HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A PLANE SURFACE

DETERMINATION OF HYDROSTATIC FORCES IS IMPORTANT IN THE

DESIGN OF STORAGE TANKS, SHIPS, DAMS, AND OTHER HYDRAULIC
STRUCTURES
For fluids at rest
The force must be perpendicular to the surface since
there are no shearing stresses present.
The pressure will vary linearly with depth if the fluid is
incompressible.
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A HORIZONTAL PLANE SURFACE
F
R
= hA
The resultant force of a static fluid on a plane surface is due to the
hydrostatic pressure distribution on the surface
y
y
C
y
R
F
R
dF
h
h
c
Free Surface
Centroid, c
Location of resultant force
(center of pressure, CP)
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A INCLINED PLANE SURFACE OF ARBITRARY SHAPE
O - origin
x
R
x
C
dA
x
y
x
} }
= =
A A
R
dA sin y dA h F u
u sin y h =
For constant and u
u u sin y A dA y sin F
c
A
R
= =
}
A
dA y
- First moment of the area w.r.t x-axis
A y dA y
c
A
=
y
c
- y-coordinate of the centroid measured from x-axis which passes through O
c R
h A F
h
c
- vertical distance from the fluid surface to the centroid of the area
MAGNITUDE OF F
R
IS
Independent of angle u
depends on specific weight, total area, depth of centroid of the area
below the surface
c c
h P
F
R
IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE SURFACE
Magnitude of the resultant fluid force is equal to the pressure acting
at the centroid of the area P
c
multiplied by the total area
RESULTANT FORCE SHOULD PASS THROUGH THE CENTROID OF THE
AREA - ?
c R
h A F
A P F
c R
y
R
of the resultant force - summation of the moments around x-axis
Moment of resultant force = Moment of the distributed pressure force
( ) ( )
} } } }
= = = =
A A A A
R R
dA y sin dA sin y y dA h y dF y y F
2
u u
u sin y A F
c R
=
}
=
A
2
R c
dA y sin y sin y A u u
A y
I
A y
dA y
y
c
x
c
A
R
= =
2
}
A
2
dA y
- second moment of area (Moment of Inertia), I
x,
w.r.t an axis
formed by the intersection of the plane containing the surface and
the free surface (x-axis)
Parallel axis theorem,
2
c xc x
Ay I I + =
xc
I
Second moment of the area w.r.t an axis passing through its
centroid and parallel to the x-axis
c
c
xc
R
y
A y
I
y + =
Resultant force does not pass through the centroid but is always below
it
A y
I
A y
dA y
y
c
x
c
A
R
= =
2
x
R
of the resultant force - summation of the moments around y-axis
} }
=
A A
R R
dA xy sin dF x x F u
A y
I
A y
dA xy
x
c
xy
c
A
R
= =
}
I
xy
Product of the inertia w.r.t the x and y axes
c
c
xyc
R
x
A y
I
x + =
Product of the inertia w.r.t an orthogonal set of axes (x-y coordinate
system) is equal to the product of inertia w.r.t an orthogonal set of
axes parallel to the original set and passing through the centroid plus
the product of the area and the x and y coordinates of the centroid of
the area
c c xyc xy
y Ax I I + =
c R
h A F
MAGNITUDE OF THE RESULTANT FORCE
c
c
xyc
R
x
A y
I
x + =
LOCATION OF THE RESULTANT FORCE
Direction : F
R
IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE SURFACE
c
c
xc
R
y
A y
I
y + =
The 4-m-diameter circular gate is located in the inclined wall of a large reservoir
containing water The gate is mounted on a shaft along its horizontal diameter. For a
water depth of 10 m above the shaft determine: (a) the magnitude and location of
the resultant force exerted on the gate by the water, and (b) the moment that would
have to be applied to the shaft to open the gate.
c R
h A F =
10 4
4
1000 81 9
2
=
t
. F
R
N F
R
1232761 =
c
c
xc
R
y
A y
I
y + =
( )
60
10
4
4 60
10
2
4
2
4
sin
sin
y
R
+
|
.
|

