CHAPTER 3

HYDROSTATIC FORCE
&
ITS APPLICATION
 CENTER OF PRESSURE
 Pressure from fluid will create force to the contact surface.
 If all forces is summed  resultant force.
 The direction & magnitude of force  perpendicular with
plane surface at Center of Pressure (CP).

Figure 3.1: Hydrostatic pressure at submerged plane surface

 CENTER OF PRESSURE
Free surface
M

hc
hp

Center point F

hc N K
hp
P = h

M’

F
Center point
N’

Figure 3.2: Pressure distributions on two vertical plane areas

(viewed from edges)
 CENTER OF PRESSURE

 Figure 3.2  distribution of pressure is not uniform.

 Pressure vary from 0 at M to NK at N.
 The resultant parallel forces must act  point below the
centriod of the area ( centriod of area  for resultant of uniform
forces would act).
 The direction & magnitude of force  perpendicular with
plane surface at Center of Pressure (CP).
 If plane is lower to position M’N’  force act nearer to the
centriod   the deeper plane is submerged  the closer the
resultant force moves to the centriod.
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

Hydrostatic Force on Inclined Submerged Plane

Surface Free surface
O

h
hc
FR dF

c
x
CP

A
dA
c
CP Center point

y Center of pressure

Figure 3.3: Notation for hydrostatic force on an inclined

plane surface of arbitrary shape
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON INCLINED
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

 Figure 3.3  Coordinate system is defined so that y axis is

directed along the plane surface.
 At any depth, force acting is perpendicular to the surface.

MAGNITUDE OF RESULTANT FORCE, FR

 Magnitude of resultant force, FR is calculated using equation

3.1:
FR  gh c A ……………………… 3.1

where:
 = Density (kg/m3)
g = Gravity acceleration ( 9.81 m/s2)
hc = Vertical distance from fluid to the centriod of the
area (m)
A = Submerged plane area (m2)
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON INCLINED
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
LOCATION OF RESULTANT FORCE AT y DIRECTION, yR

 Location of force, yR is based on x-y coordinate system

originating from O as origin to the submerged center of pressure
at y direction.
 yR is calculated using equation 3.2:
I xc
yR   yc
ycA ……………………… 3.2

where:
Ixc = Second moment of area with respect to an axis
passing through its centroid and parallel to the x axis
(m4) – See Table 3.1
yc = Distance from fluid surface at point O to the
submerged plane center directed along y coordinate
system (m).
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON INCLINED
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
LOCATION OF RESULTANT FORCE AT x DIRECTION, xR

 Location of force, xR is based on x-y coordinate system

originating from O as origin to the submerged center of pressure
at x direction.
 xR is calculated using equation 3.3:
I xyc
xR   xc
xc A ……………………… 3.3

where:
Ixyc = Moment of area upon x-y coordinate system through
center of area (m4) – See Table 3.1
xc = Distance from fluid surface at point O to the
submerged plane center directed along x coordinate
system (m).
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON INCLINED
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
DIRECTION OF RESULTANT FORCE

 Direction of resultant force is perpendicular to the submerged

plane surface (Figure 3.3).
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

Hydrostatic Force on Horizontal Submerged Plane Surface

FR
hc = y c

C
xc

Figure 3.4: Notation for hydrostatic force on a horizontal

plane surface of arbitrary shape
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON HORIZONTAL
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

 Calculation for magnitude, location and direction of resultant

force on horizontal submerged plane surface are same as inclined
plane surface.
 However distance of hc is equal to yc because of x-y coordinate
system is parallel to fluid surface (Figure 3.4).
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

Hydrostatic Force on Vertical Submerged Plane Surface

yR y c

C
FR CP

Figure 3.5: Notation for hydrostatic force on a vertical plane

surface of arbitrary shape
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON VERTICAL
SUBMERGED PLANE SURFACE

 Calculation for magnitude, location and direction of resultant

force on vertical submerged plane surface are same as inclined
plane surface.
EXAMPLE 3.1

A 5 m width rectangular gate that leans

against the floor with an angle of 45 with
the horizontal is to be opened from its
lower edge by applying a normal force at
its center. Find the minimum force
required to open the water gate.

