Hydrostatic Thrust on Submerged Surfaces

Hydrostatic Thrust
Due to the existence of hydrostatic pressure in a fluid mass, a normal force exerted on any part of a solid surface which is on contact with a fluid. The individual forces distributes over an area give rise to a resultant force. The determination of magnitude and the line of action of the resultant force is of practical interest to engineers.

Practical applications
In practical applications engineers is required to determine the pressure forces on the entire surface rather than the pressure intensity at a point.
Examples are
Forces on submerged objects such as submarines, ships and balloons. Forces on walls of containers such as pipes, tanks and dams. Forces on gates in walls of containers, submerges bodies and many other hydraulic structures.

Definition: Total Pressure

When a static mass of fluid comes in contact with surface, either plane or curved a force is exerted by the fluid on the surface. This force is known as total pressure.

TOTAL PRESSURE On the walls of container

Definition: Center of Pressure

This is defined as the point of application of the total pressure on the surface.

TOTAL PRESSURE On the walls of container

Cases Under Consideration

There are four cases of submerged surfaces on which the total pressure force and center of pressure is to be determined. The submerged surfaces may be
Horizontal plane surface. Vertical plane surface. Inclined plane surface. Curved surface.

1. Horizontal Plane Surface

Consider a plane surface immersed in a static mass of liquid of specific weight , such that it is held in a horizontal position at a depth h below the free surface of the liquid as shown in Fig 1.

Click here for Fig 1

1. Horizontal Plane Surface

Free Surface

Pressure Intensity
Since every point on the surface is at same depth below the free surface of the liquid the pressure intensity is constant over the entire plane surface.
Pressure Intensity P = h

A = Total Area

Total Pressure
If A is the total area of the surface then the total pressure on the horizontal surface is F.
A = Total Area
F = Ah

Direction of Force
The direction of this force is normal to the surface as such it is acting towards the surface in the vertical direction (downwards at the centroid of the surface) A = Total Area
F = Ah

Hydrostatic Forces on Vertical Plane Surfaces

2. Total Pressure on a Vertical Plane Surface

Consider a plane surface of arbitrary shape and total area A, wholly submerged in a static mass of liquid of specific weight , such that it is held in a vertical position As shown in Fig 2.

Click here for Fig 2

1. Total Pressure on a Vertical Plane Surface

Free Surface

x
dF C. G.

dA = Small elemental area of strip size (b.dx)

Determination of Total Pressure

= position of centroid of the surface below the free surface of the liquid
In this case since the depth of liquid varies from point to point on the surface the. Pressure intensity is not constant over the entire surface. Therefore determination of total pressure is done by integration method. Consider on the plane surface a horizontal strip if the thickness dx and width b lying at a vertical depth x below the free surface of the liquid. Pressure intensity is assumed to be constant over the entire thickness (size is very small) P = x Area of the strip = b.dx Total pressure on entire plane surface is F = dF

Determination of Total Pressure..Cont

P = .x Area of the strip = b.dx Total pressure on entire plane surface is F = dF Where dF = Pressure intensity on small strip x Elemental area OR

dF = P.dA

pdA

xA

First Mom entof Area

xdA
A

Ax

xdA

F (x ) A
F = Pressure Intensity at the center of area x Area of plane surface

Center of pressure for vertical plane surface

For horizontal plane surface centroid of the area and the center of pressure coincide with each other. But for plane surface immersed vertically the center of pressure does not coincide with the centroid of the area. Since the pressure intensity increases with the increase in the depth of the liquid, the center of pressure for a vertically immersed plane surface lies below the centroid of the surface area. The total pressure on the strip shown in Fig. is dF = .x (b.dx) Like wise, by considering a number of small strips and summing the moments of the total pressure on these strips about free surface. The sum becomes dF.x = x. (b.dx).x = x2.dA

But from principle of moment--- x2.dA represents the sum of the second moment of the areas of the strips about axis passing through the free surface, which is equal to the moment of inertia.

Cont
xc p F

xdF x ( pdA) x (x ) dA

xc p (xA) I 0 xc p ( x A) I x A
2

xc p

I x xA

Hydrostatic Forces on Inclined Plane Surfaces

Pressure on Plane Surface

Surfaces exposed to fluids experience a force due to the pressure distribution in the fluid
F pdA
A

p y sin
F

dA
y

y
ycp

y sin dA
A

Centroid Center of pressure

sin ydA
A

F (y sin ) A F pA

Line of Action of Force

Lies below centroid, since pressure increases with depth
ycp F ydF y ( pdA)
A
p y sin

y (y sin )dA
A

F
dA

ycp (y sin A) sin I 0 ycp ( yA) I y 2 A ycp y I yA

Centroid Center of pressure

y
ycp

Example (3.78)
RA

F pA (y sin ) A 9810 * (3 3 cos 30) * (4 * 6) 1,318,000 N

ycp I 4 * 6 3 / 12 y yA (6.464 * 24) 0.4641 m

3-0.4641

M 0 6 R A (3 0.4641) F RA 3 0.4641 F 6 (0.42265 )1318 kN

R A 557.05 kN

HW (3.87)

HW (3.92)

Example
Given: Gate AB is 4 ft wide, hinged at A. Gage G reads -2.17 psi Find: Horizontal force at B to hold gate. Solution:
Foil pA 0.75 * 62.4 * 3 * (4 * 6) 3,370 lbf
ycp y I yA
Air G
5.01 ft

18 ft

Water

A gate B
Oil SG=0.75

6 ft

Convert negative pressure in tank to ft of water

4 * 63 / 12 1 ft (3 * 24)

2.17 *144 5.01 ft 62.4

A 3.03 ft 4ft

Example
Air G
5.01 ft

Fw
B

18 ft

Foil FB

Water gate

A Oil SG=0.75 6 ft

Fw pA 62.4 * (15 5.01) * (4 * 6) 15,000 lbf

MA 0 Fw * 3.3 Foil * 4 FB * 6 15000 * 3.3 3700 * 4 FB * 6 FB 6000 lbf

ycp y

I yA

4 * 63 / 12 0.3 ft (15 5.01) * 24

But x.dA = represents the sum of the first moments of areas of the strips about free surface. Therefore x.dA = A.

F = A.

Center of pressure for vertical plane surface

For horizontal plane surface centroid of the area and the center of pressure coincide with each other. But for plane surface immersed vertically the center of pressure does not coincide with the centroid of the area. Since the pressure intensity increases with the increase in the depth of the liquid, the center of pressure for a vertically immersed plane surface lies below the centroid of the surface area. The total pressure on the strip shown in Fig. is dF = .x (b.dx) Like wise, by considering a number of small strips and summing the moments of the total pressure on these strips about free surface. The sum becomes dF.x = x. (b.dx).x = x2.dA

But from principle of moment--- x2.dA represents the sum of the second moment of the areas of the strips about axis passing through the free surface, which is equal to the moment of inertia.

Air

5.5 m Water

A
gate Oil SG=0.75 1.8 m