CE 023: FLUID MECHANICS

Lecture 3: Hydrostatic Force on

Surfaces
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON PLANE SURFACE
𝑦
𝑑𝐹 = 𝑝 𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝐹 = (𝛾ℎ)𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝐹 = 𝛾(𝑦 sin 𝜃)𝑑𝐴
𝑧
න 𝑑𝐹 = 𝛾 sin 𝜃 න 𝑦 𝑑𝐴

𝐹 = 𝛾 sin 𝜃 (𝐴𝑦)
ത
ഥ
𝑭𝑻 = 𝜸𝒉𝑨

The total hydrostatic force on any plane surface

submerged in a fluid of specific weight is equal
to the product of the area of the surface and the
𝑝 = 𝛾ℎ intensity of pressure at its center of gravity.
න 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐴𝑦ത
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON PLANE SURFACE
𝑦
෍ 𝑀𝐴 = 0 𝑀𝐹𝑇 = ෍ 𝑀𝑑𝐹
𝑨
[𝛾 sin 𝜃 𝐴𝑦ത ] [𝑦𝑐.𝑝. ] = න 𝑦 [𝛾 𝑦 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝐴]
𝑧 (𝛾 sin 𝜃 (𝐴𝑦))(𝑦
ത 2
𝑐.𝑝. ) = 𝛾 sin 𝜃 න 𝑦 𝑑𝐴

𝐴𝑦(𝑦
ത 𝑐.𝑝. ) = 𝐼𝑥
𝐼𝑥
𝑦𝑐.𝑝. =
𝐴𝑦ത
𝑰ഥ𝒙
𝒚𝒄.𝒑. = +𝒚ഥ ഥ
𝒚𝒄.𝒑. = 𝒆𝒚 + 𝒚
𝑨ഥ𝒚

𝐹𝑇 = 𝛾 sin 𝜃 (𝐴𝑦)
ത න 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐼𝑥 The center of pressure and center of gravity coincides if and
only if; 1) the surface is horizontal; 2) both sides of the area
𝑑𝐹 = 𝛾(𝑦 sin 𝜃)𝑑𝐴 𝐼𝑥 = 𝐼ഥ𝑥 + 𝐴𝑑 2 are completely submerged in liquids of the same unit weight
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON PLANE SURFACE
Sample Problem 1
The storage tank contains oil and water acting at the depths shown. Determine the
resultant force that both of these liquids exert on the side ABC of the tank if the side
has a width of b = 1.25 m. Also, determine the location of this resultant, measured from
𝑘𝑔
the top of the oil surface. Take 𝜌𝑜 = 900 .
𝑚3
Sample Problem 2
The tank truck is fully filled with water. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force
on the elliptical back plate of the tank and the location of the center of pressure
measured from the top of the tank.
Sample Problem 3
The free surface of oil (s.g. = 0.80) is subjected to a pressure of 10 KPa. Determine the
magnitude and location of the total force on the 5m-diameter circular gate AB as
shown.

𝟏𝟎 𝑲𝑷𝒂 𝟏. 𝟐𝟕𝟒𝟐𝒎

5𝑚 6.5𝑚
ℎത

𝑐. 𝑔. 𝑐. 𝑔.
𝑒 𝑐. 𝑝.
𝑐. 𝑝.
𝟒𝟓°
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON CURVED SURFACE
𝑫 𝑪
𝑊
+↑ ෍ 𝐹𝑉 = 0 𝛾=
𝑉
where:

𝑨
𝑨′ 𝑭𝑽 = 𝜸𝑽𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 γ = unit weight of fluid
𝑭𝑽 = 𝛾VABCD
V = volume of ABCD

𝑐. 𝑔. 𝑐. 𝑔. 𝑑𝐹
𝑭′𝑯 𝑐. 𝑝.
+→ ෍ 𝐹𝐻 = 0 𝑝=
𝑭𝑯 𝑑𝐴
𝑩
𝑭T
𝑩′ 𝐹𝐻 = න 𝑝 𝑑𝐴 where:
𝑭′𝑽
γ = unit weight of fluid
𝐹𝐻 = න 𝛾ℎ 𝑑𝐴 A = area of the vertical projection A’B’
hത = vertical distance of the center of
ഥ
𝑭𝑯 = 𝜸𝒉𝑨 gravity of A’B’ from the free surface
Sample Problem 4
The steel cylinder has a specific weight of 490 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 3 and acts as a plug for the 1-ft-long
slot in the tank. Determine the resultant force the bottom of the tank exerts on the
cylinder when the water in the tank is at a depth of h = 2 ft.
Sample Problem 5
Find the magnitude and location of each of the components of the total force on the
curved surface shown. The length of gate AB is 4.5m and it is normal to the plane of the
paper.

2m 𝑐. 𝑔.
𝑒 1.75m
𝑭𝑯
𝑐. 𝑝.
𝟔𝟎°

1m 1m
- END -