Thermofluids 1

Hydrostatic force on submerged plane surface

Lecture 6
Dr. Ghazi Droubi
m.g.droubi@rgu.ac.uk


Recap

Centroid

Pressure force on a submerged plane surface
Horizontal Surfaces
Vertical Surfaces
Inclined Surfaces
Hydrostatic force on a submerged curved surface
The resultant force F
R
acting on the curved solid surface is equal and opposite to
the force acting on the curved liquid surface.
For static equilibrium
Horizontal component, F
H
= F
X

Vertical component, F
V
= F
Y
+ W (Vector addition)
Where W = gV: is the weight of the enclosed liquid block of volume V and acts
downward through the centroid of this volume.
The horizontal component of the hydrostatic force
acting on a curved surface is equal (in both
magnitude and the line of action) to the hydrostatic
force acting on the vertical projection of the curved
surface.

The vertical component of the hydrostatic force
acting on a curved surface is equal to the hydrostatic
force acting on the horizontal projection of the
curved surface, plus (minus if acting in the opposite
direction) the weight of the fluid block.
Hydrostatic force on a submerged curved surface
The magnitude of the resultant hydrostatic force acting on
the curved surface,
F
R
= Tan = F
V
/ F
H


The location of the line of action of the resultant force can be determined
by taking moments about an appropriate point.

Valid for all curved surfaces regardless of whether they are above or below
the liquid

When the curved surface is a circular arc
(full circle or any part of it) the resultant
hydrostatic force acting on the surface always
passes through the centre of the circle.

Pressure forces (normal to the surface) form a
concurrent force system at the centre.





2
V
2
H F F

Hydrostatic force on a submerged curved surface
In the case of a curved surface above a
liquid, the weight of the liquid is
subtracted from the vertical component
of the hydrostatic force.
Hydrostatic forces acting on a plane
or curved surface submerged in a
multilayered fluid of different densities
can be determined by finding the force
on each part and then adding them using vector
addition.
Hydrostatic force on a submerged curved surface
Example. A solid cylinder hinged at A
is used as an automatic gate.
When the water level reaches 5m the
gate opens.
Determine:
(a) the hydrostatic force acting on
the cylinder and its line of action
when the gate opens.
(b) the weight of the cylinder per metre
length of the cylinder.
Consider the FBD of the liquid block enclosed by the circular surface of the cylinder and its
vertical & horizontal projections.
Determine the hydrostatic forces acting on the vertical and horizontal plane surfaces
including the weight of the liquid block.
Hydrostatic force on a submerged curved surface
Determine the magnitude of the hydrostatic force acting
on the cylinder and its line of action when the gate opens?

(a) Horizontal force on vertical surface per m length:
F
H
= F
X
= P
av
A = gh
C
A = g(s + R/2) A
= 1000 9.81 (4.2 + 0.8/2) (0.81.0)
= 36100.8 N = 36.1 kN
Vertical force on horizontal surface per m length (upward):
F
V
= F
Y
= P
av
A = gh
C
A = gh
bottom
A
= 1000 9.81 (5.0) (0.81.0)
= 39240 N = 39.24 kN
Weight of fluid block per m length (downward):
W = mg = gV = g (R
2
- R
2
/4) 1.0
= 1000 9.81 0.8
2
(1 - /4) 1.0
= 1347.36 N = 1.35 kN
Net vertical force, F
V
= 39.24 1.35 = 37.89 kN (upwards)
F
R
= kN / m length
= tan
-1
F
V
/F
H
= tan
-1
37.89/36.1= 46.38


33 . 52 89 . 37 1 . 36
2 2
2
V
2
H F F

Determine the weight of the cylinder per m length of
the cylinder?

(b) Water level is 5m high, gate is about to open: Reaction force at the bottom
is zero. Forces acting on the cylinder are: reaction at the hinge, weight of the
cylinder and hydrostatic force exerted by the water.
Take moments about A. (assume reaction force at hinge is zero)


M
A
= 0 (for equilibrium)

(W
cyl
R) (F
R
R sin ) = 0
W
cyl
= F
R
sin = 52.33 sin 46.38
= 37.88 kN / m length.

Which corresponds to a mass of = 37.88 10
3
/ 9.81 = 3853 kg / m length
and a material density of = 1916.32 kg / m
3
ie. = m / v


We have looked today at:

Hydrostatic force on a submerged curved
surface
Next lecture
Buoyancy, Flotation and Stability
Summary