CHAPTER 3

HYDROSTATIC FORCE
P P
 HYDROSTATIC
• Branch of fluid mechanics which deal with
fluids in static form.
• All forces act normally (perpendicular) to
boundary surfaces and do not depend on fluid
viscosity.
 Application Examples

Gate Valves

Gates for Canal

 Pressure
Pressure Intensity, P

Define – as force per unit area which acts normal or

perpendicular to the surface.

P = F/A

P – hydrostatic pressure
F – hydrostatic force
A – area of surface

The unit of pressure is Newton (N/m2)

1 N/m2 is equivalent to 1 Pascal (1Pa)
 Pressure in liquid
The force acting downwards on the column base = The weight of fluid in the
column plus the force due to the pressure on the fluid interface.
F =W
W = mg
F =ρgV
F = ρ g (Ah)

P = F/A
= ρ g (Ah)/A
P=ρgh
F hid = ρ g A yc

Ycp = [Ixx sin2ϴ] + Yc

AYc
 Example
A cylinder 35 cm diameter and 90 cm high is filled to the brim
with a fluid of specific gravity 0.85. Determine the pressure
intensity at the bottom of the cylinder.

ϴ = 35 cm

Fluid , S = 0.85

90 cm
 Solution
Area = D2/4
=  (0.35)2/4
= 0.096 m2

ρ = 0.85 x 1000 = 850 kg/m3

P =ρgh
= 850 kg/m3 x 9.81 m/s2 x 0.9 m
= 7,504.7 N/m2 @ 7.5kN/m2
A 1300 g of liquid has a volume of 1300 liter. Determine
a) Weight
b) Specific weight

Weight, W =mxg
= 1.3 x 9.81
= 12.753 N

Specific weight, w = W/V

= 12.753/1.3
= 9.81 N/m3
 Centroid and Centre of pressure

Centroid :- mean center of the point where his

own body weights acts
Centre of pressure :- as the points of application
of the total pressure on the surface.
 Hydrostatic Force
a) Flat surface ( = 90), FH = ρgAYc

b) Incline surface ( < 90), FH = ρgAYc

c) Curve surface, FH = ρgAYc, Fv = ρgV,

Step to calculate FH and Ycp
 Yc
Ycp

FH

FH – Hydrostatic Force
Yc – height of centroid from water surface
Ycp – height of center pressure from water
surface
A=bxh
Yc = h
2
Ixx = bh3
12

A = 1 (b x h)
2 Location of
Yc = 1h centroid,
3
Ixx = bh3
moment of
36 Inertia

A = D2 @ R2
4
Yc = D @ R
2
Ixx = D4
64
 EXERCISE
Calculate :-
a) The position of the center of gravity (centroid)
from the free surface of water
b) The hydrostatic force acting on plate
c) The position of center of pressure
 Water Surface

1m
2m
(2 x 3) m D=3m

(2 x 3) m 10 m
6m

3.2 m
3m

3m
4m
 Example 1

Ycp
2m

The square flood gate (2m x 2m) is hinged

along its bottom as shown. Determine
hydrostatic force and center of pressure.
 Example 2
The square flood gate (2m by 2m) is hinged
along its bottom as shown. Determine the
moment at the hinge in order to hold the gate
steady.
hinge
2m
FH = ρgAYc
Ycp O = 1000(9.81)(1)(2 X 2) = 39240 N

Ixx = 1.33 m4

Yc = 2/2 = 1 m

Ycp = 1.33 m
 Example 2
If the circle gate with diameter 2 m gate is
Ycp
2m replaced as shown, determine

A) Area
B) Centroid, Yc
C) Second Moment of Area, IXX
D) Hydrostatic Force, FH
E) Centre of Pressure, Ycp
 Example 2
If the square gate is replaced by a circular-
Ycp
2m shaped gate as shown, recalculate the
holding moment.

