16

Lesson 2

 Hydrostatic Forces
on Curved Surfaces

For a submerged curved surface, the determination of the resultant hydrostatic force is
more involved since it typically requires the integration of the pressure forces that
change direction along the curved surface.

The figure shows the determination of the hydrostatic force acting on a submerged
curved surface. The resultant force acting on the curved solid surface is then equal and
opposite to the force acting on the curved liquid surface (Newton’s third law).

The force acting on the imaginary horizontal or vertical plane surface and its line of
action can be determined as discussed. The weight of the enclosed liquid block of
volume V is simply W = ρgV, and it acts downward through the centroid of this
volume.

Horizontal force component on curved surface: FH = Fx

Vertical force component on curved surface: Fv = Fy + W

Thus, we conclude that:

1. The horizontal component of the hydrostatic force acting on a curved surface is equal
(in both magnitude and the line of action) to the hydrostatic force acting on the
vertical projection of the curved surface.
2. The vertical component of the hydrostatic force acting on a curved surface is equal to
the hydrostatic force acting on the horizontal projection of the curved surface, plus
(minus, if acting in the opposite direction) the weight of the fluid block.

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The magnitude of the resultant hydrostatic force acting on the curved surface isFR =
FV
√FH2 + FV2 , and the tangent of the angle it makes with the horizontal is tan α = . The
FH
exact location of the line of action of the resultant force (e.g., its distance from one of
the end points of the curved surface) can be determined by taking a moment about an
appropriate point.

Sample Problem Number 1.

A long solid cylinder of radius 0.8 m hinged at point A is

used as an automatic gate, as shown in Figure. When the
water level reaches 5 m, the gate opens by turning about
the hinge at point A. Determine (a) the hydrostatic force
acting on the cylinder and its line of action when the gate
opens and (b) the weight of the cylinder per m length of
the cylinder.

SOLUTION:

The height of a water reservoir is controlled by a cylindrical gate hinged to the

reservoir. The hydrostatic force on the cylinder and the weight of the cylinder per m
length are to be determined.

Assumptions:

1. Friction at the hinge is negligible.

2. Atmospheric pressure acts on both sides of the gate, and thus it cancels out.

Properties:

We take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3 throughout.

Analysis:
(a) We consider the free-body diagram of the liquid block enclosed by the circular
surface of the cylinder and its vertical and horizontal projections. The hydrostatic forces
acting on the vertical and horizontal plane surfaces as well as the weight of the liquid
block are determined as Horizontal force on vertical surface:

R
FH = FX = Pave A = ρghcA = ρg (s + ) A
2
kg m 0.8 1kN
= (1000 3
) (9.81 2 ) ( 4.2 + m) (0.8 m x 1 m) ( m)
m s 2 1000 kg. 2
s
= 36.1 kN

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Vertical force on horizontal surface (upward):

Fy = Pave A = ρghc A = ρghbottom A
kg m kN
= (1000 ) ( 9.81 ) ( 5 m )( 0.8 m x 1 m) ( 1 m)
m3 s2 1000 kg. 2
s
= 39.2 kN

Weight of fluid block per m length (downward)

πR22
W = mg = ρgV = ρg (R − ) (1m)
4
kg m 2
π kN
= (1000 ) (9.81 ) ( 0. 8m ) ( 1 − ) ( 1m ) ( 1 m)
m3 s2 4 1000kg. 2
s
= 1.3 kN
Therefore, the net upward vertical force is
Fv = Fy − W = 39.2 − 1.3 = 37.9 kN

Then the magnitude & direction of the hydrostatic force acting on the cylindrical surface
become:
FR = √FH2 + FV2 = √36.12 + 37.92 = 52.3 kN
37.9
tan θ = FV /FH = = 1.05 → θ = 46.4 ˚
36.1

Therefore, the magnitude of the hydrostatic force acting on the cylinder is 52.3 kN per
m length of the cylinder, and its line of action passes through the center of the cylinder
making an angle 46.4° with the horizontal.

b. When the water level is 5 m high, the gate is about to open and thus the reaction
force at the bottom of the cylinder is zero. Then the forces other than those at the
hinge acting on the cylinder are its weight, acting through the center, and the
hydrostatic force exerted by water. Taking a moment about point A at the location of
the hinge and equating it to zero gives

FR R sinθ − Wcyl R = 0 → Wcyl = FR sinθ = (52.3 kN) sin 46.4 ° = 37.9 kN

Discussion:

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The weight of the cylinder per m length is determined to be 37.9 kN. It can be shown
that this corresponds to a mass of 3863 kg per m length and to a density of 1921 kg/m 3
for the material of the cylinder.
Sample Problem Number 2.

