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Example Problem: Hydrostatic Forces On Submerged Surfaces: Hydrostatics
Example Problem: Hydrostatic Forces On Submerged Surfaces: Hydrostatics
Solution
Follow the steps for calculating the hydrostatic force on a submerged surface:
1. The vertical projection of the gate AB is the rectangle BC which has the same
width (w) as the gate itself.
2. The centroid of BC is located at a depth
l BC
+
4
2
2
BC = l
2
y cv =
y cv =
l
1+ 2
4
3. It follows that the hydrostatic pressure at the centroid of the vertical projection
(as well as at the centroid of the gate itself) is
p c = y cv =
l
1+ 2
4
)
AV = ( BC ) w = lw
2
2
LA = EFBD
1
l 2
1 2
l2w
+ BDAC = l
w
+
l
w
=
2+ 2
2
4 2
2 2
8
9. Now we must find the 2nd moment of inertia of the vertical projection of the
gate (BC) about a horizontal axis through its centroid:
I cv =
w( BC ) 3 w l 3 2
=
12
48
10. The depth of the center of pressure can now be calculated from:
y cp = y cv +
I cv
= 0.67 l
y cv AV
11. To find the line of action of the vertical component (Fy) we must find the c.g.
of the volume of the water directly over the gate, since it is the weight of this
water which causes the vertical force on the gate. To find the c.g. of the
water directly over the gate we take the moments of the weights of the
convenient shapes from step 6.
AE
= WLA x cp = W1
2
2 + W ( DG ) 2 = F x
2
y cp
2
2
2
Now
2
2
2
2 l 2 l
2 l
l
2
2
= =
DG = ( DJ ) =
( DA) ( AJ ) =
3
3
3 2 2
32 3
W1 = EFBD = l
2l
2
w = 0.18 l w
2 4
2
W2 = ABC
1 2
= l
w = 0.25 l 2 w
2 2
M
Rl
2
2
l
Fy l
Fx y cp = 0
x
= 0 R l
cp
2
0.43 l 2 w(0.42 l ) 0.43 l 2 w(0.42 l ) = 0 R = 0.51 l 2 w
2
13. Regarding the cylindrical gate in figure (b) we can tell just by looking at it that
the reaction will be less because:
Fxb = Fxa
Fyb p Fya
since both gates have the same vertical projection (BC) but the
volume of the water over gate (b) is less than the volume of the
water over gate (a).