hydraulische

Hydraulics is the branch of science and engineering that studies the mechanical behavior of liquids and the use of fluid pressure to perform work. It encompasses hydrostatics, the study of liquids at rest, and hydrodynamics, the behavior of liquids in motion. A central principle is Pascal's law: pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished, enabling force multiplication in hydraulic systems. In many practical analyses, liquids are treated as incompressible, which simplifies the modeling of pressure, flow, and energy transfer.

Historically, hydraulics emerged from early observations of fluid pressure and was advanced by scientists such as Blaise Pascal and researchers in the 17th and 18th centuries. The technology matured with the development of hydraulic presses, lifting systems, and later split into industrial hydraulics (energy and motion transmission) and hydraulic power systems (fluid power).

A hydraulic system typically includes a fluid reservoir, pumps, actuators (pistons or hydraulic cylinders), valves, and flow and pressure controls. Fluid transfers energy through pressure and controlled flow; the output force is the product of pressure and piston area, while the speed depends on the flow and cylinder geometry. Efficiency is affected by viscosity, leaks, and pressure losses in pipes and components.

Applications span construction equipment (excavators, loaders), automotive braking and steering, aerospace flight controls, manufacturing automation, and water-management infrastructure such as gates and dam systems. Hydraulics allows large forces to be generated with compact components and precise control, though it requires careful design to manage leaks, temperature, and fluid cleanliness.

In German, hydraulische is the adjective form meaning hydraulic or relating to hydraulics; the field is called Hydraulik. Hydraulic technologies use incompressible fluids, mechanical advantage, and energy transmission to convert fluid pressure into motion and force.