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AME 30331 section 01 Fall 13 handout 2.

4

HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A PLANE SURFACE
EXAMPLE

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Consider the rectangular gate AB (width: b; length: L) submerged in a fluid of density .
- What is the resultant hydrostatic force
R
F acting on the gate?
- What is the location of the center of pressure?


CALCULATION OF THE RESULTANT PRESSURE FORCE
Step 1: Pressure distribution in the fluid (and selection of a coordinate system)


















AME 30331 section 01 Fall 13 handout 2.4

Step 2: Integration over the surface.





























AME 30331 section 01 Fall 13 handout 2.4

CALCULATION OF THE CENTER OF PRESSURE COORDINATES
Step 1: Selection of an origin for the calculation of all moments.









Step 2: Moment exerted by the resultant pressure force
R
F


















AME 30331 section 01 Fall 13 handout 2.4

Step 3: Moment resulting from all the moments produced by the infinitesimal forces dF , along
the surface of the gate.




























AME 30331 section 01 Fall 13 handout 2.4

Step 4: Solve for
c
l by setting the equality
1 2
M M

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