2. The submerged sector gate AB shown in the figure is one-sixth of a circle of

radius 6 m. the length of the gate is 10 m. Determine the amount and location of
the horizontal and vertical components of the total resultant force acting on the
gate.

Solution:
Draw the free body diagram of the submerged sector gate

FH = γ h̅ A

0+ +5.196
FH = (9.79) [ ] [ (10)( 5. 196)]
2

FH = 1322 kN

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AreaABC = areaABCD + areaABCD − areaABO

(3.000)(5.196) ( π)(6)2
AreaABC = (5.196)(3) + [ ]−[ ]
2 6

AreaABC = 1322 kN

Fv = ( areaABC )( lenght of gate)(γ)

Fv = (4.532)( 10)(9.79)

Fv = 444 kN

The location of the horizontal component (FH) is along a (horizontal) line 5.196/3, or
1.732 m above the bottom of the gate (A).

The location of the vertical component (FV) is along a vertical line through the center of
the gravity of section ABC.

Taking area moments about AC:

3 1 3.000 (π)(6)2
4.53 x = [ (5.196)( 3)] ( ) + [( ) ( 3.000)(5.196)] ( 3 + )−[ ] {6 − [cos(60°/2) ] (2)(6)/π}
2 2 3 6

x = 0.842 m

Sample Problem Number 3.

Referring to Figure, determine the horizontal and vertical forces due to the water acting
on the cylinder per foot of its length.

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[4 + (4 + 4.24 + 0.88)
(FH )CDA = 62.4 {[ ] } [ (2.12 + 3)(1)] = 2096 lb
2

[(4 + 4.24) + (4 + 4.24 + 0.88)]

(FH )AB = (62.4) { } [ (0.88)(1)] = 477 lb
2

(FH )net = (FH )CDA − (FH )AB = 2096 − 477 = 1619 lb (right)

(FV )net = (FV )DAB − (FV )DC = weight of volumeDABFED − weight of volumeDCGED = weight of volumeDCGED = weight of volume DABFGCD

= weight of ( rectangleGFJC + triangleCJB + semicircleCDAB

(4.24)(4.24) (π)(3)2
= 62.4 [ (4)(4.24) + + ] (1) = 2501 (upward)
2 2

Sample Problem Number 4.

The half-conical buttress ABE shown in the figure is used to support a half-cylindrical
tower ABCD. Calculate the horizontal & vertical components of the force due to water
acting on the buttress.

Solution:

FH = γhcg A

6 (6)(2 + 2)
FH = (62.4) (3 + ) [ ]
3 2

FH = 3744 lb ( right)

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FV = weight of (imaginary)volume of water above curved surfaced

1 (6)(π)(2)2 1
FV = (62.4) [ ( ) + ( ) (π)(2)2 (3)]
2 3 2

FV = 1960 lb (up)

Sample Problem Number 5.

Compute the horizontal and vertical components of the hydrostatic force on the
quarter-circle face of the tank shown in the figure.

Solution:

FH = γ hcg A

1
FH = 9.79 [ 4 + 2] [ (1)(7)] = 308 kN

FV = F1 − F2

(7)(π)(1)2
FV = (9.79)[(7)(1)(5)] − (9.79) [ ] = 289 kN
4

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Activity Number 6

Solve the given problems:

1. The curved surface AB shown in Figure is quarter of a circle of radius 5 ft.

Determine, for an 8-ft length perpendicular to the paper, the amount and location and
vertical components of the total resultant force acting on surface AB.

2. In the Figure, an 8-ft diameter cylinder plugs a rectangular hole in a tank that is 3 ft
long. With what force is the cylinder pressed against the bottom of the tank due to the
9-ft depth of water?
Answer= 4090 lb downward.

3. Find the force on the conical plug in the figure. Neglect the weight of the plug.

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