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FLUID MECHANICS & HYDRAULICS

3 HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON SURFACE

1. INTRODUCTION

Forces acting on the fluid particle, when fluid is at rest are,

(i) Due to pressure of fluid normal to the surfaces.
(ii) Due to gravity (or self-weight of fluid particles).

2. TOTAL PRESSURE AND CENTRE 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 surfaces. This force always acts normal to the
surfaces.
Centre of pressure is defined as the point of applications of the total pressure on the surface.
There are different types of submerged planes.

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3. HYDROSTATIC FORCES ON INCLINED SURFACE

3.1. Force Analysis:

dF = P.dA
 dF =  gh dA
Here,h = y sin 
 dF = (y sin  )  g dA →1

Integrating equation 1, we get

F =  g sin  y dA
Here,
 y dA = y1 A1 + y2 A2 + y3 A3 + ....... + yn An
 F =  gh A

This force, ‘F’ is passing through centre of pressure.

3.2. Location of Centre of Pressure ( hcp )

Centre of pressure is determined by using the “Principle of Moments” which states that
the moment of the resultant force about on axis is equal to the sum of moments of the
components about same axis.

Taking moment about point O,

F  ycp =  dF .y
=  P.dA.y

∴ ℎ = 𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
ℎ̄𝑐𝑝
∴ 𝜌𝑔ℎ̄𝐴 × = 𝜌𝑔 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

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𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑒, ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐼𝑥𝑥 (Moment of Inertia with respect to x axis)
So,
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
ℎ∗ = . 𝐼𝑥𝑥
ℎ̄𝐴
By Parallel axis theorem,
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
ℎ∗ = [𝐼𝑎𝑥𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 2 ]
ℎ̄. 𝐴
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 𝐴ℎ2 ℎ̄
ℎ∗ = [𝐼𝑎𝑥𝑥 + ]{∴ 𝑦̄ = }
̄ℎ. 𝐴 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
𝐼𝐺𝑥𝑥
ℎ∗ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 + ℎ̄
ℎ̄. 𝐴
Note: As the depth of submerged surfaces increases h increases and (ℎ∗ − ℎ̅) decreases.
So, centre of pressure shift towards CG.
3.3. Different shapes and their h*
(i) Rectangle:

Area = b.d
ℎ̄ = 𝑑/2
𝑏𝑑 3
𝐼𝑥𝑥 =
12
𝐼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
By, ℎ = ℎ̄ + 𝑥𝑥
∗
ℎ̄.𝐴
2
ℎ∗ = 𝑑
3
(ii) Inverted Triangle:

𝑏𝑑
Area =
2
𝑑
ℎ̄ =
3

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𝑏𝑑 3
𝐼𝐺𝑥𝑥 =
36
𝑑
ℎ∗ =
2
(iii) Triangle:

bd
Area =
2

2𝑑
ℎ̄ =
3
𝑏𝑑 3
𝐼𝐺𝑥𝑥 =
36
3
ℎ∗ = 𝑑
2
(iv) Circle:

Area = R2
ℎ̄ = 𝑅
𝜋𝑅4
𝐼𝐺𝑥𝑥 =
4
5𝑅
ℎ∗ =
4

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(v) Semi Circular:

𝜋𝑅2
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = i.
2
4𝑅
ℎ̄ = 𝑅 −
3𝜋
𝐼𝐺𝑥𝑥 = 0.11𝑅4
Example: Determine the center of pressure of a circular plate vertically submerged in
water having its center of gravity 5 m below the water surface. The diameter of plate is
3m.
Sol.
𝜋
Area of plate = × 32 = 7.068 m2
4
𝜋
Moment of inertia of plate = × 34 = 3.98 m4
64

Center of pressure:
𝐼 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝜃 3.98×sin 0
ℎ̄𝑐𝑝 = ℎ̄ + 𝑥𝑥 ̄ = 5+ = 5.11m
ℎ .𝐴 5×7.068

