Fluid Mechanics 3

Hydrostatic Forces in
Submerged Surfaces
Hydrostatic Forces on a Plane
❖ When a surface is submerged in a fluid, forces develop on the surface due to the
hydrostatic pressure distribution of the fluid.
Pressure distribution and resultant Pressure distribution on the ends of

hydrostatic force on the bottom of an open tank.
an open tank.
Hydrostatic Forces on a submerged surface
❖ The determination of these forces is important in the design of storage tanks, ships,
dams, and other hydraulic structures.
❖ To determine completely the resultant force acting on a submerged surface, we need

to;
❑ Specify the magnitude of the force.
❑ Specify the direction of the force.
❑ Specify the line of action of the force.

❖ Consider a submerged plain surface which is inclined with an angle θ to the free
surface.
❖ The hydrostatic force on any element of
the surface acts normal to the surface.
dF = p.dA
P = γh
dF = γhdA
dF = γy sinθ dA
Where h = y × sinθ
The resultant force for constant γ and θ
For constant γ and θ

Eqn: (1)
❖ yc is the y coordinate of the centroid of
the area A. hc is the vertical distance from
the fluid surface to the centroid of the
area.
❖ Therefore, the magnitude of the resultant

force is equal to pressure acting at the
centroid of the area multiplied by the
total area.
How to determine the location (xR,yR) of

the resultant force ? (centre of pressure)
❖ The moment of the resultant force must

equal the moment of the distributed
pressure force.
Eqn: (1)
second moment of the area (moment of inertia for

the area about x axis)
From the parallel axis theorem
Eqn (2)
❖ The equation clearly shows that the
resultant force does not pass through
the centroid but is always below it.
❖ The x coordinate, for the resultant

force can be determined in a similar
manner by summing moments about
the y axis. Thus,
Where; dF = γy sinθ dA
Eqn: (1)
product of inertia (IXY) w.r.to x and y.

By parallel axis theorem
Eqn (3)
❖ Ixyc is the product of inertia with respect to an

orthogonal coordinate system passing through the
centroid of the area.
If the submerged area is symmetrical with

respect to an axis passing through the centroid
and parallel to either the x or y
axes, Ixyc= 0.
Example (1)
The 4 m -diameter circular gate of Figure is
located in the inclined wall of a large reservoir
containing water (γ = 9.80 kN/m3). The gate is
mounted on a shaft along its horizontal
diameter. For a water depth hc=10 m above the
shaft. determine;
(a) the magnitude and location of the
resultant force exerted on the gate by the
water,
(b) the moment that would have to be applied
to the shaft to
open the gate.
Example (1) cont..

(a) The magnitude of the force of the water
❖ The vertical distance from the fluid surface to

the centroid of the area is 10 m.
❖ The point (center of pressure) through which FR acts;

Example (1) cont..

❖The area is symmetrical and the center of
pressure must lie along the diameter A-A.
Example (1) cont..

❖ The distance below the shaft to the center of
pressure is
The force acts through a point along its diameter

A-A at a distance of 0.0866m below the shaft.
(b) Sum moments about the shaft

❖ The moment required to open the gate can be obtained with the aid of the free-body diagram of Fig
(c). In this diagram W is the weight of the gate and Ox and Oy are the horizontal and vertical reactions
of the shaft on the gate. We can now sum moments about the shaft.
Example (1) cont..
❖ The moment required to open the gate

Example (2)
A large fish-holding tank contains seawater (γ =10.06 kN/m3) to a depth of 10 m as shown in Figure. To
repair some damage to one corner of the tank, a triangular section is replaced with a new section as
illustrated. Determine the magnitude and location of the force of the seawater on this triangular area.
Example (2) cont..

❖ yc= hc = 9 m, and the magnitude of the force;
1
= 10.06 10  9   3  3 = 407.4kN
3
2
The y coordinate of the center of pressure (CP)
ba 3 3  33 81 4
I XC = = = m
36 36 36
81
YR = 36 + 9 YR = 9.06m
3 3
9
2
Example (2) cont..
Similarly,
ba 2 3  32 81 4
I XYC = (b − 2d ) = (3 − 0) = m
72 72 72
81
XR = 72 + 0
9  3 3
2
X R = 0.0278m
❖ The center of pressure is 0.0278 m to the right of and 0.0556 m below the centroid of the area.
Example (3)
Determine the resultant force
acting on the 0.7-m-high and
0.7-m-wide triangular gate
shown in the figure and its line
of action.
Example (4)
A retaining wall against a mud slide is to be constructed by placing 0.8 m high and 0.2 m wide rectangular
concrete blocks (ρ = 2700 kg/m3) side by side, as shown in figure. The friction coefficient between the
ground and the concrete blocks is 0.3 and the density of mud is about 1800 kg/m3. There is concern that
the concrete blocks may slide or tip over the left edge as the mud level rises.
Considering a unit length of wall, determine the followings
(a) The mud height at which the blocks will overcome friction and start
sliding.
(b) The mud height at which the blocks will tip over.
Example (5)
A 5 m high 5 m wide rectangular plate is used to block a 4 m
deep freshwater channel as illustrated in the figure. The plate is
hinged about a horizontal axis along its upper edge through a
point A and is retained by a fixed ridge at point B.
(a). Determine the hydrostatic force exerted on the plate.

(Density of water = 1000 kg m-3) Clearly state if you used
any assumption.
(b). Find the vertical distance to center of pressure from the
hinged axis.
(c). Determine the force exerted on the plate by the ridge.
Example (6)
Gate AB (0.6-m × 0.9-m) is
located at the bottom of a tank
filled with methyl alcohol (SG
= 0.79), and hinged along its
bottom edge A. Knowing that
the weight of the gate is 300 N,
determine the minimum force
that must be applied to the
cable (BCD) to open the gate.
Example (7)
A triangular-shaped gate is hinged at point
A, as shown. Knowing that the weight of
the gate is 100 N, determine the force
needed to keep the gate at its position for
unit width. The line of action of the weight
of the gate is shown by the dashed line.

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Hydrostatic Forces in

Pressure distribution and resultant Pressure distribution on the ends of

❖ To determine completely the resultant force acting on a submerged surface, we need

❑ Specify the magnitude of the force.

❑ Specify the direction of the force.

❑ Specify the line of action of the force.

The resultant force for constant γ and θ

For constant γ and θ

❖ Therefore, the magnitude of the resultant

How to determine the location (xR,yR) of

❖ The moment of the resultant force must

second moment of the area (moment of inertia for

From the parallel axis theorem

❖ The x coordinate, for the resultant

product of inertia (IXY) w.r.to x and y.

By parallel axis theorem

❖ Ixyc is the product of inertia with respect to an

If the submerged area is symmetrical with

Example (1) cont..

❖ The vertical distance from the fluid surface to

❖ The point (center of pressure) through which FR acts;

Example (1) cont..

Example (1) cont..

The force acts through a point along its diameter

(b) Sum moments about the shaft

Example (1) cont..

❖ The moment required to open the gate

Example (2) cont..

Example (2) cont..

Considering a unit length of wall, determine the followings

(a). Determine the hydrostatic force exerted on the plate.

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