TUTORIAL 2: HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

1. The water side of the wall of a 70 m long dam is a quarter circle with a radius of 7 m.
Determine the hydrostatic force on the dam and its line of action when the dam is
filled to the rim.

2. A 6-m-high, 5-m-wide rectangular plate blocks the end of a 5-m-deep freshwater

channel, as shown in Fig. P366. The plate is hinged about a horizontal axis along its
upper edge through a point A and is restrained from opening by a fixed ridge at point
B. Determine the force exerted on the plate by the ridge.

5m

Fig P3-66

3. A water trough of semicircular cross section of radius 0.5 m consists of two

symmetric parts hinged to each other at the bottom, as shown in Fig. P370. The two
parts are held together by a cable and turnbuckle placed every 3 m along the length of
the trough. Calculate the tension in each cable when the trough is filled to the rim.

Fig P3-70
4. The two sides of a V-shaped water trough are hinged to each other at the bottom
where they meet, as shown in Fig. P371, making an angle of 45 with the ground
from both sides. Each side is 0.75 m wide, and the two parts are held together by a
cable and turnbuckle placed every 6 m along the length of the trough. Calculate the
tension in each cable when the trough is filled to the rim.

Fig P3-71

5. A semicircular 12 m-diameter tunnel is to be built under a 45 m-deep, 240 m-long

lake, as shown in Fig. P3141E. Determine the total hydrostatic force acting on the
roof of the tunnel.

45 m

12 m
Fig 3-141-E