Application Examples

Feeder Gates for Canal

Gate Valves for
Spillway Control

Applications (cont.)

Spillway Drum Gates:

hollow inside, use
buoyancy to control the
position of the gate.

Hydrostatic Force on an Inclined Plane Surface

Assume atmoshperic condition on the
other side of the surface
Free surface

h
dF

dF PdA hdA ghdA

gy sin dA
Integrate over the entire surface

x FR dF g sin ydA
x

Define centroid of the area y C

1
ydA, so that

A
FR gAyC sin gAhC
yC

In order to find equilavent system,

need to make sure that the moment
of the resultant force must equal to

the moment of the distributed force.

O
FR

Hydrostaic forces
Taking Mmoment about the x-axis: y'FR yPdA
A

y ' g sin yC A gy 2 sin dA g sin y 2 dA

A

Recognize that y 2 dA I xx (area moment of inertia about O)

A

Therefore, y'=

I xx
AyC

O Also, from parallel axis theorem, we can relate I to I ,

xx
xx
moment of inertia about the centroid of the area (can be
found in table)
2
I xx = I xx
AyC , therefore, y'=y C

Similarly, x'=

I xy
Ay C

xC

I xy

AyC

I xx

AyC

Example
2m

y
O

The square flood gate (2m by 2m) is hinged along its

bottom as shown. Determine the moment at the hinge in
order to hold the gate steady.

First, find the resultant force:

hinge F gh A (1000)(9.8)(1)(2 2) 39200( N )
R
C
Then, determine the point of action:
1 (2)(2) 3
I xx
1 4
12
y'=y C
(1)
1 ( m)
AyC
(2 2)(1)
3 3
As expected, it falls at a depth 2/3 of the total depth.

The holding moment (M) on the hinge O will be

4
M

F
(2

) 0,
O
R
3
M 18479( N .m)
y

Example (cont.)
2m

If the square gate is replaced by a circularshaped gate as shown, recalculate the

holding moment.

Again, find the resultant force first:

FR ghC A (1000)(9.8)(1) (1) 2 30772( N )
y

Next, the line of action:

4
1

R
I
1 5
y'=yC x x 1 4 2
1 ( m)
AyC
R (1)
4 4
The holding moment:
5
3
M

F
(2

FR 0
O
R
4
4
M 23079( N .m )

Example (cont.)
45
2m

If the square gate is placed at an angle of 45 as

shown, recalculate the holding moment again.
Note: the y axis has been redefined to follow the
gate for convenience.

First, calculate the resultant force:

FR ghC A (1000)(9.8)(1)(2 2 2 2) 78400( N )
Note: the h stays the same and is independent
of the incline angle, however, the gate area increases.
1 (2 2)(2 2)3
I
2 2
12
y'=y C xx

AyC
2
(2 2 2 2) 2 2
2

y' 2

2 4 2

3
3

The holding moment: M=FR (2 2 4 2 ) 73916( N .m)

3

An interesting observation
When the gas tank is low, the low fuel light will lit to warn the driver. Have
you noticed that the light will not always stay on for a period of time. It turns
off when either you accelerate (decelerate) or climb (descend) on a sloped road.
Can you explain this phenomenon by using the principle of fluid statics.

Accelerating (climbing)

Decelerating (descending)

Fuel level transducer

Hydrostatic balance can be applied to a small fluid element as shown

dp
pA ( p dp ) A mg Agdy ,
g , integrate from fluid element to
dy
Free surface, p=p
the free surface p( h) p gh
p+dp

Example: If a container of fluid is accelerating

with an acceleration of ax to the right as shown below,
the free surface of the fluid will incline with an angle
as shown.

p
x

p+dp

p
ax

pA ( p dp ) A ma x Adxa x ,
dp

tan( )
dy

dx

dp
ax
dx

a
dy
g ax

, tan 1 x
dx dp
g
g
ax