TOPIC 2.

Hydrostatics – Fluids
Pressure

Week 4
 Overview
2.1.1 Introduction
2.1.2 Concepts of pressure
2.1.3 Pascal’s law for pressure at a point
2.1.4 Pressure variation in a fluid at rest
2.1.5 Pressure and head
2.1.6 The hydrostatic paradox
2.1.7 Pressure measurement
2.1.8 Hydrostatic forces on plane surface and inclined surface
2.1.9 Hydrostatic thrust on curved surface
2.1.10 Pressure diagram

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 Learning Outcomes
• Identify and illustrate the forces acting on a
hydraulic structure
• Formulate and apply the concept of
hydrostatic pressure to solve problems
when the hydrostatic force is exerted on
plane and curved surfaces under static
condition.

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 2.1.8 Hydrostatic forces on plane
surface and inclined surface

• Important principles:
– There is no shear stress present when the fluid is
not in motion.
– The pressure exerted by a fluid under hydrostatic
condition at any depth is equal.
– The pressure acts perpendicular to an immersed
surface.
– Hydrostatic pressure varies linearly, increasing
with an increase in depth.

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HYDROSTATIC FORCES ON
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACES

A plate, such as a gate valve in a dam, the

wall of a liquid storage tank, or the hull of
a ship at rest, is subjected to fluid pressure
distributed over its surface when exposed Hoover Dam.
to a liquid.
On a plane surface, the hydrostatic forces
form a system of parallel forces, and we
often need to determine the magnitude of
the force and its point of application,
which is called the center of pressure.

When analyzing hydrostatic forces on

submerged surfaces, the atmospheric
pressure can be subtracted for simplicity
when it acts on both sides of the structure. 5
Consider a plane surface is immersed in a liquid,
inclined at an angle ϴ.

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• Consider an elemental strips where the pressure p is
constant and the elemental force, dF acting on the elemental
area, dA, can be written as:

𝑑𝐹 = 𝑝𝑑𝐴 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑑𝐴

• Integrating dF over the entire immersed surface will give the

resultant hydrostatic force, F:
𝐹 = 𝜌𝑔 ℎ 𝑑𝐴
𝐴

• The integral expression in the above equation is the first

moment of area of the immersed surface about the water
surface. Hence,
ℎ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐴ℎ𝐺
𝐴

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• Therefore,
𝐹 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 F = Hydrostatic force
𝜌 = Density of liquid
A = Surface area
hG = Vertical distance from free surface to
the centre of gravity of the area

• The resultant hydrostatic force, F will act normal on a

single point on the immersed surface known as the
centre of pressure.

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Referring to the same figure, taking moment about O,
the moment due to resultant force:
ℎ𝑃 ℎ𝑃 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 ℎ𝑃
𝑀=𝐹× = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 × =
sin 𝜃 sin 𝜃 sin 𝜃

The sum of moments due to elemental forces:

𝑀= 𝑠 𝑑𝐹 = 𝑠 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐴

But,
ℎ = 𝑠 sin 𝜃

Hence,
𝑀= 𝑠 × 𝜌𝑔 × 𝑠 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃 𝑠 2 𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐴

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• Sum of moments due to resultant force equals to the
sum of moments of all elemental forces:
𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 ℎ𝑃
= 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃 𝑠 2 𝑑𝐴
sin 𝜃
𝐴
2
sin 𝜃
ℎ𝑃 = 𝑠 2 𝑑𝐴
𝐴ℎ𝐺
𝐴

• Using parallel axis theorem:

2
2
ℎ𝐺
𝑠 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐼𝐺 + 𝐴
sin 𝜃
𝐴
𝐴ℎ𝐺 2
= 𝐼𝐺 +
sin2 𝜃

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• Rewriting,
sin2 𝜃 𝐴ℎ𝐺 2
ℎ𝑃 = 𝐼 +
𝐴ℎ𝐺 𝐺 sin2 𝜃

• Therefore,
𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
ℎ𝑃 = + ℎ𝐺 ℎ𝑃 = Vertical distance from free surface to
𝐴ℎ𝐺
the centre of pressure
𝐼𝐺 = Second moment of area
𝜃 = Angle from free surface to object
hG = Vertical distance from free surface to
the centre of gravity of the area
A = Surface area

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 Example
A rectangular plane surface is 2 m wide and 3 m
deep. It lies in vertical plane in water. Determine
the hydrostatic force and the location where it
acts when the upper edge of the plane (a)
coincides with water surface, (b) is 2 m below
the free surface.

