RELATIVE EQUILIBRIUM OF

LIQUIDS

FLUID MECHANICS
BS CIVIL ENGINEERING – 3
INSTRUCTOR: ENGR. JOHN CARLO B. MAMPUSTI
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION
(MOVING VESSEL)
Case 1: Fluid at rest or zero acceleration
For fluids at rest or moving on a straight path at constant
velocity, all components of acceleration are zero,

If the container of liquid has a .constant velocity then the surface of the Constant Velocity
liquid will remain horizontal since equilibrium occurs. As a result; the
pressure exerted on the walls of the container can be determined in the
usual manner using 𝑝 = 𝛾ℎ
which confirm that, in fluids at rest, the pressure remains
constant in any horizontal direction (P is independent of x and y)
and varies only in the vertical direction as a result of gravity [and
thus P = P(z)]
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION
(MOVING VESSEL)
Case 2: Constant Acceleration (Straight line)
If the container undergoes a constant acceleration, then the liquid surface will
begin to rotate ·clockwise about the center of the container and will eventually
maintain a fixed tilted position 𝜃

Constant Acceleration
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION (MOVING VESSEL)
Case 2: Constant Acceleration
w-=mg

REF = ma

N
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION (MOVING VESSEL)
Case 2: Constant Acceleration
w-=mg ෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑔

𝑁𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑁𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎
REF = ma
𝑚𝑔
𝑁=
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑚𝑔
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
N

𝑔𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑎

𝑎
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑔
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION
(MOVING VESSEL)
Constant Acceleration
Case 2: Constant Acceleration (Inclined)
If the container undergoes a constant acceleration, then the liquid
surface will begin to rotate ·clockwise about the center of the
container and will eventually maintain a fixed tilted position 𝜃

𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 & 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼

RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION
(MOVING VESSEL)
w-=mg
Case 2: Constant Acceleration (Inclined)
Constant Acceleration REF = ma

𝑅𝐸𝐹𝑧 = m𝑎𝑧

w-=mg
𝑅𝐸𝐹𝑥 = m𝑎𝑥

N 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 & 𝑎𝑧 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼

 RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION (MOVING VESSEL)
Case 2: Constant Acceleration (Inclined)
𝑚𝑎𝑧 + 𝑚𝑔
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑅𝐸𝐹𝑧 = m𝑎𝑧
𝑅𝐸𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 (𝑚𝑎𝑧 +𝑚𝑔)𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑁𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑚𝑎𝑧 = 𝑚𝑔
w-=mg
𝑚(𝑎𝑧 + 𝑔)𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑅𝐸𝐹𝑥 = m𝑎𝑥 𝑁𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎𝑧 + 𝑚𝑔
𝑎𝑥
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑚𝑎𝑧 + 𝑚𝑔 𝑎𝑧 + 𝑔
𝑁=
N 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 & 𝑎𝑧 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 & 𝑎𝑧 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
Note: 𝑔 ± 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
Negative (-) = downward motion 𝑁𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
Positive (+) = upward motion
𝑚𝑎𝑧 + 𝑚𝑔
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒; 𝑁 =
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION (MOVING VESSEL)
Case 3: Vertical Motion
A freely falling body accelerates under the influence of gravity. When the air
resistance is negligible, the acceleration of the body equals the gravitational
acceleration, and acceleration in any horizontal direction is zero. Therefore,
ax = ay = 0 and az = −g. Then the equations of motion for accelerating fluids

When the container is accelerated upward or downward the liquid surface

maintains its horizontal position; however the pressure within the liquid will
change .
𝐹 = 𝑊 ± 𝑚𝑎
𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔 ± 𝑚𝑎
𝐹 = 𝑚(𝑔 ± 𝑎)

𝑚
𝜌= Therefore; 𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉 = 𝜌𝐴ℎ
𝑉

𝐹 = 𝜌𝐴ℎ(𝑔 ± 𝑎)

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒; 𝐹 = 𝑃𝐴

𝑃𝐴 = 𝜌𝐴ℎ(𝑔 ± 𝑎)
Note:
𝑃 = 𝜌ℎ(𝑔 ± 𝑎) Negative (-) = downward motion
Positive (+) = upward motion
𝑎
𝑃 = 𝛾ℎ(1 ± )
𝑔
Ex 1. The tank of a truck is filled to its top with gasoline (s=0.90) . If the truck has a constant acceleration of 4m/s^2,
determine the pressure at point A, B, C, and D within the tank.
Pressure at A Pressure at C
ℎ 𝑎
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = = 𝑃𝐴 = 𝛾ℎ𝑎 𝑃𝐶 = 𝛾ℎ𝐶
𝐿 𝑔
𝑎𝐿 9.81𝑘𝑁 9.81𝑘𝑁
= 0.90 0 = 0.90 3.262𝑚 + 2𝑚
ℎ= 𝑚3
𝑔 𝑚3

=0 = 46.458𝑘𝑃𝑎
4𝑚
(8𝑚)
ℎ= 𝑠
9.81𝑚 Pressure at B Pressure at D
𝑠2
𝑃𝐵 = 𝛾ℎ𝐵 𝑃𝐷 = 𝛾ℎ𝐷
ℎ = 3.262𝑚
9.81𝑘𝑁
9.81𝑘𝑁 = 0.90 2𝑚
= 0.90 3.262𝑚 𝑚3
𝑚3