\
|

=
t
t
m . m . y
R
55 11 0866 0 + =
m . y
R
6 11 =
For the co-ordinate system shown, x
R
= 0 since the area is symmetrical and the
centre of pressure must lie along the diameter A-A
The magnitude and location of the resultant force exerted on the gate by the
water are 1.23 MN and acts through a point along its diameter AA at a
distance of 0.0866 m(along the gate) below the shaft
The moment that would have to be applied to the shaft to open the
gate
( )
c R R
y y F M =
( ) 0866 0 10 1230
3
. M =
m . N . M
5
10 07 1 =
PRESSURE PRISM
2
h
A y A F
c R
= =
h
3
2
2
h
6
h
2
h
bh .
2
h
12
h b
y
3
R
= + = + =
c
c
xc
R
y
A y
I
y + =
h
3
2
From the free surface of fluid
h
3
1
From the base of the fluid
( )
R c
F A y h b
h
h b
h Volume
= = =
=

2
2
F
R
= Volume
Centroid of the volume =
3
h
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )


2
F
1 2 1 2
1
F
1 2 1 R
b h h h h
2
1
h h b h F + =
2 2 1 1 R R
y F y F y F + =
2
h h
y
1 2
1

= ( )
1 2 2
h h
3
2
y =
Use of pressure prisms for determining the force on submerged plane areas
is convenient if the area is rectangular so the volume and centroid can be
easily determined
For non-rectangular shapes, integration would be needed to find volume and
centroid. Then, previous approach would be better
Effect of atmospheric pressure on a submerged area - Nil
A pressurized tank contains oil (SG = 0.9) and has a square, 0.6-m by 0.6-m plate
bolted to its side, as is illustrated in Fig. When the pressure gage on the top of the
tank reads 50 kPa, what is the magnitude and location of the resultant force on the
attached plate? The outside of the tank is at atmospheric pressure.
( )
( ) | |( )
N F F F
N F
.
.
. . A
h h
g F
N
. . .
A gh p F
R
s
25354
954
36 0
2
6 0
81 9 1000 9 0
2
24400
36 0 2 81 9 1000 9 0 50000
2 1
2
1 2
2
1 1
= + =
=
|
.
|

\
|
= |
.
|

\
|

=
=
+ =
+ =

m . y
. . y
. F . F y F
o
o
o R
296 0
2 0 954 3 0 24400 25354
2 0 3 0
2 1
=
+ =
+ =
Isolate a volume of a fluid that is bounded by
the surface of interest, ie., section BC
2 H
F F =
W F F
1 V
+ =
2
V
2
H R
F F F + =
Point O summing moments about an appropriate axis
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON CURVED SURFACE
Figure shows a gate having a quadrant shape of radius of 2m. Find the resultant
force due to water per metre length of the gate. Find also the angle at which the
total force will act
c x
h A F =
2
2
1 2 1000 81 9 = = . h A F
c x

c
c
xc
R
y
A y
I
y + =
( ) 2
3
2
3
2
2 6 2
2
12
3
= = + = + = h
h h h
bh .
h
h b
y
R
Horizontal force
liquid the of surface free the from m y
R
3
4
=
N F
x
19620 =
Vertical force
0 1 2
4
1000 81 9
2
. . Volume F
y
= =
t

Fy weight of the water (imagined) supported by AB

N F
y
30819 =
Fy weight of the water (imagined) supported by AB
( )
OB from .
. R
848 0
3
0 2 4
3
4
= =
t t
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
30819 19620 + = + =
y x R
F F F
N . F
R
4 36534 =
The angle made by the resultant with the horizontal is
1 3 57
19620
30819
'
= = =
o
x
y
F
F
Tan u u
Compute the horizontal and vertical forces
acting on a curved surface AB, which is in the
form of a quadrant of a circle of radius 2 m.
Take the width of the gate as unity.
c x
gAh F =
( )
|
.
|

\
|
+ = 5 1
2
2
1 2 81 9 1000 . . F
x
N F
x
49050 =
c
c
xc
R
y
A y
I
y + =
( )
( ) ( )
( ) 633 2 5 1 1
2 1 5 1 1
12
2 1
3
. .
. .
y
R
= + +
+
=
liquid the of surface free the from m . y
R
633 2 =
Vertical force
0 1 2 5 1 2
4
1000 81 9
2
. . . Volume F
y

