CEE 331 – Lecture 7, Sept.

8, 2006 1

1 Review

• Barometer, manometer Pdown = Pup + γ|∆z|

RR
• In general FR = S
P (x, y) dxdy where the surface S has surface area A and the
coordinates x and y are on the surface (y increases downward in the gravitational
sense)

• If the surface S is horizontal, P = a constant ⇒ FR = P A

• If the surface S is in contact with a constant density layer of fluid FR = PC A where

PC is the pressure acting at the centroid of A

2 x-position of Center of Pressure

Now, we follow the same approach as previously used (taking the moments) to get the
xR , the x position of the center of pressure:
Z Z Z Z
xR F R = xP dA = x(PC + γy cos θ) dA = PC x dA + γ cos θ xy dA
A A A

But the first term on the right-hand-side is again just the first moment of A (with respect
to x this time) which occurs at the centroid (e.g., xC = 0 in our coordinate system) and
hence is zero! Therefore we have
Z
xR FR = γ cos θ xy dA

recalling that FR = PC A and solving for xR

Z
γ cos θ
xR = xy dA
PC A

The integral in the above expression is known as the product of inertia (a mixed second
moment) of the area and is denoted Ixyc . It’s values, along with Ixc can be found in
standard tables. It is essentially a measure of the asymmetry of the surface (surfaces
CEE 331 – Lecture 7, Sept. 8, 2006 2

that are symmetric about either axis, which pass through the centroid by definition, will
have Ixyc = 0 . Our final expression for xR is

Ixyc γ cos θ
xR =
PC A

Since shapes of interest often obey symmetry about an axis through the centroid we will
often find that xR =0.

Summarizing our findings for the case when the density over the surface S is constant:

FR = PC A (1)
Ixyc γ cos θ
xR = (2)
PC A
Ixc γ cos θ
yR = (3)
PC A

3 Pressure Prism

Consider the following example:

We can solve this directly by applying the analysis presented above (left as an exercise
for the student), however, for many situations (or just for many people who prefer to
think in a different manner!) a decomposition of the pressures into a series of pressure
CEE 331 – Lecture 7, Sept. 8, 2006 3

prisms is often easier. Consider the decomposition such that

Fy R = F1 y1 + F2 y2
    
h2 h22 2h2
= (γbh2 h1 ) h1 + + γb h1
2 2 3
   
h2 h2 2h2
h1 h1 + + h1 +
2 2 3
Therefore yR =
h2
h1 +
 2
2h2
h2  h1 + 3 
= h1 + 
2 h2 
h1 +
  2
4+4
= 4+3 = 7.430
4+3