus is an excellent meter in which rate
of flow maybe calculated from pressure measurements.
The form of the venture tube is usually a conical nozzle like reducer followed by
a more general enlargement to the original size. It is generally a casting consisting of an
upstream section which is the same size as the pipe, has a bronze lining, and contains a
piezometer ring for measuring static pressure; a converging conical section; a short
conical or cylindrical section containing a piezometer ring, and a diffuser on order to
minimized head loss.
The pressures at the base of the meter (section 0) and at the throat (section 2) are
ontained by the piezometer rings and a differential manometer usually measures the
pressure difference. The pressure at the upstream section and throat are actual pressures,
the velocities from Bernoullis equation are theoretical velocities. If losses are considered
in the energy equation, the velocities are then the actual velocities. New, from the
principle of continuity, Q = AV, the actual velocity times the actual area of the throat
determines the actual discharge.
Because of streamlining the flow passage, any jet contraction beyond the smallest
section is eliminated; consequently the coefficient of contraction has a value of unity and
the basic discharge equation for the venture meter for incompressible flow is

Where

R = gauge difference
S = specific gravity of manometer liquid
Si = specific gravity of flowing liquid
Note: that since contraction coefficient is unity; hence

LAB. APPARATUS:
Hydro synthetic machine
Stop watch
Ruler
Container
Hose
PROCEDURE:
1. Run the pump to let the water flow through the pipelines.
2. Allow the liquid to collect in a container and note the rise in the liquid
surfaced in a measured time.
3. Read the manometer gauge difference.
4. Make five (5) trials.

DATA AND COMPUTATIONS:

Trial
1
2
3
4
5

H
(cm)

R
(cm)

Time
(sec)

Cd

gauge difference

height of water from base of the bucket

D1

inside dia. of pipe

D2

outside dia. of pipe

Pipe thickness

= _________________

Area of container

= _________________

EXPERIMENT NO. 13

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE DARCY-WEISBACK

EQUATION
I. INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVE:
1. To determine the head loss using the head loss apparatus.
2. To compare the experimental head loss with the theoretical head loss.
GENERAL:
The flow of fluids through various conduits and element results in a friction loss.
This experiment aims to examine this loss with the use of thru Friction Loss
Apparatus.
APPARATUS:
Hydro synthetic machine
Meter stick
Stop watch
Vernier caliper
Darcy Weisback Equation
h

L
f

V
D2g

LAB. APPARATUS:
1. Select the pipelines to be considered in the experiment.
2. Take note of the pipe diameter involved.
3. Measure the lengths of the pipes involved.
4.
5. Allow the water to flow.
6. Measure the head loss and determine the discharge by taking note of the
volume of flow and the time taken.
7. Repeat for the other pipes selected.

DATA AND COMPUTATIONS:

Trial

Length

Dia.

Velocity

Exp. hf

Theo. hf

1
2
3

The values of friction factor (f) were obtained by solving for the Reynolds
Number and assuming that the pipes were hydraulically smooth.

EXPERIMENT NO. 14

VELOCITY MEASUREMENT BY PITOT TUBE

OBJECTIVE:
To determine velocity of flow by use of a Pitot tube.
APPARATUS:
Pitot tube
Meter stick
Equipment used in experiment work of volumetric discharge measurement
Drawing a Pitot tube