Example: A rectangular plate having width 2.5m and height 4 m is placed in water such
that its horizontal edge is inclined at angle of 45˚ with the water surface. Determine the
total force and center of pressure if the center of gravity of the area is 3 m below the
water surface surface.
Sol.
Here,
A = 2.5 × 4 = 10 m2
Force on the plate 𝐹 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ̅
⇒ F = 1000 × 9.81 × 10 × 3 × 10-3 = 294.30 kN
Center of Pressure
𝐼𝑥𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
ℎ̄𝑐𝑝 = ℎ̄ +
ℎ̄. 𝐴
𝑏𝑑 3 2.5×43
Moment of inertia of the plate = = = 13.33 m4
12 12
13.33×𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 45
ℎ̄𝑐𝑝 = 3 + = 3.22 m
3×10

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4. CURVED SURFACE SUBMERGED IN LIQUID

4.1. Force analysis:

(i) In horizontal direction:

FH =  dFH =  dF cos 
=  PdA cos 
=  g  h dA cos 
 FH =  gh A v

Here,
Av = Projected area on vertical plane
→ Location Of FH

hcp

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IGxx sin2 90
hcp = h +
h Av

(ii)In Vertical Direction:

Fv () =  dF v

=  dF sin 
=  P dA sin 
=  g  hdA sin 
here,  hdA sin  = volume

  Fv =  g V

here, V= volume above the curved surface up to free surface level

Fv = weight of liquid above their curved surface up to free surface area.
→ Location Of FV
The line of action of Fv passes through the CG of the volume above the curved surface up
to free surface level.
Example: A hemispherical bulge of diameter 1.2 m is provided in the bottom of a tank.
If the depth of water above the horizontal floor of the tank is 3.0m. The magnitude (in
KN) of net hydrostatic force on bulge is
Sol.
By symmetry the net horizontal force = 0

Vertical Force (Fv) = weight of the fluid above the hemisphere

1 4
= 𝛾 [𝜋𝑅2 𝐻 − × 𝜋𝑅3 ]
2 3
1 4
= 9.81 [𝜋 × (0.6)2 × 3 − × 𝜋 × (0.6)3 ] = 28.84 kN
2 3

Resultant force is the same as the vertical force Fv = 28.84 kN acting vertically at the
centre of the hemisphere.

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5. LIQUID CONTAINERS SUBJECTS TO CONSTANT HORIZONTAL ACCELERATION

The equation for the free liquid surface can be derived by considering the equilibrium of a fluid
element ‘C’ lying on the free surface. The force acting on the element ‘C’ are

Force Diagram of C {Y1 = Y2}

Moving horizontal

Accelerating force i.e. ma is acting in horizontal direction,

Resolving the force horizontally,
P sin + m x a = 0
P sinθ = -ma (i)
Resolving the force in vertical direction,
P cos – mg = 0
P cosθ = mg (ii)
from 1 and 2, we get
a a
tan = − OR (Numerically)
g g

Note: If the fluid is also subjected to acceleration vertical direction,

ax
tan  =
aZ + g

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Example: A rectangular tank of 6 m length, 2.5 m width and 2 m height is completely filled
with water and open at top. Calculate the amount of liquid spilled if the tank is subjected to a
horizontal acceleration of 2.4 m/s2 in the direction of its length.
Sol.
Here, L = 6m, B = 2.5m, H = 2m
And horizontal acceleration (a) = 2.4 m/s2

The slope of the free surface is given by,

𝑎 2.4
tan 𝜃 = = = 0.2446
𝑔 9.81
From the figure shown above
𝐵𝐶
tan 𝜃 =
𝐴𝐵
⇒ 𝐵𝐶 = 6 × 0.2446 = 1.47 𝑚
Hence, volume of water spilled = Area of ABC × width of tank
1
= ( × 𝐴𝐵 × 𝐵𝐶) × 2.5
2
1
= ( × 6 × 1.47) × 2.5 = 11 m3
2

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