ME305 PE250 L3 ELghannay

Course Notes in Fluid Mechanics Garyounis University
Prepared by: Mr. Husam A. Elghannay Faculty of Engineering

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HYDROSTATIC FORCES ON SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACES
When a surface is submerged in a fluid, forces develop on the surface due to the fluid.
The determination of these forces is important in the design of storage tanks, ships, dams,
and other hydraulic structures. For fluids at rest we know that the force must be
perpendicular to the surface since there are no shearing stresses present. We also know
that the pressure will vary linearly with depth if the fluid is incompressible.
For a submerged plane, horizontal area the calculation of these force properties is
simple because the pressure does not vary over the area; for nonhorizontal planes the
problem is complicated by pressure variation. Pressure in constant specific weight liquids
has been shown to vary linearly with depth , producing the typical pressure distributions
and resultant forces on the walls of a container of Fig. 3.1.
The Resultant Force

Assume the fluid surface is open to atmosphere. Let the plane in which the surface lies
intersect the free surface at O and make an angle  with this surface as in Fig. 3.2. The x–
y coordinate system is defined so that O is the origin and y is directed along the surface as
shown.
© Mr. Husam A. Elghannay 2008/09 Page 1 of 9
But; is the 1st moment of area with respect to the x-axis, thus
When determining the resultant force on an area, the effect of atmospheric pressure often
cancels. The magnitude of the resultant force is equal to the pressure at the centroid of the
area multiplied by the total area.
Location of resultant Force:
The moment of the resultant force must equal the moment of the distributed pressure
force, or
Since FR =  A yc sin θ
In a similar way:
The eccentricity of the center of pressure below the centroid is:
Geometric properties of some common shapes are shown in figure 3.3
‫‪Course Notes in Fluid Mechanics‬‬ ‫‪Garyounis University‬‬
‫‪Prepared by: Mr. Husam A. Elghannay‬‬ ‫‪Faculty of Engineering‬‬
‫‪Fig. 3.3, Geometric properties of some common shapes‬‬
‫‪© Mr. Husam A. Elghannay 2008/09‬‬ ‫‪Page 4 of 9‬‬
Illustrative Example 3.1: Gate AB in figure is 5 ft wide into the paper, hinged at A, and
restrained by a stop at B. Compute the force on stop B if h= 9.5 ft.
Sol.
Agate= 4×5 = 20 ft2
hc= h-2 = 9.5 – 2 = 7.5 ft
the hydrostatic force on the gate
FP = γ hc A = 62.4 (lb/ft3)×7.5 (ft)×20(ft2)
The center of pressure is below the centroid
by an amount:
= 0.178 ft
Example 3.2: Isosceles triangle gate AB shown is hinged at A and weighs 1500 N. What
horizontal force P is required at point B for equilibrium?
Sol.
The gate is 2.0/sin50°=2.611 m long from A to B
A= 0.5×2.611×1= 1.3054 m2
The centroid is 1/3 of the way down from A
2.611/3.0 = 0.87 m
thus
hc= 3.0 + 0.87sin 50° = 3.667 m
FP = γ hc A = 0.83× 9790×3.667×1.3054 = 38894 N
The free-body of the gate is shown with the gate weight is assumed at the centroid of the
gate. Summing moments about A gives the required force P:
Example 3.3: The rigid gate, OAB is hinged at O and rests against a rigid support at B.
What minimum horizontal force, P, is required to hold the gate closed if its width is 3 m?
Neglect the weight of the gate and friction in the hinge. The back of the gate is exposed
to the atmosphere.
‫‪H.W‬‬
‫‪Pb. Find the net hydrostatic force per unit width on rectangular gate AB and its line of‬‬
‫‪action‬‬

ME305 PE250 L3 ELghannay

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Course Notes in Fluid Mechanics Garyounis University

Prepared by: Mr. Husam A. Elghannay Faculty of Engineering

The Resultant Force

The eccentricity of the center of pressure below the centroid is:

Geometric properties of some common shapes are shown in figure 3.3

‫‪Fig. 3.3, Geometric properties of some common shapes‬‬

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