AC 314: FLUID MECHANICS

Module Week 5 – 6 (November 3 to 13, 2020)

HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON PLANE SURFACE, BOUYANCY
AND STABILITY OF FLOATING BODIES

Learning Outcome
A. Calculate the hydrostatic force on plane surfaces
B. Determine whether a floating or partially submerged body is in stable
equilibrium.

Overview
When a surface is submerged in a fluid, forces develop on the surface due to
the fluid. The determination of these forces is important in the design of storage tanks,
ships, dams, and other hydraulic structures. pressure will vary linearly with depth.
Engineers must calculate forces exerted by fluids in order to design constraining
structures satisfactorily. In this module the characteristics of hydrostatic forces will be
evaluated: magnitude, direction, and sense. In addition, locations of forces will be
determined

Contents
Hydrostatic Force on Surfaces
The total hydrostatic force on any plane surface submerged in a fluid of specific
weight w is equal to the product of the area of the surface and the intensity of pressure
at its center of gravity.
F = Awh
A = submerged area
h = vertical distance of the center of gravity of the submerged area
from the free surface

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 For a typical element of area at a vertical distance h from the free surface or a
distance y from the reference point O along the plane AB, the unit pressure is
P = wh = wysinθ
The elemental force on the typical strip having an area A is dF = pdA
dP = wy sinθ dA
Integrating, we get F = wsinθ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝐴
∫ 𝑦𝑑𝐴 = moment area = Ay
y = distance from water surface to C.G of AB from pt O
Substituting: 𝐹 = 𝑤𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃(𝐴𝑦̅) 𝑜𝑟 𝐹 = 𝐴𝑤𝑦̅(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)
ℎ = (𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)𝑦̅
𝐹 = 𝑤ℎ̅𝐴; 𝑤ℎ̅ = 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝐶. 𝐺 𝑜𝑓 𝐴
ℎ = 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡. 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡. (ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑)𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶. 𝐺. 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

Center of Pressure on Plane Surfaces

From the figure, the system of parallel forces (dF) may be replaced by a
single resultant force F w/c acts at a pt. on the surface AB called the center of
pressure (CP)
If the total hydrostatic force F on any surface were applied at the center of
pressure, its effect would be the same as the distributed pressure over the entire
submerged area.
Taking moments of all forces acting on the surface along OX – axis, and yp be
the distance of the C.P. from O
𝐹𝑦𝑝 = ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑃 ;
∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑃
𝑦𝑝 = ; subs. dF = wysinθdA and F = wsinθAy̅
𝐹

∫ 𝑦(𝑤𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑑𝐴) ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
𝑦𝑃 = =
𝑤𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝐴𝑦̅ 𝐴𝑦̅
∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴 = moment of inertia of the submerged area about OX or W.S.
𝐴𝑦̅ = statistical moment w/ respect to same axis
𝐼𝑥
Letting ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴 = Ix, then 𝑦𝑝 =
𝐴𝑦̅

𝐹 = 𝐴𝑤ℎ̅

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Centroidal moments of inertia of areas commonly encountered in hydrostatic problems

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 Example 1. In the figure is a vertical rectangular gate AB on the upstream of a
dam. It is 1 m by 2 m in dimensions and weighs 800 N. If the upper edge of the gate is
4 m below the water surface and the coefficient of friction between the guides and the
gate is 0.40, determine the minimum vertical force necessary to open it.

G:
R:
S: The forces acting on the gate are;
A. Weight, W
B. Friction, f
C. Hydrostatic, P
D. Applied force, F
The hydrostatic force, P, is
P=AwҺ = (1 m * 2 m)(9.81 kN/m3)(5 m)
P = 98.1 kN

The frictional force, f, is

f = μN ; but N = P = 98.1 kN since normal force, N,
is always perpendicular to the friction
f = 0.40 (98.1 kN) = 39.24 kN

At impending motion of the gate (upward direction), F, is

∑Fy = 0
F–f–W=0
F=W+f= 0.800 + 39.24 kN
F = 40.04 kN

The hydrostatic force, P, can also be obtained y integration:

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 𝑃 = 𝑤𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝐴 = 9.81(sin 90𝑜 )𝑦(𝑥𝑑𝑦) ; note: x = 1 m, width of gate
6
𝑦2 9.81
𝑃 = 9.81 ( ) ; 𝑃= (36 − 16); 𝑃 = 98.1 𝐾𝑁
2 4 2

Example 2. A vertical triangular surface has a horizontal base of 4 ft and an

altitude of 9 ft, the vertex being below the base. If the center of pressure is 6” below
the center of gravity, how far is the base below the liquid surface?

𝐼𝑔
Sol’n: 𝑒 = ;
𝑆𝑠

Ig = moment of inertia w/ respect to c g

Ss = statistical moment w/ respect to the surface of the liquid
e = perpendicular distance between horizontal axes through center of gravity
and center of pressure
𝑏ℎ3
𝐼𝑔 = ; 𝑆𝑠 = 𝐴𝑦;
̅ 𝑦̅ = 𝑦 + 3′
36

Ss = Aў ; ў = y + 3’
𝐴 = 0.5 𝑏ℎ = 0.5(4)(9) = 18 𝑓𝑡 2
𝑏ℎ3 4 ft(93)⁄
𝐼𝑔 36 36
Substitute values in 𝑒= = ; 0.5 𝑓𝑡 =
𝑆𝑠 𝐴(𝑦+3) 18 𝑓𝑡 2 (𝑦+3)

4 𝑓𝑡 (93 ) 4(729)
18(𝑦 + 3) = ; 18𝑦 + 54 =
36(0.5) 18

18𝑦 = 162 − 54; 𝑦 = 108⁄18

𝑦 = 6 𝑓𝑡

Example 3. A circular gate 5’ diameter is inclined at an angle of 45o. Sea water

stands on one side of the gate to a height of 30 ft above the center of the gate.
Determine the total pressure on the gate and the location of the center of pressure.

