Forces on curved surface

For curved surface that is subjected to fluid pressure,

the elementary forces, 𝑑𝐹𝑠 , act on the elementary area
𝑑𝐴 are varied in direction (unlike the plane area). So,

they cannot be determined directly by 𝐹 = ∫𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑑𝐹

as the flat surface. They must be added as vectors.
The resultant pressure force (𝐹) and its point of
action, pressure center C, can be determined by
considering its horizontal and vertical components.

For curved surface, there are two cases:

1- Liquid above the curved surface

For the curved surface (AB), the force

components can be determined as follow:

a- The horizontal component 𝑭𝑯

𝐹𝐻 equals to the force exerted on the projected

vertical plane area (A'B'). In this case, the
projected area is vertical plane area, the force
affects on it is the horizontal component 𝐹𝐻 that
affects on the curved surface.

𝐹𝐻 = 𝛾 𝐴 𝑦𝐺′

𝛾 is the specific weight of the liquid

𝐴 is area of the projected surface

For curved surface with constant width:

𝐴 = area of rectangle = A′ B ′ ∗ (width)

𝐺′ is the centroid of the projected area

𝑦𝐺′ is the height from the liquid free surface to 𝐺′

𝐼𝐺 ′ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜑
𝑦𝑐′ = 𝑦𝐺′ +
𝐴𝑦𝐺′

𝑐′ is the point of action of 𝐹𝐻

𝐼𝐺′ is the moment of inertia about axis passing through the centroid 𝐺′

𝜑 = 90𝑜 for this projected area

b- The vertical component 𝑭𝑽

It is equal to the weight of the liquid above the curved surface (AB).

𝐹𝑉 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 (𝐸𝐴𝐵𝐷)

𝐹𝑉 = 𝛾. 𝑉𝑜𝑙. (𝐸𝐴𝐵𝐷)

𝐹𝑉 = 𝛾. 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (𝐸𝐴𝐵𝐷). (𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ)

It acts vertically downward in the centroid (G) of the liquid volume above
the curved surface (EABD)

𝐹𝐻 and 𝐹𝑉 are two perpendicular components. So, the resultant pressure

force 𝐹 can be determined by:𝐹 = √𝐹𝐻 2 + 𝐹𝑉 2

𝐹𝑉
𝜃 = tan−1
𝐹𝐻
2- Liquid below the curved surface

For the curved surface (AB), the force

components can be determined as follow:

a- The horizontal component 𝑭𝑯

It is determined as the previous case, It is the

force exerted on the projected vertical plane
area (A'B').
B
𝐹𝐻 = 𝛾 𝐴 𝑦𝐺′

𝛾 is the specific weight of the liquid

𝐴 is area of the projected surface

For curved surface with constant width:

𝐴 = area of rectangle = A′ B ′ ∗ (width)

𝐺′ is the centroid of the projected area

𝑦𝐺′ is the height from the liquid free surface to 𝐺′

𝐼𝐺 ′ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜑
𝑦𝑐′ = 𝑦𝐺′ +
𝐴𝑦𝐺′

𝑐′ is the point of action of 𝐹𝐻

𝐼𝐺′ is the moment of inertia about axis passing through the centroid 𝐺′
b- The vertical component 𝑭𝑽

It is equal to the weight of the imaginary liquid above the curved surface
(AB).

𝐹𝑉 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 (𝐸𝐴𝐵𝐷)

𝐹𝑉 = 𝛾. 𝑉𝑜𝑙. (𝐸𝐴𝐵𝐷)

𝐹𝑉 = 𝛾. 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (𝐸𝐴𝐵𝐷). (𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ)

It acts vertically upward to the centroid (G) of the imaginary liquid

volume above the curved surface (EABD)

𝐹 = √𝐹𝐻 2 + 𝐹𝑉 2

𝐹𝑉
𝜃 = tan−1
𝐹𝐻

Example

For the quadrant of a circle gate, of

radius 1.5 m, calculate the magnitude
and direction of the resultant
pressure force. The gate width is 3m.
Solution

-The horizontal component 𝑭𝑯

𝐹𝐻 = 𝛾𝑤 𝐴 𝑦𝐺′

𝐴 = A′ B ′ ∗ (width) = 1.5(3) = 4.5 𝑚2

𝑦𝐺′ = 0.75 𝑚

𝐹𝐻 = 9.81 ∗ 1000 ∗ 4,5 ∗ 𝑜. 75 = 33.1 𝑘𝑁

𝐼𝐺 ′ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜑
𝑦𝑐′ = 𝑦𝐺′ +
𝐴𝑦𝐺′

For projected area, 𝜑 = 90, sin 𝜑 = 1

3(1.5)3
𝐼𝐺 ′ = = 0.84375 𝑚4
12
0.84375
𝑦𝑐′ = 0.75 + =1𝑚
4.5(0.75)

-The vertical component 𝑭𝑽

𝐹𝑉 = 𝛾𝑤 . 𝑉𝑜𝑙. (𝑂𝐴𝐵) = 𝛾𝑤 . 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎. 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ

𝜋(1.5)2
𝐹𝑉 = 9.81 ∗ 1000 ∗ ∗ 3 = 52.075 𝑘𝑁
4
4𝑟 4(1.5)
It acts at a distance = = = 0.636 𝑚
3𝜋 3𝜋

𝐹 = √𝐹𝐻 2 + 𝐹𝑉 2 = √(33.1)2 + (52.075)2 = 61.7 𝑘𝑁

𝐹𝑉 52.075
𝜃 = tan−1 = tan−1 = 57.55𝑜
𝐹𝐻 33.1