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a) Coincides with water surface

Front view Side view

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𝐴 = 2 × 3 = 6𝑚2 𝑏ℎ3 2 × 33
𝐼𝐺 = = = 4.5𝑚4
12 12
1
ℎ𝐺 = × 3 = 1.5𝑚 ffs
2
𝜃 = 90° (vertical)

𝐹𝑅 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
ℎ𝑃 = + ℎ𝐺
= 𝛾𝐴ℎ𝐺 𝐴ℎ𝐺
4.5 × sin 9 0° 2
= 9810 × 6 × 1.5
= + 1.5
= 8,8290𝑁 6 × 1.5
= 88.290𝑘𝑁 = 2𝑚 ffs

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b) 2.5 m below water surface

Front view Side view

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 𝐴 = 2 × 3 = 6𝑚2 𝑏ℎ3 2 × 33
𝐼𝐺 = = = 4.5𝑚4
12 12
1
ℎ𝐺 = × 3 + 2 = 3.5𝑚 ffs
2
𝜃 = 90° (vertical)

𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
𝐹𝑅 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 ℎ𝑃 = + ℎ𝐺
𝐴ℎ𝐺
= 𝛾𝐴ℎ𝐺 4.5 × sin 9 0° 2
= 9810 × 6 × 3.5 = + 3.5
6 × 3.5
= 206,010𝑁 = 3.714𝑚 ffs
= 206.01𝑘𝑁

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 Try yourself
Determine the force and its centre of pressure
on a circular plate of diameter 1.5 m which is
placed vertically in water in such a way that the
centre of the plate is,
(a) 0.75 m below the free surface of water.
(b) 3.0 m below the free surface of water.

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a) 0.75 m below the free surface of water

Front view Side view

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 𝜋 𝜋𝑑 4 𝜋𝑟 4
𝐴 = × 𝑑2 𝐼𝐺 = OR 𝐼𝐺 =
4 64 4
𝜋 𝜋 × 1. 54
= × 1. 52 =
4 64
= 1.767𝑚2 = 0.249𝑚4

ℎ𝐺 = 0.75𝑚 ffs 𝜃 = 90° (vertical)

𝐹𝑅 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺
𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
= 𝛾𝐴ℎ𝐺 ℎ𝑃 = + ℎ𝐺
= 9810 × 1.767 × 0.75 𝐴ℎ𝐺
2
= 13,000.703𝑁 0.249 × sin 9 0°
= + 0.75
= 13.001𝑘𝑁 1.767 × 0.75
= 0.938 𝑚

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b) 3 m below the free surface of water

Front view Side view

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 𝜋 𝜋𝑑 4 𝜋𝑟 4
𝐴 = × 𝑑2 𝐼𝐺 = OR 𝐼𝐺 =
4 64 4
𝜋
= × 1. 52 𝜋 × 1. 54
4 =
= 1.767𝑚2 64
= 0.249𝑚4

ℎ𝐺 = 3𝑚 ffs
𝜃 = 90° (vertical)
𝐹𝑅 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺
= 𝛾𝐴ℎ𝐺 𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
ℎ𝑃 = + ℎ𝐺
= 9810 × 1.767 × 3 𝐴ℎ𝐺
= 52,002.81𝑁 2
0.249 × sin 9 0°
= 52.003𝑘𝑁 = +3
1.767 × 3
= 3.047𝑚 ffs

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Example
An inclined rectangular
gate, 1.5 m by 1.0 m
with water on one side
is shown in Figure.
Determine the total
resultant force acting
on the gate and locate
its centre of pressure.

