Idraulica

Idraulica, or hydraulics, is the branch of science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids, the forces they exert, and their use in transmitting power and controlling machinery. The field covers fluid statics and dynamics, the behavior of liquids under pressure, and the design of systems that convert fluid energy into motion or force.

The discipline rests on several core principles. Pascal's law states that pressure applied to a confined incompressible fluid is transmitted undiminished in all directions. Hydrostatics deals with fluids at rest, while fluid dynamics describes moving liquids using concepts such as the continuity equation and Bernoulli’s principle for ideal flows. These principles underpin the operation of hydraulic systems and devices.

A typical hydraulic system includes a fluid (often oil-based) contained in a reservoir, a pump to pressurize the fluid, actuators such as cylinders and hydraulic motors, control valves, and a network of pipes or hoses. The pressurized fluid transmits energy through the system to perform work, with energy losses due to friction, heat, and leakage considered in design and operation. Fluids are chosen for properties like viscosity, lubricity, and temperature stability, and system components are selected to meet safety and reliability requirements.

Applications are wide-ranging. Hydraulics powers industrial machinery, presses, machine tools, and automation systems; it drives construction equipment such as excavators and loaders; it plays a key role in braking, steering, and flight-control systems in vehicles and aircraft; and it supports water supply, irrigation, and other fluid-management networks.

Historically, hydraulic concepts trace to ancient engineers and were formalized by figures such as Pascal and Bernoulli. In modern engineering, hydraulics remains central to fluid power, often integrated with electronics and pneumatics to deliver precise, powerful control.