CE 412

Elementary Mechanics of Fluids

Hydrostatic
Forces on Plane
Surfaces
 Pressure on Plane Surface
Surfaces exposed to

fluids experience a p  y sin 
force due to the F x
pressure distribution in
the fluid dA
y
F   pdA y
A
  y sin dA ycp
A Centroid

  sin   ydA Center of pressure

A
F  (y sin  ) A
F  pA
Example:
Find the force exerted by the concrete mix on the form work.
Plywood Form
(2.44m x 1.22m)
Concrete
(23.6 kN/m3)

F  pA
 (y sin  ) A
 (23,600 *1.22 *1) * (1.22 * 2.44) 2.44 m

F  85.8 kN
F
 Line of Action of Force

• Lies below centroid, since pressure

increases with depth
ycp F   ydF
  y ( pdA) 
p  y sin 
A F x
  y (y sin  )dA dA
A
ycp (y sin A)   sin I 0 y
y
ycp
ycp ( yA)  I  y 2 A Centroid
I Center of pressure
ycp  y 
yA
Example:
Find the force of block on gate.
I
F  pA ycp  y 
yA
 (y sin  ) A
3
 (9810*10 *1) * (4 * 4) 4 * 4 / 12

(10 * 4 * 4)
F  1569.6 kN
 0.133 m

M  0
 0.133Fw, g  2 Fb, g
0.133
F Fb, g  Fw, g
2
0.133
 1569.6 kN
2
0.133
Fb, g  104.378 kN
Fw,g 2
Fb,g
Example:

A rectangular gate having a

width of 5ft is located
along the sloping side of a
tank. The gate is hinged
along its top edge and is
held in position by force P
as shown in the Figure.
Determine the required
value of P. Neglect friction
at the hinge and the weight
of the gate.
Example:
Find the reaction at the hinge. The width of the gate is 4m.
F  pA  (y sin  ) A
RA  9810* (3  3 cos 30) * (4 * 6)
 1,318,000 N
I 4 * 63 / 12
ycp y 
yA (6.464 * 24)
6  0.4641m

M  0
3-0.4641
 6 R A  (3  0.4641) F
F
3  0.4641
RA  F
6
 (0.42265)1318 kN
R A  557.05 kN
Example:

Given:
Gate AB is 4 ft wide, hinged
at A.
Gage G reads -2.17 psi.
Air G

Find:
Horizontal force at B to hold 18 ft
gate. Water
A

Oil
gate SG=0.75 6 ft
B
SW No. 4:
A large open tank contains water and is connected to 6-ft
diameter conduit. A circular plug is used to seal the conduit.
Determine the magnitude and location of force of water on
the plug.
SW No. 5:
A homogenous 4-ft wide, 8-ft long rectangular gate weighing
800 lb is held in place by a horizontal cable as shown in the
figure. Water acts against the gate which is hinged at point
A. Determine the tension in the cable.