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x

CG

CP
Front view

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𝐴 = 1.5 × 1.0 = 1.5𝑚2 𝑏ℎ3
𝐼𝐺 =
60o 12
1.5 × 1. 03
𝑥 = 0.5 × sin 6 0° =
x 64
= 0.433𝑚 0.5 m = 0.125𝑚4

ℎ𝐺 = 2 + 0.433 = 2.433𝑚 ffs 𝜃 = 60°

𝐹𝑅 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
= 𝛾𝐴ℎ𝐺 ℎ𝑃 = + ℎ𝐺
𝐴ℎ𝐺
= 9810 × 1.5 × 2.433 0.125 × sin 6 0° 2
= 35.802𝑘𝑁 = + 2.433
1.5 × 2.433
= 2.459𝑚 ffs

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 Try yourself
Determine the resultant force and the centre of pressure on an
isosceles triangular plate of base 4 m and altitude 4 m with oil of
specific gravity 0.9 on one side as shown in figure.

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 Example
Figure shows a vertical triangular plate immersed in a
liquid of specific gravity 0.85. The plate has a circular
hole with a diameter of 1.0 m. Determine the total
force in kN acting on the plate. Locate the centre of
pressure.

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 2m Consider:
ℎ Element 1 - Triangle
tan 600 = Element 2 - Circle
h 2
3.464𝑚 = ℎ

ℎ𝐺1 = 2 + 1 3 3.464
ℎ𝐺1 = 3.155 m

𝐴1 = 1 2 × 4 × 3.464
𝐴1 = 6.928 𝑚2

𝐹𝑅1 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺
= 850 × 9.81 × 6.928 × 3.155
= 182.242 𝑘𝑁

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 𝜋 𝑏ℎ3
𝐴2 = × 1. 02 = 0.785𝑚2 𝐼𝐺1 =
4 36
4 × 3.4643
ℎ𝐺2 = 2 + 0.6 + 1 2 1.0 𝐼𝐺1 =
ℎ𝐺2 = 3.100 m 36
𝐼𝐺1 = 4.618𝑚4

𝐹𝑅2 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐺 𝜃 = 90° (vertical)

= 850 × 9.81 × 0.785 × 3.1
= 20.302 𝑘𝑁 𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
ℎ𝑃1 = + ℎ𝐺
𝐴ℎ𝐺
𝐹𝑅𝑇 = 𝐹𝑅1 − 𝐹𝑅2 4.618 × sin 90° 2
= 161.94 𝑘𝑁 = + 3.155
6.928 × 3.155
= 3.366 𝑚

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 𝜋𝑑 4 𝜃 = 90° (vertical)
𝐼𝐺2 =
64 𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
𝜋 × 1.04 ℎ𝑃2 = + ℎ𝐺
𝐼𝐺2 = 𝐴ℎ𝐺
64 0.0491 × sin 90° 2
𝐼𝐺2 = 0.0491𝑚4 = + 3.100
0.785 × 3.100
= 3.120 𝑚

𝐹𝑅𝑇 ℎ𝑃𝑇 = 𝐹𝑅1 ℎ𝑃1 − 𝐹𝑅2 ℎ𝑃2

𝐹𝑅1 ℎ𝑃1 − 𝐹𝑅2 ℎ𝑃2

ℎ𝑃𝑇 =
𝐹𝑅𝑇
182.242 × 3.366 − 20.302 × 3.120
ℎ𝑃𝑇 =
161.94
ℎ𝑃𝑇 = 3.397m

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 Example
A circular butterfly gate
pivoted about a horizontal
axis passing through its
centroid is subjected to
hydrostatic thrust on one
side and counterbalanced by
a force F, applied at the
bottom as shown in Fig. If
the diameter of the gate is 4
m and the water depth is 2
m above the gate, determine
the force F required to keep
the gate in position.

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33
 Try yourself
Determine the minimum force, Q required to hold the
3-m wide gate in its position as shown in figure. The left
side of the gate is exposed to the atmosphere.
(Ans: 46.747 kN)

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 2.1.9 Hydrostatic thrust on
curved surface
Consider an immersed curve surface subjected to water
pressure as shown in figure.

