HYDROSTATIC FORCES ON SURFACES

INTRODUCTION
The term hydrostatics’ means the study of pressure, exerted by a liquid at rest. We have
studied that a liquid, at rest, exerts some pressure on all sides of the container. The intensity of
pressure (p) at any point at rest is obtained by the Hydrostatic law which states that:
The rate of increase of pressure in a vertically downward direction must be equal to the
specific weight of the fluid at that point.
dp
=−ρg
dh

TOTAL PRESSURE FORCE AND CENTRE OF PRESSURE ON IMMERSED BODIES

The pressure of fluid is in contact with a surface exerts a normal force on the surface. The walls
of reservoirs, sluice gates, flood gates, oil and water tanks and the hulls of ships are exposed to
the forces exerted by fluids in contact with them.
For the design of such structures it is necessary to determine the total force on them. It is also
necessary to determine the point of action of this force. The point of action of the total force is
known as centre of pressure or pressure centre

Total pressure force: It is the resultant force on immersed surface

Centre of pressure: It is the point on which total pressure force acts

The difference between the Centre of Pressure and Centroid is that the centre of pressure can
acts on the centroid and they can be in different positions for a submerged surface. This is
because when pressure is applied evenly to a flat surface, the center of pressure is the centroid.
However, if the submerged surface is at an angle, the pressure is not constant across the surface.
Additionally, even if the submerged surface is perfectly vertical, the centroid and the centre of
pressure will not coincide due to the pressure gradient caused by Pascal's Law.
 G=Centre of areai . e Centroid

P=Centre of Pressure

h=Depth of Gbelow free surface of liquid

¿
h =Depth of C (P)below free surface of liquid

Total Pressure Force and Centre of Pressure on Flat plane immersed in Horizontal,
Vertical and Inclined position

a) Horizontal Plane Surfaces

If a plane surface immersed in a fluid is horizontal, then

i) Hydrostatic pressure is uniform over the entire surface.
ii) The resultant force acts at the centroid of the plane

Consider a horizontal surface immersed in a static fluid as shown in Fig.

As all the points on the plane are at equal depth from the free surface of the liquid, the pressure
intensity will be equal on the entire surface and given by P= ρg y

y=Depth of centroid below free surface of liquid

h=Depth of Centre of pressure below free surface of liquid

h= y

Let A = Area of the immersed surface

The total pressure force acting on the immersed surface is F
∴=P × A=ρg y × A

b) Vertical Plane Surface

Consider a vertical plane surface of some arbitrary shape immersed in a liquid of mass
density ρ as shown in Figure
Consider a rectangular strip of breadth b and depth dh at a depth h from the free surface

The Pressure intensity at a depth h acting on the strip is P= ρgh. The total pressure Force on
the strip , df =( ρgh ) dA

Total pressure Force on the entire area is given by integrating the above equation over the
entire area, F=∫ df =∫ ( ρgh ) dA=ρg∫ hdA

But ∫ ydA is moment of the entire area about free surface of liquid given by ∫ hdA= A h

∴ F= ρgA h

Centre of pressure is calculated by using the ‘Principle of Moments’ which states that ‘the
moment of the resultant force about an axis is equal to the sum of moments of the
components about the same axis’’.
The resultant force F (P) is acting at C, at a distance hC . P from free surface of the liquid as

shown. Thus, moment of the force F about free surface of liquid = F × hC . P

Moment of force dF, acting on a strip about free surface of liquid = df × h
Recall df =( ρgh ) dA

dA=b× dh
df =ρgh× b × dh
∴ Moment ofdf =ρgh ×b × dh× h
Sum of moments of all such forces about free surface of liquid= Moment of the resultant force
about free surface of liquid
∫ ( ρgh× b× dh ) ×h=¿ ρg∫ b h2 dh ¿ ¿ F × hC . P
but b× dh=dA

Thus, F × hC . P=ρg ∫ b h dh=ρg∫ h dA

2 2

∫ h2 dA=Moment of inertiaof area about free surface of liquid

∫ h2 dA=I 0
F × hC . P=ρgA h× hC . P= ρg I 0

ρg I 0
hC . P =
ρgA h

I0
hC . P =
Ah

From Parallel axis theorem, the moment of inertia of an area with respect to any axis in the
plane of the area is equal to the moment of inertia of the area with respect to a parallel
centroidal axis plus the product of the area and the square of the distance between the two
axes.

