1.

Hydrostatic pressure Hydrostatic pressure is usually defined for a liquid, whose density can be considered constant, since a liquid is virtually incompressible. Cross sectional area A

Height h

Consider a cylinder of height h (m) and cross sectional area A (m 2) containing a liquid of density (kg/m 3). The weight of the liquid is Weight = mass x g Where i.e. Then mass = volume x density = V = A h Weight = mg = g V weight = g A h
kg m m3 N 3 2 m s

Now the weight of the liquid (a downward force) exerts a pressure (called hydrostatic pressure) on the base. force = weight = g A h pressure = force/area = p hydrostatic i.e. phydrostatic A = g A h phydrosatic = g h

Then

Thus hydrostatic pressure = density x g x vertical height Note that the hydrostatic pressure is a gauge pressure i.e. measured relative to the atmosphere. If we want the absolute pressure we must add the atmospheric pressure. Then p absolute = p hydrostatic + p atmospheric Note that pressure always acts normally (i.e. perpendicular to) a surface. Page 1 of 8

2. Forces on an immersed surface: Force on a vertical surface: 2.1.1 One edge in the free surface Consider a vertical plate, with one edge in the liquid free surface. The plate is b (m) long and d (m) deep b

p=gh

Fig 2

fig 3

p=gd

The hydrostatic pressure varies linearly with depth (see fig 3)it is zero (atmospheric pressure!) at the top and g d at the bottom. At any height h, the pressure is g h The total force on the surface is calculated using calculus:
free surface

dh

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Force on the element = F = p d h (pressure x area)= (gh) x (b h) Summing up over the whole area F =
d

h2 d2 d = gb = (g) (bd) = (g) (A) h ( g b) h dh= gb 2 0 2 0 2

d

( )
( )

Hence hydrostatic force is given by ( g) multiplied by the area (A) multiplied by the vertical depth of the centroid of the immersed surface from the liquid free surface h . i.e. 2.1.2
F = gA h

One edge submerged below the free surface

Free surface
z

Free surface

h
b
top of plate p = gz

d G depth G

Fig 5
bottom of plate p = g(z + d)

pressure distribution

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Free surface

h
b

h
G d G

horizontal axis through centroid

Fig 6

The force on the element, h below the free surface, is given by

F = ( gh) area of element = ( g h) ( b h) = ( g b) ( h h)

Summing up all these forces from the top, where h = z, to the bottom, where h = z + d

F=

z+d z

( g b) ( h dh) = ( g b) h dh
z
z+d

z+d

h2 F = gb 2 z
i.e.
F=

1 g b (z + d)2 (z)2 2

Then Rewriting

1 g b( z 2 + 2zd + d 2 z 2 ) 2 1 F = g b ( d 2 + 2 zd) 2 F=

d F = g b d( + z ) = ( g )( b d)( h) 2

Or, in words hydrostatic force = g x area x vertical depth of the centroid

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2.2 Centre of pressure

The total hydrostatic force does not act at the centroid, as a careful examination of figure 3 will show (the pressures are higher below the centroid than they are above it). The point at which the total hydrostatic force acts is called the centre of pressure (COP). Again we use calculus to show us where it is, in the vertical plane. Using figure 4, we take moments about the free surface.
free surface

The COP is taken as z vertically below the free surface Then considering the element of thickness ( h), which is h below the surface Take moments about the free surface i.e. Moment of force on element = ( force on element ) ( dis tance from free surface ) = p A h
=

( ( gh ) (b h) (h)) = ((gbh) (h2 ) = (gb) (h2h)

F z = gb h2 dh = gb
0 _ d

Summing over the whole rectangle:

d3 bd3 = (g) ( ) 3 3

But

bd is the sec ond moment of area about the free surface 3

_

then z =

gb d3 g FS sec ond moment about the free surface = = F 3 g Ah first moment about the free surface
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The second moments of area are FS =db3/3 and GG = bd3/12

2.2.1 Parallel axis theorem

b

AREA A

Consider a rectangle of area A, of side b and depth d. then the parallel axis theorem states EE= = GG + A h
_2

For the rectangle GG =

bd3 , 12

A = bd

and

h=

d 2

Using the parallel axis theorem

EE =

bd3 d2 bd3 + bd = 12 4 3

+ Ah 2 GG Ah 2 GG Note : z = FS = GG = + = +h Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah

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Inclined surface:

I
free surface

z
F G

y
x
_

COP

Note that the hydrostatic force F = gA h = gA y sin normal to the surface and the depth of the Centre of Pressure is given by values taken along the inclined surface:

sec ond moment of area about free surface GG + A y x= = _ first moment of area about free surface Ay

_2

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4. Buoyancy Force
When a body floats in equilibrium, there must be a balance in forces, and upward forces must equal downward forces. The downward force is the weight of the body W and the upward force is the buoyancy force B. The buoyancy force, from Archimedes principle, is the weight of water displaced. Then if the volume of water displaced is V, the weight of water B = g V. This acts through the centre of volume of the displaced water, the centre of buoyancy. But the buoyancy force is the net sum of all the hydrostatic pressure forces in the vertical (upward) plane. For simplicity, consider a rectangular pontoon, of horizontal sides b and and the depth of water displaced h.

free surface

free surface b h

pressure distribution on side

Also p = g h hydrostatic pressure on base = g h

The pressures on the side vary from (0) at the top to ( g h)at the bottom. However these forces have no vertical component and hence do not contribute to the upward force, but do need to be resisted by the structure of the vessel. Upward force = area x pressure = (b ) ( g h) but b h is the displaced volume V, hence upward force = g V = buoyancy force B

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