EM 205: Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 4: FORCES DUE TO STATIC FLUIDS

Lecture # 11
Lecture 5 Objectives
1. Visualize the distribution of force on a submerged curved surface.
2. Compute the total resultant force on the curved surface.
3. Compute the direction in which the resultant force acts and show
its line of action on a sketch of the surface.
4. Include the effect of a pressure head over the liquid on the force
on a plane or curved surface.
DISTRIBUTION OF FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED SURFACE
Objective 8,9: Visualize the distribution of force on a submerged curved
surface. Compute the total resultant force on the curved surface.

The objective is to determine the

horizontal force 𝐹𝐻 and the vertical force
𝐹𝑉 exerted on the fluid by the curved The line of action of 𝑭𝑹
surface and their resultant force 𝐹𝑅 . acts through the center
of curvature of the
curved surface.
DISTRIBUTION OF FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED SURFACE

• 𝐹1 , 𝐹2 acts at a distance ℎ/3

from the bottom of the wall and
they cancel each other
• 𝐹𝐻 = 𝐹2𝑏 since the fluid is
stagnant inside the container
𝑠
• 𝐹2𝑏 = 𝐹𝐻 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐 𝐴 = 𝛾 ℎ + 𝐴
2
(since the centroid is midway)
• Using the submerged equation:
ℎ𝑝 − ℎ𝑐 = 𝐼𝑐 /(ℎ𝑐 𝐴)
𝑤𝑠 3
• However, 𝐼𝑐 = 12 , 𝐴 = 𝑠𝑤
𝒘𝒔𝟑 𝒔𝟐
• → 𝒉𝒑 − 𝒉𝒄 = 𝟏𝟐𝒉 𝒔𝒘 = 𝟏𝟐𝒉
𝒄 𝒄

• 𝑭𝑯 = 𝜸𝒔𝒘𝒉𝒄 , 𝑭𝑽 = 𝜸𝑨𝒘
𝑠
where, ℎ𝑐 = ℎ + 2

The line of action of 𝑭𝑹

acts through the center • → 𝑭𝑹 = 𝑭𝟐𝑯 + 𝑭𝟐𝑽
of curvature of the
𝑭
curved surface. • 𝝓 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 (𝑭𝑽 )
𝑹
 Problem (14) Example 4.8 Compute the horizontal and vertical
components of the resultant force on the curved surface and the
resultant force itself. Show these force vectors on a sketch.
Procedure for Computing the Force on a
Submerged Curved Surface:
1. Compute 𝐖 = 𝑭𝑽 = 𝜸𝑨𝒘 (In line with the centroid of
the isolated volume)
2. Draw a projection of the curved surface onto a vertical
plane and determine its height, called 𝒔
3. Compute the depth to the centroid of the projected
𝒔
area from 𝒉𝒄 = 𝒉 +
𝟐
4. Compute the horizontal force 𝑭𝑯 = 𝜸𝒔𝒘𝒉𝒄
𝒔𝟐
5. Compute the center of pressure height: 𝒉𝒑 = 𝒉𝒄 +
𝟏𝟐𝒉𝒄
𝑭
6. Compute 𝑭𝑹 = 𝑭𝟐𝑯 + 𝑭𝟐𝑽 , 𝝓 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 ( 𝑽 )
𝑭𝑹
7. Draw 𝑭𝑹 passing through the center of curvature

centroid for the composite area

𝐴1 𝑥1 + 𝐴2 𝑥2
𝑥ҧ =
𝐴1 + 𝐴2
5
Problem (14) Compute the horizontal and vertical components of
the resultant force on the curved surface and the resultant force itself.
Show these force vectors on a sketch.

Answer:

6
FORCES ON A CURVED SURFACE WITH FLUID BELOW IT
Objective 10: Include the effect of a pressure head over the liquid on the force on
a plane or curved surface.

The pressure in the fluid at any point is dependent on the depth of fluid to that point
from the level of the free surface. Hence, we can visualize an imaginary volume of
fluid extending from the surface of interest to the level of the free surface. The
vertical component 𝑭𝑽 is then equal to the weight of the imaginary volume of
fluid above the surface
Problem (15) Compute the magnitude of the resultant force on the curved
surface and indicate the location of the center of pressure. Show the resultant
force on the area and clearly dimension its location.
Answer:𝑭𝑽 = 𝟔𝟔. 𝟏𝒌𝑵, 𝑭𝑯 = 𝟔𝟎𝒌𝑵, 𝑭𝑹 = 𝟖𝟗. 𝟑𝒌𝑵, 𝒉𝒑 = 𝟑. 𝟒𝟑𝟓𝒎, 𝝓 = 𝟒𝟕. 𝟖∘
Procedure for Computing the Force on a Submerged
Curved Surface:
1. Convert the problem to standard form
2. Compute 𝐖 = 𝑭𝑽 = 𝜸𝑨𝒘 (In line with the centroid of The surface is
the isolated volume) 1.50 m long.
3. Draw a projection of the curved surface onto a vertical
plane and determine its height, called 𝒔
4. Compute the depth to the centroid of the projected
𝒔
area from 𝒉𝒄 = 𝒉 +
𝟐
5. Compute the horizontal force 𝑭𝑯 = 𝜸𝒔𝒘𝒉𝒄
𝒔𝟐
6. Compute the center of pressure height: 𝒉𝒑 = 𝒉𝒄 +
𝟏𝟐𝒉𝒄
𝑭
7. Compute 𝑭𝑹 = 𝑭𝟐𝑯 + 𝑭𝟐𝑽 , 𝝓 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 ( 𝑽 )
𝑭𝑹
8. Draw 𝑭𝑹 passing through the center of curvature

centroid for the composite area

𝐴1 𝑥1 + 𝐴2 𝑥2
𝑥ҧ = = 0.577𝑚
𝐴1 + 𝐴2