∴ I 0 =I G + A × h2

Where I G=Moment of inertia of area about axis passing through Centroid

2
I G + A ×h
∴ hC . P =
Ah

IG
∴ hC . P=h+
Ah

 Centre of pressure (i.e. hC . P ) lies below the centroid of the vertical surface,
 The distance of centre of pressure from free surface of liquid is independent of the
density of the liquid.
 When the vertical plane surface is immersed deeper and deeper below the liquid
surface, the centre of pressure becomes closer and closer to the centroid of the
surface. As the vertical surface is immersed deeper and deeper, the vertical depthh,
I
of the centroid of the surface becomes greater and greater. Hence, the quantity G
Ah
IG
becomes lesser and lesser. As becomes lesser and lesser,hC . P becomes closer
Ah
and closer to h .
c) Inclined Plane Surface

Consider the plane AB of the given shape immersed in the liquid at an angle θ to the
horizontal (free surface). Let the trace of the plane (the end view of the line where it meets
the horizontal plane) be ‘‘O’’. Consider this line as reference and set up the axes as shown in
figure. Consider the elemental area dA. The force dF on the elemental area is given by

dF=P . dA=ρghdA=ρgy sinθ dA

The total force over the whole area is obtained by integration of this expression over the
whole area.
F=∫ ρgy sin θ dA= ρgsin θ ∫ ydA
From the definition of centroid axis at y=∫ ydA=¿ y A ¿ ,
F=ρg y A sinθ
Calling the depth at y (distance of centroid from surface) as h .
h .= y sin θ
F=ρgA h
This equation is extensively used in the calculation of total force on a surface

The centre of pressure

The centre of pressure is determined by taking moments of the force on elementary areas
with respect to an axis (say ‘O’) and equating it to the product of the distance of the
centre of pressure from this axis and the total force on the area For surfaces with an axis of
symmetry, the centre of pressure will lie on that axis..
Let CP ( X cp , y cp ) be centre of pressure
X cp F=∫ XPdA

y cp F=∫ yPdA
X cp ρg y A sin θ=∫ Xρg y sin θ dA
 1
X cp=
yA
∫ yxdA

As∫ yxdA =I xy ¿ I xy =I G + x y A
xy

IG +x y A
∴ X cp = xy

yA
IG
∴ X cp =x+ xy

yA

Like wise
IG
y cp = y + xy

yA

In case the height h cp is required instead of y cp ;

h cp h
y cp = , y=
sinθ sin θ

IG h
hcp xy
+
=¿ h sin θ
sin θ A
sin θ
I G sin 2
θ
∴ hcp = +h
hA

Total Hydrostatic Force on Curved Surfaces

Since this class of surface is curved, the direction of the force is different at each location
on the surface. Therefore, we will evaluate the x and y components of net hydrostatic force
separately.

Consider curved surface, a-b. Force balances in x & y directions yield

F h=F H
F V =W air +W 1+ W 2
Horizontal Component, F h
The horizontal component of force on a curved surface equals the force on the plane area
formed by the projection of the curved surface onto a vertical plane normal to the
component.
The horizontal force will act through the c.p. (not the centroid) of the projected area, from
the Diagram:
All elements of the analysis are performed with the vertical plane. The original curved
surface is important only as it is used to define the projected vertical plane.
Let us consider a curved surface AB sub-merged in a static liquid as displayed here in
following figure.