(

+ = =
t

Fy weight of the water (imagined) supported by AB

N F
y
60249 =
Fy weight of the water (imagined) supported by AB
( )
OB from .
. R
848 0
3
0 2 4
3
4
= =
t t
Buoyancy Force (Hydrostatic Lift)
When a body is completely submerged in a fluid, or floating so that it
is only partially submerged, the resultant upward force acting on the
body is called BUOYANCY FORCE
The line of action of the buoyant force passes through the centroid of
the displaced volume. The centroid is called the Center of buoyancy
Buoyancy force on the body = Weight of the fluid displaced by the body
( )( ) b l P P F
1 2 B
=
} }
= =
2
z
1
z
2
p
1
p
1 2
dz dp P P
( ) ( )
} }
= =
2
z
1
z
1
z
2
z
B
dz b l dz b l F
y
P
1
x
z
l
P
2
b
z
1
z
2
Weight of the fluid displaced by the body
2 1 B
z z g b l F =
If is constant
( )
}

1
z
2
z
dz g b l
( )( )
2 1
z z b l V V g F
B
= =
Buoyancy force on the body = Weight of the fluid displaced by the body
Archimedes Principle Greek Scientist (287 BC 212 B.C)
Archimedes Principle holds good
for bodies of any general shape
for both gases and liquids
does not require density to be constant

water
= 1000 kg/m
3

air
= 1.225 kg/m
3
Buoyancy force in water is thousand times greater than in air
buoyancy force is important
For naval vehicles
lighter than air vehicles hot air balloons
ARCHIMEDES SECOND PRINCIPLE OF BUOYANCY
A floating body displaces a volume of fluid equivalent to its own
weight
A body will float if its average density is less than the density of the
fluid in which it is placed
s f B
V g F

f
- Density of fluid
V
s
- Submerged volume
V
s
Liquid (
f
)
Buoyancy force on the body = Weight of the fluid displaced by the body
Find the volume of the water displaced and the position of the centre of buoyance
for wooden block of width 2.5 m and of depth 1.5 m when it floats horizontally in
water. The density of the wood is 650 kg/m
3
. Length of the wooden block is 6 m.
Weight of the block = g Volume = 650 9.81 2.5 1.5 6 = 143471.25 N
Buoyancy force on the body = Weight of the fluid displaced by the body =
weight of the wooden block
1000 9.81 Volume of the water displaced = 143471.25
Volume of the water displaced = 14.625 m
3
Volume of the wooden block in water = volume of the water displaced
14.625 = 2.5 h 6 h = 0.975 m
Position of the centre of buoyancy = h/2 = 0.975/2 = 0.4875 from the base
A stone weighs 392.4 N in air and 196.2 N in water. Compute the volume of stone
and its specific gravity
Weight of stone in air Weight of stone in water = weight of water displaced
392.4 196.2 = 1000 9.81 Volume of the water displaced
Volume of the water displaced = 0.02 m
3
Mass of the stone = weight in air/g = 392.4/9.81 = 40 kg
Density of the stone = Mass of the stone/volume = 40/0.02 = 2000 kg/m
3
Specific gravity of the stone = 2000/1000 = 2
Hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of a liquid
Hydrometer in water Hydrometer in other liquid
o O H
V W
2
= ( ) Ah V SG W
o O H
=
2

