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By Sam Corwy
CONTENTS
Page 1 of 17
QUESTION 1
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A Hydraulic press is used to lift a load. The small piston has a diameter D 1 of 40mm (r1 = 20mm = 0.02m) and the large piston has a diameter D2 of 90mm (r2 = 45mm = 0.045m). Assuming 100% efficiency and no losses, we must determine the maximum load that can be lifted when a force of 4kN is applied to the small piston:
F D1 = 40mm
Load D2 = 90mm
p1
p2
In a closed system, the pressure is equally felt on all surfaces, hence the pressure caused by the application of the force F will be transmitted equally to the larger piston (p1 = p2). Therefore we must first calculate the pressure in the system with the force applied:
We know that this pressure will be applied to the large piston. The force created by this pressure acting on its area can be calculated by:
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To convert this from a force (N) to a load (kg) we must divide by the value of g (assuming that g = 9.81ms-2 at the location of the press):
An alternative method of calculating this is to take ratios of the force and area for the small piston (F1 and A1) to that of the large piston (F2 and A2):
Conclusions I would suggest that the more accurate maximum load is 2064.220 kg. This is down to my own rounding errors when calculating the pressure and the force created in the first method. This could have been avoided by leaving p as F/A throughout the calculations. Also a more thorough analysis could use a more accurate value for g (rather than just 2 d.p.), and also take into consideration the compressibility of the fluid. However since we are using the same value for g throughout it should not affect our results.
QUESTION 2
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A quadrant shaped sluice gate has its upper edge 4m below the water surface. It is 1m wide and has a radius of 0.6m:
4m water
0.6m
Assuming the gate is weightless and a negligibly thin, curved laminar plate, we are to calculate the hydrostatic force acting on the gate and the angle for its line of action. To do this we will use two methods, method 1 will use real water and method 2 will use imaginary water. After we have calculated each we will find the centroid of the said areas and take moments to check the validity of our results. Method 1 Real Water Considering the water underneath the gate, the forces acting are as below:
RV
FH
RH A
FV
Where the force acting on the gate will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to R.
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To determine the overall force on the gate we must first calculate the resultant force by finding the value of its components RH and RV:
Where:
((
Hence:
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The force of the water F is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, hence:
To check the validity of our results we can take moments about point A (shown on the previous diagram), but first we must determine the position of the centroid for the shape. Taking clockwise moments as positive: Shape Square quadrant Area (m2) ( ) Distance from XX (m) M.O.A.
Quadrant
( (
) )
Square (
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Hence the centroid is 0.4656m from A and the top edge of the shape as shown below:
0.4656m
centroid
0.4656m
centroid of rectangle
combined centroid
centroid of quadrant X A
Shape Rectangle
Area (m2)
M.O.A.
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Quadrant
( (
) )
Composite
Q.E.D.
Method 2 Imaginary Water We will now analyse the element that is the other side of the curved gate:
Page 9 of 17
combined centroid
RH
wquadrant A R RV
centroid of quadrant
Where the force acting on the gate will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to R. To determine the overall force on the gate we must first calculate the resultant force by finding the value of its components RH and RV: ( )
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The force of the water F is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, hence: Q.E.D.
We can also validate our proof moments from method 1 by saying that:
Q.E.D.
Further Checks
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We can validate our results further by checking that the angle made by the triangle consisting of the vertical distance s from origin to COP (opposite) and horizontal distance from OA to the COP (Adjacent) is the same angle as that made from the vectors of our calculated forces . This will prove that the line of action for the resultant force passes through the origin.
4m
O s 0.6m
t A
Hence: ( ) ( )
But before we can go any further we must calculate the value of D depth to COP:
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( ( ) ( ) ( (( ) ) ) (
) )
Conclusions Having obtained the same results from numerous methods and having taken steps to validate these results I am confident that they are accurate. I believed that an adequate level of accuracy has been maintained throughout this analysis, but again perhaps a more accurate figure for g could have been used. That said the only real criticism I have of my work is that perhaps some diagrams and descriptive text could have been made clearer with a more methodical layout for the benefit of anybody reading this report that is not familiar with the subject.
QUESTION 3
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A circular window in the side of a large aquarium is 70mm (0.07m) in diameter and is at 68 to the horizontal. The centre of the window is 800mm (0.8m) vertically below the surface of the fresh water in the tank. We must find the force on the window and determine Y (the distance along the 68 incline from the surface of the water to the centre of pressure at which the force acts):
800mm Y 70mm
68
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The next task is to find the value of Y. But to do this we must first find the vertical depth d to the C.O.P. through which the force acts which we would expect to be deeper than the centroid: Side View Plan View C.O.P. X 0.8m F X X X
Centroid
C.O.P. Centroid
Where
is the angle of the incline, d is the vertical depth to the C.O.P. and Y is the distance to the C.O.P. along the incline.
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We can analyse this further by calculating the distance from the C.O.P. to the centroid along the incline. If we call the distance along the incline from the surface to the centroid T, we can say that:
We can validate this further using trigonometry by saying that a right angle triangle with hypotenuse being the difference of T and Y (0.355mm) and an opposite being the difference in depth of the C.O.P. and centroid (0.329mm) should form an angle of 68:
C.O.P.
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Conclusions Again having validated the given value of using my calculated results I am confident that the results are accurate. Also a more accurate value for g would again have given slightly more accurate results. That said the only real criticism I have of my work is that perhaps some descriptive text could have been made clearer for the benefit of anybody reading this report that is not familiar with the subject.
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