= 28.80𝑘𝑃𝑎 = 17.658𝑘𝑃𝑎
 Ex 2. A closed horizontal cylindrical tank 1.5 m in diameter and 4m long is completed filled with gasoline
(S=0.82) and accelerated horizontally at 3m/s^2.
A. Find the total force acting at the rear wall and at the front wall of the tank.

a=3 m/s^2
4m
D=1.5m
Ex 2. A closed horizontal cylindrical tank 1.5 m in diameter and 4m long is completed filled with gasoline
(S=0.82) and accelerated horizontally at 3m/s^2.
A. Find the total force acting at the rear wall and at the front wall of the tank.

h a=3 m/s^2
4m
D=1.5m

rear front
ℎ 𝑎
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = = Force acting at the rear wall Force acting at the front
𝐿 𝑔
𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 = 𝑃𝐴 𝐹𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 = 𝑃𝐴
𝑚
4𝑚 3 2 𝜋 2 𝜋
ℎ= 𝑠 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 = (𝛾ℎ)( 𝐷 ) 𝐹𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 = (𝛾ℎ)( 𝐷2 )
𝑚 4 4
9.81 2 𝑘𝑁 1.5 𝜋 𝑘𝑁 1.5 𝜋
𝑠 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 = 0.82(9.81 3 )(1.223 + )( 1.5𝑚 2 ) 𝐹𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 = 0.82(9.81 3 )( )( 1.5𝑚 2 )
𝑚 2 4 𝑚 2 4
ℎ = 1.223𝑚 𝐹𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 = 10.661kN
𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 = 28.047kN
Ex 3. An open tank 1.82 m square weighs 3425N and contains 0.91 m of water. It is acted by an unbalance
force of 10,400N parallel to a pair of sides. What is the force acting in the side with the smallest depth?

F=10,400N

0.91 m

1.82m x 1.82m
Ex 3. An open tank 1.82 m square weighs 3425N and contains 0.91 m of water. It is acted by an unbalance
force of 10,400N parallel to a pair of sides. What is the force acting in the side with the smallest depth?

𝐹
F=10,400N 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 𝑎=
y 𝑚
L/2
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉𝑜𝑙 + 𝑚𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘
L/2 𝑘𝑔 3425𝑁
𝑚 ) = 3363.418𝑘𝑔
2
0.91 m 𝑚 = 1000
𝑚3
1.82 0.91 + (
9.81 2
H 𝑠
10,400𝑁
𝑎= = 3.092𝑚/𝑠 2
1.82m x 1.82m 3363.418𝑘𝑔

𝑦 𝑎 Force acting in the side with smallest depth

𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = =
𝐿 𝑔 𝐻 = 0.91𝑚 − 0.287𝑚 = 0.623𝑚
2
𝐹 = 𝑃𝐴 = 𝛾ℎ(𝐴)
𝐿𝑎 1.82𝑚 𝑎 1.82𝑚 3.092 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑦= = 𝑚 )= ) 𝑘𝑁 0.623𝑚
2𝑔 𝑚 = 9.81 ( )(0.623𝑚 𝑥 1.82𝑚)
2(9.81 2 ) 2(9.81 2 ) 𝑚3 2
𝑠 𝑠
= 0.287𝑚 < 0.91 (ok!) = 3.465𝑘𝑁
Ex 4. A vessel containing oil accelerated o a plane 15 degrees with horizontal at 1.2 m/s^2. Determine the
inclination of the oil surface when the motion is:
a. Upward

𝑚
𝑎 = 1.2 2
𝑠

Upward Motion

𝜃 =?
𝛼 = 15° 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑔 + 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑚
1.2 2 cos(15°)
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
9.81 2 + 1.2 2 sin(15°)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 0.115
𝜃 = tan−1 ( 0.115) 𝜃 = 6.534°
Ex 4. A vessel containing oil accelerated o a plane 15 degrees with horizontal at 1.2 m/s^2. Determine the
inclination of the oil surface when the motion is:
a. Downward

𝑚
𝑎 = 1.2 2
𝑠
𝜃

Downward Motion

𝜃 =?
𝛼 = 15° 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑔 − 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑚
1.2 2 cos(15°)
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
9.81 2 − 1.2 2 sin(15°)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 0.122
𝜃 = tan−1 ( 0.122) 𝜃 = 6.957°
 Ex 5. A cylindrical water tank used in lifting water to the top of the tower is 1.5m high. If the pressure at the
bottom must not exceed 16 kPa, what maximum vertical acceleration can be imposed in the cylinder when it
is filled with water.

15 m
 Ex 5. A cylindrical water tank used in lifting water to the top of the tower is 1.5m high. If the pressure at the
bottom must not exceed 16 kPa, what maximum vertical acceleration can be imposed in the cylinder when it
is filled with water.

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 =?
𝑎
𝑃 = 𝛾ℎ(1 + )
𝑔
𝑘𝑁 𝑎
16𝑘𝑃𝑎 = (9.81 3 )(15𝑚)(1 + )
𝑚 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2

𝑚
15 m 𝑎 = 0.857
𝑠2

𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 16𝑘𝑃𝑎