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Mechanics of Fluids

Mechanics of Fluids

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at its centreline be p. Then, provided that the fluid A is <strong>of</strong> constant density,<br />

the pressure at P is p + ϱAgy (from eqn 2.3), where ϱA represents the density<br />

<strong>of</strong> fluid A. If the other side <strong>of</strong> the U-tube is open to atmosphere the (gauge)<br />

pressure at Q is ϱBgx where ϱB represents the density <strong>of</strong> liquid B.<br />

Therefore<br />

p + ϱAgy = ϱBgx<br />

and if ϱA and ϱB are known and y and x are measured, the value <strong>of</strong> p<br />

may be calculated. If A is a gas, ϱA is negligible compared with ϱB, and<br />

then p = ϱBgx. The arrangement is suitable for measuring pressures below<br />

atmospheric as illustrated in Fig. 2.7. Application <strong>of</strong> the same principles then<br />

gives p + ϱAgy + ϱBgx = 0.<br />

U-tube manometers are also frequently used for measuring the difference<br />

between two unknown pressures, say p1 and p2. Figure 2.8 shows such an<br />

arrangement for measuring the pressure difference across a restriction in a<br />

horizontal pipe. (When fluid is flowing past the connections to a manometer<br />

it is very important for the axis <strong>of</strong> each connecting tube to be perpendicular<br />

to the direction <strong>of</strong> flow and also for the edges <strong>of</strong> the connections to be<br />

smooth, flush with the main surface and free from burrs. To reduce the<br />

The measurement <strong>of</strong> pressure 51<br />

Fig. 2.6<br />

Fig. 2.7

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