Content

3 Hydrostatic Forces on Immersed Surface

3.1 Geometrical Properties of an Area

3.1.1 Centroid of Simple Area

3.1.2 Moment of Inertia for an Area

3.1.3 Parallel Axis Theorem

3.2 Pressure Prism

3.3 Hydrostatic Force on a Vertically Submerged Plane

3.4 Hydrostatic Force on an Inclined Plane

3.5 Forces on a Immersed Curved Surface

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3 Hydrostatic Forces on Immersed Surface

3.1 Geometrical Properties of an Area

3.1.1 Centroid of Simple Area

Concept.
Consider: dA denotes an area element. A is the sun of all the area elements.

A=∑ dA=∫ dA
First moment of the element dA with respect to the y-axis = xdA

Sum of the first moment of each element over the whole area represents the first moment of
the area with respect to the y-axis.

¿ ∑ xdA

Sum of the first moment = x́ A

x́ is defined as the location of the centroid of the area
ý is defined as the location of the centroid of the area.

∑ xdA=∫ xdA= A x́=1 st moment of area about y−axis

∑ ydA=∫ ydA=A ý=1 st moment of area about x−axis

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3.1.2 Moment of Inertia for an Area(I)

Concept.

d I x = y 2 dA∧d I y =x 2 dA

The moment of inertia of the whole area

I x =∫ y 2 dA∧I y =∫ x 2 dA

Concept.
Proof
b h3
The inertia of a rectangle I x =
12 ¿
¿

d I x = y 2 dA= y 2 (bdy)

h
2 h
1
I x =∫ d I x = ∫ b y 2 dy = b( y 3 )−h
2

−h 3 2
2

1 h 3 1 −h 3
¿ b
3 2 ()
− b
3 2 ( )

3
 2
¿ b h3
24

b h3
¿
12

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3.1.3 Parallel Axis Theorem

Concept.
Parallel-Axis Theorem states that the moment of inertia of an area with respect to a non-
centroidal axis equal to the moment of inertial of the area with respect to the parallel
centroidal axis plus the product of the area and the square of the distance between the two
axes.

I x =I x́ + A d 2

Concept.

Shape Area(A) Inertia( I x )

Rectangle bd b d3
12

Triangle bh b h3
2 36

Circle π R2 π R2
4
π D2
4 π D2
64

Semi-circle π R2
D 4 π 8
2 ( )
2
( −
8 9π
)

π D2
8

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3.2 Pressure Prism

Concept.
A tank is contained a liquid, which has a specific weight(γ ).
Considering the pressure distribution along a vertical wall, which the width of wall is b.

For any fluid under gravitational attraction, pressure ∝ water depth.

p=γh

At theupper surface , p=0 ; At the bottom , p=γh

Concept.
The magnitude of the resultant force( F R) acting on the surface is equal to the volume of the
pressure prism.

1 1
F R =Volume= (γh)(bh)= γ h2 b
2 2
The resultant force must pass through the centroid of the pressure prism(CP)

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Concept.
For inclined plane surface, it can be developed a cross-section of the prism. The cross-
section generally is trapezoidal.

The pressure developed depend on the vertical distance.

The resultant force of the trapezoidal:

(γ h1+ γ h2 )(h2−h1)
FR=
2

The centroid of the pressure prism:

´ h ( 2a+ b )
CP=
3 a+b

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3.3 Hydrostatic Force on a vertically submerged plane

Concept.
All forces and pressure are perpendicular to the surface if the liquid is in contact.

The force on the area:

d F R=γy ∙ dA

The total force on the plane:

F R =γA h́

The moment of area about S:

I s=I x + A h́2

The centroid of the pressure:

´ h́+ I x
CP=
A h́

The centre of pressure must always be at a greater depth than the centre of area.
(i.e. CP
´ > h́)

Concept.
Steps for solving problems about static equilibrium
1 Calculate the resultant force and centroid of the pressure.

2 Apply the conditions of static equilibrium

∑ F Y =0

∑ F x=0
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∑ M =0

F=(γA) h́

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Training 1

Example.
The gate OA closes an opening 2.1m deep and 1.6m wide. What torque must be applied at
O to keep the gate closed?

Ans: T = 92kNm

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3.4 Hydrostatic Force on an Inclined Plane

Concept.
Find the resultant force acting on the surface if there is a plane, which the plane is inclined,
and it is submerged in the liquid.

Consider

The force acting on dA :

dF=γhdA

The sum of force acting on whole area:

F R =γA ý sinθ=γA h́

ý is the y-coordinate of the centroid measured from the x-axis

h́ is the vertical distance from the fluid surface to the centroid of the area.

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Concept.

The moment of the resultant force must equal to the moment of the distributed pressure
force.

F R y R =∫ yd F R

¿ ∫ γsinθ ∙ y 2 dA

¿ γsinθ ∫ y 2 dA
¿ γsinθ ∙ I S

Since
CP´
F R =γA h́∧ y R=
sinθ

Therefore
CP´
γA h́ ∙ =γsinθ ∙ I S
sinθ

Concept.
Important equations

F R =γA h́

I x sin 2 θ
CP=h́+
´
A h́

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Training 2

Example.
A culvert draws off water from the base of a reservoir the sides of which are inclined at
80 ° to the horizontal. The culvert is closed by a circular gate 1.25 m in diameter which can
be rotated about its horizontal diameter.