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Sol’n: P = wҺA ; w = 64 lb/ft3 for sea water ; Һ = 30 ft
𝜋𝑑 2 𝜋(52 )
𝐴= = = 19.635 𝑓𝑡 2
4 4

P = 64(30)(19.635) = 37,700 lb
The location of the center of pressure, e
𝐼𝑔
𝑒= ; Ig = moment of inertia = (1/4)пr4 and 𝑆𝑠 = 𝐴𝑦̅
𝑆𝑠
ℎ
Note: 𝑦̅ =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

(0.25) Π (2.5)4
𝑒= ; 𝑒 = 0.037 𝑓𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦
19.635 ft2 (30 ft/sin 45𝑜 )

Learning Activity A.
Try the following Problems
Prob. A. A 1.0 m wide and 1.5 m deep rectangular plane surface lies in water
in such a way that its plane makes an angle of 30o with the free water surface.
Determine the total pressure and position of centre of pressure when the upper edge
is 0.75 m below the free water surface. (Make some enhancement or labelling of the
drawing to add clarity of your solution). ans. 16.55 kN; 1.166 m

Prob. B. Gate AB is 5 ft wide into the paper, hinged at A,

and restrained by a stop at B. Compute (a) the force on stop B
and (b) the reactions at A if the water depth h = 9.5 ft.
ans. 5,100 lbf ; 0 lbf

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 Prob. C. Gate AB is semicircular, hinged at
B, and held by a horizontal force P at A. What force
P is required for equilibrium? ans. 366 kN

Buoyancy and Stability of Submerged and Floating Bodies,

Archimedes Principle (buoyancy) states that any body immersed in a fluid is

subjected to a buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced
The Buoyant force acting on a body submerged in a fluid is merely the resultant
of two vertical hydrostatic forces – one, the upward component of the total pressure
exerted by a fluid on the under surface of the body; the other, the downward component
of the total pressure exerted by the fluid on the upper surface.
Since unit pressure increases with depth, the upward component is greater than
the downward. The resultant is therefore an upward, or buoyant force. Considering a
cubical block of dimensions of 2’ x 2’ x 2’ placed in water as shown

F 1 = P1 A ; p = wh
F1 = wh1(2’)(2’)
F 2 = P2 A ; F2 = wh2(2’)(2’)
F2> F1 (unbalance force)
F2 - F1 = wh2(2’)(2’) - wh1(2’)(2’)
F2 - F1 = w(2’)(2’)(h2 - h1); but: h2 - h1 = 2 ; see figure
F2 - F1 = w(2)2(2)
F2 - F1 = wV ; where: V = volume of liquid displaced
F2 - F1 = buoyancy force
thus: BF = wV

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 An object having a weight, W, floats in a liquid. Assume the cross-sectional area
of the figure as A and a height of h, the object has a certain specific gravity;

W = vol. of object x density of object

density of object = (sp. gr. of obj) x (density of water)
W = A h (sp. gr.)w
Adw = Ah(sp. gr.)w
d = h(sp. gr.)
BF = Ad(w)
BF = W; therefore, the object will float at a depth equal to its height multiplied by its
sp. gr.; this will hold true only for rectangular or square sections

Example 1. An iceberg having a sp. gra. of 0.92 floats in a salt water having a
sp. gr. of 1.03. If the volume of ice above the water surface is 1000 m 3, what is the total
volume in m3 of the iceberg.
G:
R:
S:

Let V = volume submerged

BF = V (9.81)(1.03) ; 9.81 kN/m3 is w for fresh water
BF = 10.1043 V ------- (1)
wt of iceberg = BF
wt of iceberg = vol. of iceberg x density of iceberg
Vol of ice above water = 1000 m3
W = (V + 1,000 m3)(9.81)(0.92)
= (total volume of ice) x (w. of water) x (sp. gr. ice)
W = 9.0252V + 9,025.2 ------ (2)

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Equate (1) and (2) wherein BF = W
10.1043 V = 9.0252V + 9,025.2 ; note V is common
V(10.1043 – 9.0252) = 9,025.2
V = 9,025.2/1.0791
V = 8,364 m3
Total volume of iceberg = 1000 m3 + 8364 m3
Total volume of iceberg = 9364 m3

Example 2. A block of wood floats in water with 5 cm projecting above the water
surface. When placed in glycerine of sp. gr. 1.35, the block projects 7.5 cm above the
surface of that liquid. Determine the sp. gr. of wood.

in water in glycerine
G:
R:
S: Total weight of block = (sp gr) x w x V
= sp gr x 1000 kg/m3 x A x h
Wt. of displaced water = 1000 kg/m3 x A (h – 0.05)
Note: **0.05 m is ht. of block above water surface,
**1000 kg/m3 is w for pure water
Wt of displaced glycerine = (1.35)(1000)(A)(h – 0.75)
Note: ** 1.35 is sp gr of glycerine
Equating wt. of displaced water to wt of displaced glycerine:
1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 𝑥 𝐴 (ℎ – 0.05) = (1.35)(1000)(𝐴)(ℎ – 0.75)
ℎ– 0.05 = 1.35(ℎ – 0.075) ; ℎ(1.35 – 1) = 0.10125 – 0.05
0.05125
ℎ= ; ℎ = 0.146 𝑚
0.35

wt of block = wt of displaced water

SGblock (w)A(h) = w(A)(h – 0.05)
SGblock (0.146) = 0.146(0.146 – 0.05); w A cancel
SGblock = 0.658