Civil Engineering Hydraulics

Forces on Curved
Surfaces

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Forces on a curved surface

Example 2.9
A concrete culvert that contains water is 2.0 m in diameter. Determine the forces
exerted on the portion labeled A–B in Figure 2.18 if the culvert is filled halfway.
Determine also the location of the forces. Culvert length (into the paper) from joint to
joint is 2.5 m.

2 Forces on Curved Surfaces

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 Forces on a curved surface
We typically break up the force resulting from the action of the fluid on the curved
surface into components normal to the fluid surface and tangential to the fluid surface.
In this case, our axis has z oriented vertically and x oriented horizontally.
The force in the z-direction will be developed using pressure and the force in the x-
direction will be developed using the weight of water above the curved surface.

3 Forces on Curved Surfaces

Forces on a curved surface

Consider the y-direction as into the page/slide. There would be a projected area in the
y-z plane which would be the same as we considered previously. This means that to
determine the Force labeled Rh below, we can use the same expressions that we
used previously.

4 Forces on Curved Surfaces

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 Forces on a curved surface
The magnitude of the force will be determined by the force of the pressure on the
projection of the curved surface into the y-z plane. In the example this would be a
rectangle with a depth of 1.0 m and a width of 2.5 m (we are looking at a single
section of culvert which is noted as 2.5 m from joint to joint.
So the area that the pressure acts over is

Azy = 1.0m × 2.5m = 2.5m 2

5 Forces on Curved Surfaces

Forces on a curved surface

We also need the distance to the centroid of the projected area from the surface of the
fluid. In this example, the fluid is at the top of the rectangle so the distance to the
centroid will be ½ the height of the projected area.

Azy = 1.0m × 2.5m = 2.5m 2

1.0m
zc = = 0.5m
2

6 Forces on Curved Surfaces

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 Forces on a curved surface
So the magnitude of the force can be determined using the expression for a vertically
oriented surface submerged in a fluid.

Azy = 1.0m × 2.5m = 2.5m 2

1.0m
zc = = 0.5m
2
⎛ kg ⎞ ⎛ m⎞
Fh = Rh = ρ gzc Azy = ⎜ 1000 3 ⎟ ⎜ 9.81 2 ⎟ ( 0.5m ) 2.5m 2
⎝ m ⎠⎝ s ⎠
( )
Rh = 12262.5N = 12.26kN

7 Forces on Curved Surfaces

Forces on a curved surface

And the location of the force can be determined using the expression for a vertically
oriented surface submerged in a fluid. In this case the projected surface is a rectangle
with the top at the liquid surface. A = 1.0m × 2.5m = 2.5m 2
zy

1.0m
z = zc = = 0.5m
2
⎛ kg ⎞ ⎛ m⎞
⎝ m ⎠⎝ s ⎠
(
Fh = Rh = ρ gzc Azy = ⎜ 1000 3 ⎟ ⎜ 9.81 2 ⎟ ( 0.5m ) 2.5m 2 )
Rh = 12262.5N = 12.26kN
bh 3 ( 2.5m ) (1.0m )
3

Iz = = = 2.08 ×10 −1 m 4
12 12
Iz 2.08 ×10 −1 m 4
zr = zc + c = 0.5m + = 0.667m
zc Azy (
( 0.5m) 2.5m 2 )

8 Forces on Curved Surfaces

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 Forces on a curved surface
The magnitude of the vertical force on the curved surface is the weight of fluid above
the curved surface. Be careful to include all the fluid above the curved surface.

π ( 2.0m ) ⎛ 1 ⎞
2
π D2 ⎛ 1 ⎞
V= ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ l = ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ 2.5m = 1.96m
3

4 4 4 4

9 Forces on Curved Surfaces

Forces on a curved surface

So the force is the weight of this volume of fluid.

π ( 2.0m ) ⎛ 1 ⎞
2
π D2 ⎛ 1 ⎞
V= ⎜ ⎟l = ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ 2.5m = 1.96m
3

4 ⎝ 4⎠ 4 4
⎛ kg ⎞ ⎛ m⎞
Fv = Rv = ρ gV = ⎜ 1000 3 ⎟ ⎜ 9.81 2 ⎟ (1.96m 3 ) = 19261.89N
⎝ m ⎠ ⎝ s ⎠
Rv = 19.17kN

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 Forces on a curved surface
The line of action of the force is through the centroid of the volume of fluid. In this case
it will be through the xc of the quarter circle. Take care to know where the centroid is
taken in reference to.
π ( 2.0m ) ⎛ 1 ⎞
2
πD ⎛ 1⎞
2
V= ⎜ ⎟l = ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ 2.5m = 1.96m
3

4 ⎝ 4⎠ 4 4
⎛ kg ⎞ ⎛ m⎞
Fv = Rv = ρ gV = ⎜ 1000 3 ⎟ ⎜ 9.81 2 ⎟ (1.96m 3 ) = 19261.89N
⎝ m ⎠⎝ s ⎠
Rv = 19.17kN
⎛ D⎞ ⎛ 2.0m ⎞
4⎜ ⎟ 4⎜
⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎟⎠
x = xc = = = 0.42m
3π 3π

11 Forces on Curved Surfaces

Forces on a curved surface

When the culvert described in Example 2.9 was installed and still empty, it was buried
halfway in mud (Figure 2.19). Determine the forces acting on half the submerged
portion, assuming that the mud has a density equal to that of water.

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 Forces on a curved surface
In this case the fluid is acting on the outside or the curved surface.
We can calculate the forces and lines of action in exactly the same way.
The only difference is that the directions of the forces are reversed.

13 Forces on Curved Surfaces

Example 2.11
Figure 2.20a shows a gate that is 4 ft wide (into the page) and has a curved cross
section. When the liquid level gets too high, the moments due to liquid forces act to
open the gate and allow some liquid to escape. For the dimensions shown, determine
whether the liquid is deep enough to cause the gate to open. Take the liquid to be
castor oil.

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 Note: Be careful to include all of the
volume above the surface DE for

Problem 6-1 both the force and centroid

calculations.

15 Forces on Curved Surfaces

Problem 6-2

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 Problem 6-3

17 Forces on Curved Surfaces