“Let the Vargasian Spirit Come Alive in Us”

Astjah040067862

Hydrostatic Forces on
Submerged Plane
Surfaces
Learning Objectives
After the lesson, the learner will be
able to:
1.Compute hydrostatic force; and
2.Find the location of the net force on
a submerged plane surface.
INTRODUCTION
The force on the surface of hydraulic structures such
as gates, vessels, dams or other submerged bodies
is caused by the weight of the fluid. This force
exerted by the fluid on submerged bodies is called
Hydrostatic Force. It is important to compute this
force and its location for the design of these
hydraulic structures. We use these different
methods to compute the hydrostatic force: formula
method, geometrical method, integration method,
and project method (used for curved surfaces).
TOTAL PRESSURE AND CENTER OF PRESSURE

• Total pressure is defined as the force exerted by a

static fluid on a surface either plane or curved
when the fluid comes in contact with the surface
and this force always normal to the surface.

• Center of pressure is defined as the point of

application of the total pressure on the surface.
VERTICAL PLANE SURFACE Total Pressure Force, F Eccentricity, e
SUBMERGED IN LIQUID ഥ = 𝜸𝒉𝑨
F = 𝝆𝒈𝒉𝑨 ഥ 𝒆 = hp - 𝒉ഥ
Center of Pressure, hp 𝑰𝑮
ഥ
hp = 𝒆 + 𝒉 𝒆 = ഥ
𝑨𝒉
Where:
F = total (net) pressure force, N, kN, lbf
𝝆 = density of the liquid, kg/m3, lb/ft3
g = 9.81 m/s2, 32.2 ft/s2
ഥ = distance of the center of gravity from free surface
𝒉
e of the liquid, m, ft
A = surface area of the vertical plane, m2, ft2
hp = distance of the center of pressure from the free
surface, m, ft
“The total hydrostatic force on any plane e = eccentricity which is the distance of the center of
surface submerged in a fluid of specific gravity to the center of pressure, m, ft
weight 𝜸 is equal to the product of the IG = moment of inertia of the submerged area about a
area of the surface and the intensity of horizontal line through the center of gravity, m4, in4
pressure at its center of gravity”.
HORIZONTAL PLANE • Total Pressure Force, F
SURFACE SUBMERGED IN • F = Pressure x Area
LIQUID
ഥ
F = 𝝆g𝒉A
ഥ
F = 𝜸𝒉A
Where:
F = total (net) pressure force, N, kN, lbf
𝝆 = density of the liquid, kg/m3, lb/ft3
g = 9.81 m/s2, 32.2 ft/s2
ഥ = distance of the center of gravity from the
𝒉
free surface of the liquid, m, ft
𝜸 = specific/unit weight of the liquid = product of
the specific gravity of the liquid and specific
weight of water at standard condition
𝜸 = SGL x 𝜸w
 INCLINED PLANE SURFACE SUBMERGED IN LIQUID

Resultant Force on the Eccentricity, e Where:

Plane, FR ഥ
𝒆 = 𝒚𝒑 - 𝒚 FR = Resultant force on the plane, N, lbf
ഥ = distance of the center of gravity from free
𝒚
ഥ
FR = 𝝆𝒈𝒉𝑨 𝑰𝑮
𝒆= surface of the liquid parallel to the incline plane,
ഥ
FR = 𝜸𝒉𝑨 𝑨ഥ
𝒚 m, ft
Center of Pressure, 𝒚𝒑 𝒚𝒑 = distance of the center of pressure from the
free surface parallel to the inclined plane, m, ft
ഥ
𝒚𝒑 = 𝒆 + 𝒚
Centroidal
Moments of
Inertia
Centroidal
Moments of
Inertia
Problem 1
A vertical triangular plate whose
height is 3.6 m has its base horizontal
and vertex upper most in the water
surface.
(a) Find the depth to which it must be
lowered from its vertex so that the
difference in level between the
center of gravity and the center of
pressure shall be 20 cm.
(b) How far is the center of pressure
below the water surface?
(c) What is the base width of the plate
if the total hydrostatic force acting
on the plate is 76.28 kN?
a) Depth, y, to which the plate must be
lowered from its vertex so that e = 20 cm,
2
y + (3.6) = ℎത
3
2
y = ℎത - (3.6)
3
ഥ - 𝟐. 𝟒
y=𝒉 (1)
𝑰𝑮 𝑰𝑮
𝒆= → 𝟎. 𝟐𝟎 = (2) Substitute (4) and (3) in (2),
𝑺𝒔 𝑺𝒔 1.296 𝑏
𝑏ℎ3 𝑏(3.6)3 0.20 = ഥ
1.8 𝑏ℎ
IG = =
36 36 𝐡ҧ = 3.60 m
IG = 1.296 b (3)
Input 3.60 m in place of ℎത in (1),
Ss = A𝑦ത = Aℎത =
𝟏
(b)(3.6) ℎത y = 3.60 m – 2.40 m
𝟐 y = 1.20 m Ans.
Ss = 1.8 b𝒉ഥ (4)
b) Distance of the center of pressure
from the free surface,
hp = hത + e
hp = 3.60 m + 0.20 m
hp = 3.80 m Ans.

