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ME 3350 Fall 16 handout 2.1

HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A PLANE SURFACE (EXAMPLE)

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Consider the rectangular gate AB (width: b; length: L) submerged in a fluid of density .
- What is the resultant hydrostatic force FR acting on the gate?
- What is the location of the center of pressure?

CALCULATION OF THE RESULTANT PRESSURE FORCE

Step 1: Pressure distribution in the fluid (and selection of a coordinate system)

Step 2: Integration over the surface.

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ME 3350 Fall 16 handout 2.1

CALCULATION OF THE CENTER OF PRESSURE COORDINATES

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ME 3350 Fall 16 handout 2.1

Step 1: Selection of an origin for the calculation of all moments.

Step 2: Moment exerted by the resultant pressure force FR

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ME 3350 Fall 16 handout 2.1

Step 3: Moment resulting from all the moments produced by the infinitesimal forces dF , along
the surface of the gate.
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ME 3350 Fall 16 handout 2.1

Step 4: Solve for lc by setting the equality M1 M2