( ) Ah V SG V W
o O H o O H
= =
2 2

( ) Ah V
V
SG
o
o

=
SG of buffalo milk = 1.0323
SG of cow milk = 1.0317
Buoyancy force per unit of
submerged volume is greater, so less
volume of submergence is necessary
to balance the hydrometers weight
Mercury or lead to keep it
upright
STABILITY
Stable equilibrium a body returns to its equilibrium position, when
displaced
Unstable equilibrium a body moves to new equilibrium position,
when displaced (even slightly)
Neutral Unstable Stable
Stability is important for submerged or floating bodies since the centre
of buoyancy and gravity do not necessarily coincide
A small rotation can result in either a restoring or overturning couple
STABLE centre of gravity is BELOW the centroid of displaced volume
Disturbing couple
W W
W
SUBMERGED BODY
UNSTABLE centre of gravity is ABOVE the centroid of displaced volume
Disturbing couple
W
W
W
Disturbing
couple
Floating Bodies
Floating body stability problemis more complicated, since the body rotates
the location of the centre of buoyancy may change (which passes through
the centroid of the displaced volume)
BODY SHORT AND WIDE STABLE EQUILIBRIUM
W
W
Disturbing couple
W
W
TALL AND SLENDER BODY UNSTABLE CONFIGURATION
DETERMINATION OF STABILITY OF SUBMERGED OR FLOATING BODIES
IS DIFFICULT
For complicated geometry and weight distribution of the body
Inclusion of other external forces like wind currents
STABILITY IS IMPORTANT
Design Of Ships, Submarines Naval Architects
G
C
G
C C
1
M
W
F
B
METACENTRE
Metacentre is defined as the point about which a body starts
oscillating when the body is tilted by a small angle
Metacentre may also be defined as the point at which the line of
action of the force of buoyancy will meet the normal axis of the body
when the body is given a small angular displacement
To determine distance GM
x-co-ordinate of the centroid of the displaced volume
x
2 2 1 1
V x V x V x =

1
V
Area DOE times the length

2
V
Area AOB times the length
The cross section is assumed to be uniform so that the length l is constant
2 2 1 1
V x V x V x =
=
2 1
V V
V xd V xd V x
dA Tan x V d o = Volume 1 - DOE
dA Tan x V d o =
DOE AOB
Volume 2 - AOB
+ =
2 1
2 2
A A
dA x Tan dA x Tan V x o o
=
A
dA x Tan V x
2
o
o Tan I V x
o
=
Io second moment (moment of inertia) of the water line area about an axis passing
through the origin O. Waterline area = length of the body (l) length AE
o Tan I V x
o
=
( ) o o Tan CM x
CM
x
Tan = =
V
I
CM
o
=
CG
V
I
GM
o
=
CG CM GM =
A floating object is in Stable Equilibrium if M is above G - MG is positive
Unstable Equilibrium if M is below G - MG is negative
Metacentric height
MG Metacentric height Distance between metacentre and centre
of gravity
y
G
B
x
z
z
z
Plan of
water
surface
BG
V
I
MG
s
z
=
z
I
Moment of inertia about the roll axis zz of the
plan view area of the ship at the water line
s
V
Submerged volume
A floating object is in
Stable Equilibrium if M is above G
MG is positive
Unstable Equilibrium if M is below G
MG is negative
NEUTRAL
EQUILIBRIUM
STABLE
EQUILIBRIUM
M is above G
Disturbing couple
anticlockwise
Restoring couple
clockwise
GM positive
UNSTABLE
EQUILIBRIUM
M is below G
Disturbing couple
anticlockwise
Restoring couple
Anticlockwise
GM negative
A solid cylinder of diameter 4 m has a height of 4 m. Find the metacentric height of
the cylinder if the specific gravity of the material of the cylinder = 0.6 and it is
floating in water with its axis vertical. State whether the equilibrium is stable or
unstable.
V
I
CM =
( )
4
4
4
64 64
t t
= = d I
( ) 4 2 4
4 4
2
2
. h d V = =
t t
( )
( )
m .
.
V
I
BM 4167 0
4 2 4
4
4
64
2
4
=