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Recalling force as vector

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Resolving the total thrust acting normal on the surface.

1)Horizontal component:
𝑑𝐹𝐻 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑑𝐴 cos 𝜃
𝐴

𝐹𝐻 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑑𝐴 cos 𝜃
0

𝐹𝐻 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝐺 𝐴𝑉
FH = Horizontal hydrostatic force
𝜌 = Density of liquid
AV = Vertical projected area of curved
surface
hG = Vertical distance from free surface
to the centre of gravity of AV
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2) Vertical component:
𝑑𝐹𝑉 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑑𝐴 sin 𝜃
𝐴

𝐹𝑉 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑑𝐴 sin 𝜃
0
𝐴

𝐹𝑣 = 𝜌𝑔 𝑑𝑉
0

𝐹𝑉 = 𝜌𝑔𝑉 = 𝑊 FV = Vertical hydrostatic force

𝜌 = Density of liquid
V = Volume of water prism (real or
virtual)

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The resultant hydrostatic force can now be calculated
using:
𝐹𝑅 = 𝐹𝐻 2 + 𝐹𝑉 2

This force acts at an angle,

𝐹𝑉
𝜃= tan−1
𝐹𝐻
(To the horizontal)

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 Example
An open tank 6 m by 1 m in cross-
section holds water to a depth of
5 m. Determine the magnitude,
direction and line of action of the
forces exerted upon the plane
surfaces AB and CD and the
curved surface BC of the tank.

40
 Example
A radial gate whose face is part of a
circle of radius 3.0 m holds water at
its back as shown in Figure. The
sector of the circle represented by
the gate has an angle of 30° at its
centre. Water stands to a depth of
1.5 m above the top of the gate.
The other side of the gate is open
to the atmosphere. Determine the
total resultant force acting on the
gate and its direction. The width of
the gate is 2m.

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 TOPIC 2.1

Hydrostatics – Fluids
Pressure

Week 5
 Overview
2.1.1 Introduction
2.1.2 Concepts of pressure
2.1.3 Pascal’s law for pressure at a point
2.1.4 Pressure variation in a fluid at rest
2.1.5 Pressure and head
2.1.6 The hydrostatic paradox
2.1.7 Pressure measurement
2.1.8 Hydrostatic forces on plane surface and inclined surface
2.1.9 Hydrostatic thrust on curved surface
2.1.10 Pressure diagram

43
 Learning Outcomes
• Apply pressure diagram method to solve
hydrostatic related problems.

44
 2.1.10 Pressure diagram
• The resultant force and centre of pressure can be
found graphically for walls and other surfaces of
constant vertical height for which it is convenient
to calculate the horizontal force exerted per unit
width.
• General principal:
– Hydrostatic force per unit width (N/m) of immersed
surface is given by the area of the pressure diagram.
– The FR is given by the volume of pressure prism.
– CP is given by the location of the centroid pressure
diagram.

45
• Consider ABC the pressure diagram of a vertical wall
of a tank containing a liquid.

• FR will act through the centroid P which is at a depth

of 2/3 H from A.

FR

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If the plane surface is inclined
and submerged below the
surface, the pressure diagram is
drawn perpendicular to the
immersed surface and will be a
straight line extending from p =
0 at the free surface to p = ρgH
at depth H.
As the immersed surface does
not extend to the free surface,
the resultant force R is
represented by the shaded
area, instead of the whole
triangle, and acts through the
centroid P of this area.

47
 Example
A 2 m x 3 m tank with vertical sides contains oil
of density 900 kg/m3 to a depth of 0.8 m, which
floats on 1.2 m depth of water. Calculate the
resultant hydrostatic force and its location on
the 3 m side of the tank.

48
 Try yourself
A vertical wall of 8 m by 3 m as shown in figure is subjected to
hydrostatic pressure. The relative densities of gasoline and oil
are 0.6 and 0.8 respectively.
i) Determine the resultant force per unit length acting on the
vertical wall, by using a pressure diagram.
ii) At which point measured from the bottom does this
resultant act?

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End of Topic 2.1

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