1.2 m

FR
B

3m

45 F

A
 SOLUTION
Consider figure below:-

yR
1.2 m
yC
FR B

3m

x
45 F
A

y
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(i) Magnitude of resultant force, FR

FR  ghc A
where; 3
hc   1.2  2.7 m
2
A  bh  (5)(4.24)  21.2 m 2

3
x 3m sin 45 
45°


hence;
FR  (1000)(9.81)(2.7 )(21.2)

FR  561524.4 N  561.5 kN
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(ii) Location of resultant force, yR

I xc
yR   yc
ycA

where;

bh 3 (5)(4.24)3
I xc    31.76 m 4
12 12

2.7
yc
hc =2.7 m sin 45 
yc
45

hence;
31.76
yR   3.82  4.21 m
( 3.82)( 21.2)
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘

Taking moment at point B = 0, therefore, the minimum force;

SM B =SM B
h  h
(F )     FR   y R  y c  
 2  2

 4.24   4.24 
(F )     561.5   4.21  3.82  
 2   2 

F  665 kN
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A
SUBMERGED CURVED SURFACE

Fluid
H

O B

R
D

Figure 3.6: Fluid in open tank with semi circular shape at the
bottom ( elevation view )
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

 Many surface of interest (eg: dam, pipe and tanks) are

nonplanar  curved design.
 Determination of resultant force exerted to the curved surface
can be identified by considering fluid free body diagram (right
of semi circular – Figure 3.6).
 5 forces (W1, W2, FL, FH, and FV) acting in the static fluid at
quarter circular surface – Figure 3.7 ).
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

b
1
yc
xc c
hc hcp h
w1

O B
c CP
FL w2
FH a
yc 2
xc a
D

FR
Fv

Figure 3.7: Hydrostatic force at curved surface

 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

 According to Figure 3.7, each of the force component must be

obtained  to get resultant force exerted to the curved surface.

1. W1 FORCE
(i) MAGNITUDE
 Is the liquid weight over OB surface line and can be calculated as:

W1  A1L (kN) ……………… 3.4

where,
 = Unit weight of fluid (water = 9.81 kN/m3)
A1 = Fluid area at zone 1 ( above OB line  Table 3.1
(m2). In this case;
A1  b 
h (rectangular shape)
L = Length of plane (m)
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
(ii) LOCATION
 Act at the center point of zone 1  obtained from Table 3.1 & in
this case;
h b
yc  & xc 
2 2

2. W2 FORCE
(i) MAGNITUDE
 Is the liquid weight over OB curved surface and can be calculated

as: W2  A 2L (kN)
……………… 3.5
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
where,
A2 = Fluid area at zone 2 ( at OBD curved surfae 
Table 3.1 (m2). In this case;

R 2
A2 
4  (quarter circular shape)

(ii) LOCATION
Act at the center point of zone 2  from Table 3.1 & in this case;

4R
y c  xc 
3
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
3. FL FORCE
(i) MAGNITUDE
 Is the horizontal force acting on the projected vertical plane from

BD curved surface & can be calculated as:

FL  h c A (kN) ……………… 3.6

where,
hc = Vertical distance from fluid surface to the
submerged centriod of the area (m)
A = Projected vertical plane area  rectangular
shape : Figure 3.7 (mA2).In
Lthis
a case;
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

.... Cont ‘

(ii) LOCATION
 Act at the center of pressure and can be calculated as;

I xc
hcp   hc
hc A ……………… 3.7

where,
Ixc = Second moment of area for projected plane area
(m4) which is;

La 3
I xc 
12
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
4. FH FORCE

 Is the horizontal component of the resultant force.

 Acting behind at BD curved surface.
 Magnitude is same as FL but opposite direction, therefore;

FH  FL ……………… 3.8

5. FV FORCE

 Is the vertical component of the resultant force.

 Acting behind at BD curved surface.
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

.... Cont ‘
(i) MAGNITUDE
 Magnitude is same as summation of fluid weight (W1 + W2) but in

opposite direction, therefore;

FV  W1  W2 ……………… 3.9

(ii) LOCATION
 Act at the resultant of the center of W1 & W2 & can be calculated
A1 xc1  A 2 xc 2
xc 
as; A1  A 2 ……………… 3.10
 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

.... Cont ‘

Finally ….
 The resultant force and its location can be determined using this
formula;

FR  FH 2  FV 2
……………… 3.11

FV
  tan  1
FH ……………… 3.12

 The diagram is shown in Figure 3.8.

HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A SUBMERGED CURVED
SURFACE

FH
a

FR
Fv

Figure 3.8: Direction and location of resultant force at curved

surface
EXAMPLE 3.2

A curved water gate 3 m width is placed at the

side of reservoir that restores water inside.
Find:-

(i) Magnitude of horizontal and vertical

forces behind the gate.
(ii) Location of horizontal and vertical forces.
(iii) Magnitude and location of resultant force.
 2m

6m A

SOLUTION:

Consider the free body diagram below;

SOLUTION .... Cont ‘

2m

1
yc
c 3m
xc
w1
6m

hcp
hc
h
m
L=3
A B
R=2
m
c CP

a=2m
FL w2
FH
yc 2
xc a
C
FR
Fv
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(i) Magnitude of horizontal and vertical force (FH & Fv);
(a) Horizontal component force, FL:
FL  hc A

where; 2
hc   4  5m
2
A  La  ( 3)( 2)  6 m 2
therefore;
FL  (9.81)(5)(6)
FL  294.3 kN

Hence;
FH  FL Oppo
site
FH  294.3 kN directi
SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(b) Vertical component force, W1 & W2:
W1  A1L
where;
A1  bh  ( 2)(4)  8 m 2
therefore;
W1  (9.81)(8)( 3)  235.4 kN

W2  A 2L
where;
R 2 (  )( 22 )
A2    3.142 m 2
4 4
therefore;
W2  (9.81)( 3.142)( 3)  92.47 kN
Hence;
FV  W1  W2
Oppo
FV  235.4  92.47 site
FV  327.87 kN directi
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘

(ii) Location of horizontal and vertical forces (hcp & Xc );

I xc
hcp   hc
hc A
where;
La 3 (3)(2)3
I xc    2 m4
12 12
therefore;
2
hcp  5
(5)(6)
h cp  5.07 m (from water surface)
SOLUTION .... Cont ‘

A1 xc1  A 2 xc 2
xc 
A1  A 2
where;
b 2 4R (4)( 2)
xc1    1m xc 2    0.85 m
2 2 3 ( 3)( 3.142)
therefore;
(8)(1)  ( 3.142)(0.85)
xc 
8  3.142

xc  0.96 m (from point C to plane base)

 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(iii) Magnitude and location of resultant force (FR &  );

FR  FH 2  FV 2

FR  294.3  327.9

FR  440.56 kN

1 FV
  tan
FH
327.9
  tan  1
294.3
  48.09
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
 Sketch of the forces acting on the plane:

2m

hcp = 5.07 m
6m A B

FH = 294.3 kN
a =48.09
C
FR = 411.9 kN
x c  0.96 m
Fv = 327.9 kN
 SECOND MOMENT AREA

AS SHOWN IN
TABLE 3.1
Table 3.1: Area, center point, second moment of area, moment of area with respect to an
orthogonal set of axes ( x – y coordinate system)

SHAPE A y c and xc Ixc Ixyc

h
xc
yc 
2 1
c
bh bh 3 0
RECTANGULAR h
b 12
yc
xc 
b 2
d h
yc 
3 1 1
TRIANGULAR h
c 1
bh bh 3 bh 2 (b  2d )
yc
2 bd 36 72
xc 
xc b
3
y c  0.424R
xc

2
SEMI c R D 0.1098R4 0
CIRCULAR R
yc
2 xc 
2
D
xc
D
yc 
2
2 R 4
0
R
CIRCULAR c
R D
yc
xc  4
2
4R
R

yc 
QUARTER c
R 2 3
CIRCULAR
R
yc
4 4R 0.05488R4 -0.01647R4
xc 
xc 3
 BOUYANCY
ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE
 States  Magnitude of buoyant force = weight of the fluid
displaced by the body ( directed vertically upward).