= =
t
t
CG
V
I
GM =
( ) m . . . GM 3833 0 2 1 2 4167 0 = =
Negative sign implies metacentre is below centre of gravity. Hence, the cylinder is in
unstable equilibrium
PRESSURE VARIATION IN A FLUID WITH RIGID BODY MOTION
a k

p
Even though a fluid may be in motion, if it moves as a rigid body there
will be no shearing stresses present
x
a
x
P
=
c
c

y
a
y
P
=
c
c

z
a
z
P
+ =
c
c

Example :
Container of a fluid accelerates along a straight path
Fluid is contained in a tank that rotates about fixed axis
x
y
z
LINEAR MOTION
a
z
a
y
0 a
x
= exist a and a
y y
; 0
x
p
=
c
c
; a
y
p
y
=
c
c

z
a
z
p
+ =
c
c

P = f (y, z)
dz
z
p
dy
y
p
dp
c
c
+
c
c
=
; a
y
p
y
=
c
c

z
a
z
p
+ =
c
c

dz
z
a g dy
y
a dp + =
Along a line of constant pressure, dp = 0
dz
z
a g dy
y
a + = 0
z
y
a g
a
dy
dz
+
=
Special case
0 a
y
=
0 a
z
=
0
dy
dz
=
z
a g
z d
p d
+ =
The tank shown in Fig. a is accelerated to the right. Calculate the acceleration a
y
needed to cause the free surface shown in Fig. b to touch point A. Also, find P
B
The angle of the free surface is found by equating the air volume (actually, areas
since the width is constant) before and after since no water spills out.
m . x x . . 667 0 2 1
2
1
2 0 2 = =
a
y
a
y
( )
z
y
a g
a
dy
dz
+
=
0 =
z
a
( )
8 1
667 0
2 1
667 0 0
0 2 1
0
.
.
.
.
.
g
a
g
a
dy
dz
y y
= =

= =
+
=
( )
2
66 17 8 1 81 9 8 1 s / m . . . . g a
y
= = =
2
66 17 s / m . a
y
=
dz
z
a g dy
y
a dp + =
dy a dp
y
=
A B y A B
y y a p p =
( ) 0 2 66 17 1000 = . p
B
Pa p
B
35300 =
RIGID BODY ROTATION
z r
i

z
P
i

P
r
1
i

r
P
p
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
= V
u
u
r
2
r
i

r a e =
0 a =
u
0 a
z
=
z r
i

z
P
i

P
r
1
i

r
P
p
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
= V
u
u
a k

p
2
r
r
P
e =
c
c
0
P
=
c
c
u
=
c
c
z
P
P = f (r, z)
dz
z
p
dr
r
p
dp
c
c
+
c
c
=
dz dr r dp
2
e =
Along a line of constant pressure, dp = 0
g
r
g
r
dr
dz
2 2
e

e
= =
t tan cons
g 2
r
z
2 2
+ =
e
Constant Pressure lines are parabolic
}

}
=
}
dz dr r dp
2
e
t tan cons z
2
r
p
2 2
+ =
e
Constant pressure at some point r
o
and z
o
t tan cons z
2
r
p
2 2
+ =
e
( )
1 2
2
1
2
2
2
1 2
2
z z g r r p p =
e
It two points are on the constant pressure surface, such that that the free surface
locating point 1 on the z-axis so that r
1
= 0
( )
1 2
2
2
2
2
z z g
r
=
e
PRESSURE VARIES WITH DISTANCE FROMAXIS OF ROTATION
AT A FIXED RADIUS, PRESSURE VARIES HYDROSTATICALLY IN THE
VERTICAL DIRECTION
The cylinder shown in Fig is rotated about its centerline. Calculate the rotational
speed that is necessary for the water to just touch the origin O and the pressures at
A and B.
No water spills from the container, the air volume remains constant
12
2
1
2 10
2 2
= R t t
cm . R 77 5 =
( )
1 2
2
2
2
2
z z g
r
=
e ( )
|
.
|

\
|
=

0
100
12
81 9
2
10 77 5
2 2
.
. e
s / rad .6 26 = e
Volume of the paraboloid
of revolution is one half of
a circular cylinder with
the same height and
radius
( )
1 2
2
1
2
2
2
1 2
2
z z g r r p p =
e
2 2
2
2
o A A
r r p =
e
( )
Pa .
.
r r p
o A A
3540 0 1 0
2
6 26
2
2 2
2
2 2
2
= = =
e
( ) ( ) 12 0 81 9 1000 . . z z g p p
A B A B
= =
( ) Pa . . p
B
2360 12 0 81 9 1000 3540 = =
Pa p
B
2360 =