Show that the turning moment on the gate is independent of the depth of the water if the
gate is completely immersed and find the value of this moment.
Ans: Moment induced = γ I x sinθ

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Training 2

Example.
A sliding gate is used to close a culvert. The size of the gate is 1.5m by 1.5m. The summit
of the culvert is 4m below the water surface as shown below.

The coefficient of friction between the gate and the grooves in which it sliders is 0.5, and
the gate has a mass of 400kg. Find the force required to open the gate assuming the culvert
to be empty.
Ans: Force = 51.36kN

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3.5 Forces on an Immersed Curved Surface

Concept.
Show that

The pressure distribution with a resultant force passes through the centre of pressure.

Consider a surface is curved

The force produced by fluid pressure on the small area.

Drawing the free body diagram and summing in the horizontal direction, before
calculating.

F x =F AC

F Y =W + FCB

F R =√ F 2x + F 2Y

FY
tanθ=
Fx

Concept.
Step:
1 Drawing the free body diagram

2 Calculating specific weight(γ ), area(A) and the vertical distance from the fluid surface to
the centroid of the area(h́ )

3 Calculating vertical component( F Y ) and horizontal component( F x )

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 4 Taking moments

5 Calculating the questions required

Training 3

Example.
Surface AB is a circular arc with a radius of 2m and a width of 1m. The distance EB is 4m.
The fluid above surface AB is water. Determine the magnitude and the line of action of the
hydrostatic force acting on the surface AB.

Ans: F R=146.87 kN; θ =48.09°

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 Example.
A sluice gate is in the form of a circular arc of radius 6m as shown in figure below.

Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on the gate.

Ans F R =179.46 kN per meter width, θ=10.27 ° ¿ horizontal

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 Example.
A vertical gate is rectangular in shape with width b, and height h. The top of the gate is
level with the surface of the water, where it is supported by a frictionless hinge H. A
weight W hangs to the gate as shown below. The bottom of the gate rests against a stop.
Atmospheric pressure acts everywhere.

By neglecting the weight of the gate and the arm, determine the minimum weight W
required to keep the gate close.
1
Ans: γ h3 b
3a

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 Example.
A rectangular gate AB is hinged at A as shown. The gate is 2m wide and 1.5m long.

(a) Calculate the resultant force of the water on the gate AB.
(b) Calculate the force F B acting at point B to hold the gate closed.
Ans: (a) 97.618kN (b) 50.371kN

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 Example.
A cylindrical tank 2 m diameter and 4 m long, with its axis horizontal, is half filled with
water and half filled with oil of density 880 kgm−3.

Determine the magnitude and position of the net hydrostatic force on one end of the tank.

Given:
2 D from the bounding diameter
Centroid of a semi-circle =
3π
4
I of a semi-circle = D
( 2 ) ( π8 − 98π ) through the centroid

Ans: 27.908kN 1.26m from top

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All Training of Chapter 3

Example.
Find the value of h for which the gate in the conduit will just open.

Ans: 3.507m

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 Example.
An L-shape gate shown in the diagram is pinned at O. Find the height of the free surface h,
at which the gate will start to rotate.

The weight of the gate can be neglected.

Ans: 2.6m

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 Example.
The gate in the figure below is hinged at point B, and rests against a smooth wall at A. By
considering per metre width of the gate,

(a) Compute the fluid force on the gate due to seawater pressure
(density of seawater = 1025 kg/m 3 )

(b) Compute the horizontal reaction P exerted by the wall at point A.

Ans: 52.37kN

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 Example.
A uniform rectangular gate AB of 2 m long and 1 m wide is rested at the exit of a water
tank as shown in figure below. The gate is hinged at A and inclined at 60 to horizontal.
The depth of water inside the tank is 4 m while 1.5 m at outside.

Determine the self-weight of the gate in order to keep the gate close.
Ans: 98.02kN

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 Example.
A uniform 1.25 m wide, 3 m long rectangular gate weighing 4kN is held in place by a
horizontal flexible cable as shown in the figure below. Water acts against the gate which is
hinged at A. Friction in the hinge is negligible. If the tension in the horizontal cable is 5kN,

Determine the maximum depth of water to be retained.

Ans: 1.81m

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 Example.
Determine the required P to just start opening the 2 m wide gate.

Ans: 300kN

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 Example.
A dam has its water face in the shape of a circular arc as shown in the figure below.

Calculate the resultant force on the curved surface per meter run and its inclination to the
horizontal.
Ans: 862kN 34.9° below horizontal

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 Example.
Liquid concrete is poured into the form with R = 0.313 m as shown in the figure below.
The width of the form is 4.25 m (normal to the diagram). Specific weight of concrete is 24
kN/m 3

Calculate the magnitude of the vertical force exerted on the form by the concrete, and its
line of action as measured from the edge of the form.
Ans: 2.144kN 0.243m

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