c) Base width of the plate,

ത
F = γhA
3.6 b
ത
F = γh 2
(3.6) b
76.28 kN =(9.81 kN/m3)(3.60 m)
2
b = 1.20 m Ans.
Problem 2
Gate AB as shown in the
figure is rectangular (3.20
m long x 2.00 m wide),
and hinged along B. Find
the horizontal force H to
place the system in
equilibrium
Solution:
Convert the height of
oil to equivalent depth
of water which will
produce the same
pressure between the
two liquids.
 poil = pwater → 𝛾ℎሿ𝑜𝑖𝑙 = 𝛾ℎሿ𝑒𝑞 so that, the total dept of water
(SGoil.𝛾w)(hoil) = 𝛾wheq → SGoil.hoil = heq is
(0.80)(0.60 m) = heq h’ = 2.00 m + 0.48 m
heq = 0.48 m h’ = 2.48 m

To find the horizontal force H to

make the system equilibrium,
take a summation of moments
about point B. Assume the
clockwise moment to be positive

[⟳∑MB = 0]
F(𝑦ത – e) – Hn(3.20) = 0

Since, sin 60° = Hn/H,

F(𝑦ത – e) – (H sin60°)(3.20) = 0 (1)
Where:
ത
F = γhA (2)
ഥ
h
yത = (3)
sin 60°

bh3
IG 12
e= = (4)
Aഥ
y Aഥ
y

Vertical depth of the center of

gravity, hത
𝐡ҧ = 2.48 m/2 = 1.24 m Substitute values in equation (2),
Submerged part length of the ത
F = γhA
gate, L = A’B F = γhത (bL)
2.48 m 2.48 m 𝑘𝑁
sin 60° = = F = (9.81 3 )(1.24 m)(2 m x 2.86 m)
A’B L 𝑚
2.48 F = 69.58 kN
L= = 2.86 m
sin 60
 ഥ
h
By equation (3), yത =
sin 60°
1.24 m
yത = = 1.43 m
sin 60°

𝑏ℎ3
12
From equation (4), e =
𝐴𝑦ത
2(2.86)3
12
e=
(2 𝑥 2.86)(1.43)
e = 0.477 m

Finally, substitute the values of F, yത , and e into the first equation,

F(𝑦ത – e) – (H sin60°)(3.20) = 0 (1)
69.58 kN (1.43 – 0.477)m – (H sin 60°)(3.20 m) = 0
H = 23.93 kN Ans.
Problem 3
The half-parabolic segment shown
is vertically submerged in water.
hത
Determine the magnitude and
location of the pressure force on C
one face of the surface.
P
Find: F and hp
Hydrostatic Force, F:
Distance of the center of gravity
F = 𝛄A𝐡ҧ (1)
from the free surface of water,
Area, തh = 2ℎ + 0.60 m
2bh 2(3 m)(3 m) 5
A= = 2(3 𝑚)
3 3 hത = = + 0.60
5
A = 6 m2 𝐡ҧ = 1.80 m
Substitute values in equation (1),
F = (9.81 kN/m3)( 6 m2)(1.80 m)
F = 105.95 kN Ans. hത
C
Location of the center of pressure
from the water surface, P
hp = 𝐡ҧ + e (2)
Eccentricity, e
𝐈
e = 𝐆ҧ (3) By substituting values in
𝐀𝐡
8bh3 8(3 m)(3 m)3 equation (2), the center of
IG = = = 3.70 m4
175 175 pressure is at
hp = hത + e
3.70 m4 hp = 1.80 m + 0.343 m
e=
(6 𝑚2 )(1.8 𝑚)
hp = 2.143 m Ans.
e = 0.343 m
ASSIGNMENT
1. A rectangular gate, 1.60 m wide and 2.0 m high (figure
shown) is hinged along A, and subjected to water
pressure to its left side, as shown. Determine the:
(a)magnitude and
location of the
hydrostatic force
acting on the gate;
and
(b)minimum force
applied normally
to the gate at the
end B that will
just open it.
2. A horizontal tunnel, diameter 3 m, is closed
at one end by a vertical gate. Calculate the
magnitude and location of the total force
on the gate when the tunnel is (a) ½ full;
(b) ¾ full of water.
3. How far below the surface of a body of
liquid is it necessary to immerse a vertical
plane surface, 1 m square, two edges of
which are horizontal, so that the
eccentricity of the hydrostatic force on one
face of it will be 2.50 cm?
REFERENCES:
R. A. Dela Fuente, et al., “Simplified Fluid Mechanics (Expanded
Version of Hydraulics Reference Text)”, Merriam & Webster Bookstore,
Inc., 2013 Edition

Merle C. Potter, “Fluid Mechanics Demystified – A Self-Learning

Guide”, McGraw-Hill, 2009

Yunus A. Çengel & John M. Cimbala, “Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals

and Applications”, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2013

Daugherty, Robert L., Ingersoll, Alfred C. Fluid Mechanics with

Engineering Applications. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1954.