FH = ρgYcA
= 1000(9.81)(1)(D2/4)
= 30823.02 N

Ixx = 0.785 m4

Yc = 2/2 = 1 m

Ycp = 1.25 m
Hydrostatic Force on an
Inclined Plane Surface
Assume atmospheric condition on the other side of the surface

Free surface
A=bxh
 a
Yc Yc = [h/2] sin  + a
FH
Depend on
FH = ρgAYc
shape

Ixx = bh3
12
h
Ycp = Ixx sin2 + Yc
AYc
b
45°
Example 1

If the square (2 x 2 ) m gate is placed at

an angle of 45° as shown, calculate the
hydrostatic force and Centre of pressure
 Solution
45°
If the square gate is placed at an angle of 45° as
shown, calculate the hydrostatic force and it
center of pressure

A =bxh
=2x2
= 4 m2

Yc = [h/2] sin  + a
= 1 sin 45 + 0
= 0.71 m

FH = ρgAYc
=1000(9.81)(4)(0.71)
= 278604.4 N
Ixx = bh3
12
= (2)(2)3
12
= 1.33 m4

Ycp = Ixx sin2 + Yc

Ayc

= (1.33)sin245 + 0.71
(4 x 0.71)
= 0.94 m
Hydrostatic Force on
Curve Surface
 FORCE ON CURVE SURFACE
Pressure is always acting perpendicular to the solid surface
since there is no shear motion in static condition.

FV= W = the weight of the liquid contained above the curved,

vertical component of the reaction.

FH = the horizontal component of reaction

FR = √( Fv2 + FH2 )

ϴ = tan-1 Fv/FH
FORCE ON CURVE SURFACE
g = gravity (m/s2)
ρ = density of fluid (kg/m3)
FV= ρg V
A = Area (m2)
V = Volume of water above
FH = ρgAYc the plate (m3)
Yc = depth of centroid from
FR = √( Fv2 + FH2 ) water surface.

FV= Vertical Force cause by

ϴ = tan-1 Fv/FH weight of water
FH = Horizontal force cause
by water
 x
FV
FR


FH
y
 x
Horizontal Forces, FH

Projected
area Ax
h

Yc

dAx
 x
Vertical Forces, FV
V1

V2

FV = ρgV

V = V1 + V2

V1 = b x h x L

V2 = ϴ/360 x πR2L
EXAMPLE 1
x
V1

V2

The lower corner of water tank has a shape of a quadrant of a circle of radius
3 m. The water surface is 3 m above the center of curvature. The water tank
is 1m wide. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the total force exerted
by the water surface on the curved surface.
 Solution
FH = ρgYcA
= (1000) (9.81) (4.5) (3 X1)
= 132,435 N
FV = ρg V = ρg (V1 + V2)
= (1000) (9.81) [ (3 X 3 X 1) + (π (3)2/4) (1) ]
= 9810 ( 9 + 7.07)
= 157646.7 N

Hence, the resultant force is given by

FR = (FH2 + FV2)0.5
= [ (132.43 kN)2 + (157.646 kN)2 ]0.5
= 205.88 kN
θ = tan -1 (Fv / FH)
= tan -1 (157.646 N / 132.435 N)
= 50 o
ASSIGNMENT 1
 If the triangle gate with 2 m height and 1 m
Ycp
2m length gate is replaced as shown,
determine

A) Area
B) Centroid, Yc
C) Second Moment of Area, IXX
D) Hydrostatic Force, FH
E) Centre of Pressure, Ycp
 x
60o
2m
O

y
A 50 cm diameter circular plate is immersed
in water at an inclination of 60o to the free
surface with its top edge 1m below the
water surfaces as shown. Find the total
pressure and the center of pressure on the
plate.
 2m

A
3m

60o

A rectangular water gate AB, 3 m x 1.5m

installed in a water tank. When the water
level 2m above point A as shown, calculate
the magnitude of total hydrostatic force and
the location of the center pressure
 x
2m
O

y
A door in tank is in the form of a quadrant of
a cylinder of radius 1.5m and 1.8m wide. If
the water surface is 2.0 m above O, calculate
the magnitude and direction of the resultant
force exerted by the water on curved
surface.
 x

R = 2.5 m

y
A door in tank is in the form of a quadrant of
a cylinder of radius 2.5m and 1 m wide.
Calculate the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force exerted by the water on
curved surface.
 R=3m

O
y
A door in tank is in the form of a quadrant of a cylinder of radius
3 m and 1.8m wide. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force exerted by the water on curved surface.
A 90o sector gate in the form of a circular arch of radius 5m
retains water to a height above still as shown above. Calculate the
magnitude and direction of the total force exerted by the water
per unit length of the gate
END OF SLIDE

TUTORIAL

QUIZ 1