Vertical Component - Fv
The vertical component of force on a curved surface equals the weight of the effective
column of fluid necessary to cause the pressure on the surface.
The use of the words effective column of fluid is important in that there may not always
actually be fluid directly above the surface. (See graphics below

This effective column of fluid is specified by identifying the column of fluid that would be
required to cause the pressure at each location on the surface.
Thus, to identify the Effective Volume - Veff:
 FLUID MECHANICS TUTORIAL QUESTIONS-1
1. A rectangular lamina of size 6mX 3m is immersed horizontally at a depth of 10m in
a liquid of specific gravity 0.9. Determine the total force and location of centre of
pressure.

2. A rectangular plane 6mX3m immersed vertically in water so that its longer side is
parallel to and at depth of 10m below water level. Find total pressure force and
depth of centre of pressure.
3. A rectangular plane 6mX3m immersed vertically in water so that its shorter side is
parallel to and at depth of 10m below water level. Find total pressure force and
depth of centre of pressure.
4. Determine the net force and its point of action over an L shaped plate submerged
vertically under water as shown in Fig. Ex. 3.4. The top surface of the plate is 1.5 m
below water surface.

ANS: 147150N
h cy =3.5583 m ,h cx =1.0 m ,

5. Determine the total force and location of centre of pressure for a circular plate of 2
m diameter immersed vertically in water with its top edge 1.0 m below the water
surface
Ans: 62.83kN, 2.125m
6. An oil tank is filled to a height of 7.5 m with an oil of specific gravity 0.9. It has a
rectangular gate 1m wide and 1.5 m high provided at the bottom of a side face.
Determine the resultant force on the gate and also its point of action.
7. A square plate 3m sides immersed vertically in water such that one of its corners
with 2 sides equally inclined is at a depth of 5m below surface. Determine the total
force and location of centre of pressure.
8. A circular plate 3m diameter is immersed vertically in water such that its centroid is
at a depth of 8m below water level. Determine the total force and location of centre
of pressure.
9. An inverted triangular plate of base 3m and altitude 6m is immersed vertically in
water such that the base is parallel to and at a depth of 10m below water level. Find
total pressure force and depth of centre of pressure.
10. A triangular plate of 1m base and 1.2m height is immersed in water vertically with
its apex above base .The base is parallel to and at a depth of 1.4m below the water
surface. Find total pressure force and depth of centre of pressure.
11. A rectangle lamina of size 6mX3m is immersed inclinedly in water such that the
angle of inclination of plane to horizontal is 30 0. The longer side is parallel and at a
depth of 10m below water level. Find total pressure force and depth of centre of
pressure.
12. A rectangle plane of size 6mX3m is immersed inclinedly in water such a way that
plane inclination is 400 to water surface. The shorter side is parallel and at a depth of
10m below water level. Find total pressure force and depth of centre of pressure.
13. A rectangular plate 1.5m x 3.0m is submerged in water and makes an angle of 60°
with the horizontal, the 1.5m sides being horizontal. Calculate the magnitude of the
force on the plate and the location of the point of application of the force, with
reference to the top edge of the plate, when the top edge of the plate is 1.2m below
the water surface.
Ans: 109.92kN, 2.724m
14. A circular plate of 4m diameter is immersed inclinedly in water such that its
greatest and least depth are 3m and 1m respectively below water level.. Find total
pressure force and depth of centre of pressure.
15. A 2 m diameter drainage conduit of the type shown in Fig a is half full of water at
rest, as shown in Fig. b. Determine the magnitude and line of action of the resultant
force that the water exerts on a 1-m length of the curved section BC of the conduit
wall
16. Determine the force exerted by sea water (specific gravity = 1.025) on the curved
portion AB of an oil tanker as shown in Fig. below .Also determine the direction of
action of the force.
Consider 1m width perpendicular to paper,

Ans: 999973.16N, 17.0784m from top and toward left