BOUYANCY CONCEPT

 When body is partly / whole submerged, 2 types of forces acts;

(i) Gravity force = Weight of body, W
- Act vertically downward through center of gravity (G)
of the body
(ii) Buoyant force, FB (Floating force)
- Caused by the fluid to the body.
- FB act vertically upward through center of gravity of
displaced fluid or known as center of buoyancy (B).
 Gravity force act to the weight of body & buoyant force to the
body (Figure 3.9).

Air

Water

Figure 3.9: Gravity and buoyant force for submerged and

floating bodies

 According to Figure 3.9;

Buoyant force, FB = Weight of fluid displaced, W

 BOUYANCY CONCEPT

.... Cont ‘

Figure 3.10: Buoyant force for submerged bodies

 According to Figure 3.10, buoyant force can be calculated as;

FB  gV ……………… 3.13

where;
V = Displaced fluid volume
 = Fluid density
 BOUYANCY CONCEPT

.... Cont ‘

Water

Mercury

Figure 3.11: Floating force for submerged body inside 2 fluids

 If the body is inside 2 or more fluids (Figure 3.11), buoyant

force calculation would become;

FB  1gV1   2gV2
……………… 3.14
 BOUYANCY CONCEPT

.... Cont ‘
Floating body

r material < rliquid

Liquid
(r liquid)

Suspended body

rmaterial = rliquid
Submerged body

rmaterial > rliquid

Figure 3.12: Stability body inside fluid

 BOUYANCY CONCEPT

.... Cont ‘

To conclude if;

(i) FB = W  Body suspended

(ii) FB < W  Body submerged to the base

(iii) FB > W  Body floating

 CENTER OF BUOYANCY & GRAVITY

Block A

Block B

Liquid

Figure 3.13: Center of buoyancy and

gravity
 According to Figure 3.13, center of gravity (G) for block A &
B is same.
 However, center of buoyancy (B) is different (due to the fluid
surface to object location).
 CENTER OF BUOYANCY & GRAVITY

How to determine the location of G & B ?....

G
h1
h
B B
h2
BLOCK A G

Liquid
BLOCK B

Figure 3.14: Determination of center of buoyancy and gravity

 CENTER OF BUOYANCY & GRAVITY

.... Cont ‘
 According to Figure 3.14, point G is the centre line of the
object. In other words;

h
Po int G 
2

 Point B is the center line from liquid surface to the object. In

other words;
h1  h 2
Po int B 
2

 Note that if body is floating  Point G is above Point B & if

submerged is vice versa.
EXAMPLE 3.3

A ship has displaced water of 115 m3.

Find:-

(i) Weight of the ship (assume seawater =

1025 kg/m3)
(ii) Volume of water at density of 1000
kg/m3 that will be displaced by the
ship
 SOLUTION

Given:-
V = 115 m3
seawater = 1025 kg/m3

(i) Weight of the ship

Weight of ship = Weight of displaced fluid

W  gV
W  (1025)(9.81)(115 )
W  1156 .35 kN
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘

(ii) Volume of displaced water

W
V
g

1156 .35  103

V  118m 3
1000  9.81

V  118 m 3
EXAMPLE 3.4

A 6500 kg barrel with 2 m diameter and 3 m

length was put inside a tank that consists raw
water (w = 1000 kg/m3). After a moment the
barrel was stabilized and found floating inside the
water. Find:-

(i) Volume of displaced fluid

(ii) Height of h
(iii) Distance from center of gravity, (G) to
center of buoyancy, (B)
 F 2m

3m
B
h

SOLUTION:
Given:-
m = 6500 kg
=2m
h=3m
w = 1000 kg/m3
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(i) Volume of displaced fluid

FB  gV
re-arrange;
FB
V
g
known that;
FB  W  mg
FB  ( 6500)(9.81)
FB  63765 N
hence;

63765
V  6.5 m 3
(1000)(9.81)
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(ii) Height of h

D 2
(h )  V
4

( 2) 2
(h )  6.5
4
(6.5)(4)
h
(  )( 2) 2

h  2.07 m
 SOLUTION .... Cont ‘
(iii) Distance of BG

BG  AG  AB

where;
3 h
AG  AB 
2 2
hence;
3 h
BG  
2 2
3 2.07
BG  
2 2

BG  0.465 m