FLUID MECHANICS LECTURE NOTES by Prof. Dr.

Gökmen TAYFUR

LECTURE 6 – HYDROSTATIC FORCE on a CURVED SURFACE

Many surfaces such as dams, pipes, tanks are nonplanar e.g. arch-dam , spill gate

To find the resultant fluid force , the integration method (as was the case in planar surface) can be
employed. Yet, this result in tedious process and complex expressions.

Instead, equilibrium of fluid volume enclosed by the curved surface is considered.

Example:

First isolate the volume of fluid that’s bounded by the curved

surface (BC) and the horizontal plane surface (AB) and the
vertical plane surface (AC).

The free-body diagram :

F1
A F2
B
CG

F2
W O FH
A B
F2

C
C
FV
where ; F2

o W : Weight of the fluid ; W = ɣ* Volume acts through the center of gravity (CG)
o FH and FV : Forces that tank exerts oh the fluid.
o F1 and F2 : Hydrostatic Forces , location and magnitude of these forces can be determined from
the relationships for planar surfaces.

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FLUID MECHANICS LECTURE NOTES by Prof. Dr. Gökmen TAYFUR

For this system to be in equilibrium ;

In horizontal direction  FH = F2

In vertical direction  Fv = W+F1

FR
FR = √𝐹𝑣2 + 𝐹𝐻2
O

FR passes through the point O, which can be located by

summing the moments about on appropriate axis.

Example 1:

2 m diameter conduit is half full of water at rest. Determine the magnitude

B of the resultant force that water exerts on 1m length of curved surface of
BC of the conduit wall.

Solution :
1m 𝜋∗12
B W = ɣ*V = 1* (1m,width * 4
) = π/4 ton
W
1
F1 = ɣ*hc *A = 1*( ∗ 1)*(1*1) = 0,5 ton
2

FH = F1 = 0,5 ton

FV = W = 0,8 ton

FR = √0,82 + 0,52 = 0,94 ton

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 FLUID MECHANICS LECTURE NOTES by Prof. Dr. Gökmen TAYFUR

Example 2 :

4m A 3m long curved gate is located on the side of the reservoir. Determine

resultant force on the gate.
6m

gate

Solution :

F1

W
F2
FV

FV

For equilibrium :

ΣFX = 0  F2 = FH = ɣ*hC2 * A2 = 1*(4+1)(3*2) = 30 ton

ΣFY = 0  FV = F1 + W

W= ɣ*V = 1* (π*22*3) =9.42 t

F1 = ɣ*hC1 * A1 = 1*(4)*(2*3) = 24 t

FV = 24 + 9,42 = 33,42 t

FR = √33,422 + 302 = 44,91 ton

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 FLUID MECHANICS LECTURE NOTES by Prof. Dr. Gökmen TAYFUR

B
The force acting on ds
h
dF= ɣ*hC *(ds*b)
H 𝐻
FX = b* ɣ* ∫0 ℎ ∗ 𝑑𝑋 =b*ɣ*H2
𝐻
FY = b* ɣ* ∫0 ℎ ∗ 𝑑𝑦 =b*ɣ*𝐴𝑂𝐴𝐵

FY B
FX = b*ɣ*H2
FY =b*ɣ*𝐴𝑂𝐴𝐵

H
FX

ɣ* H