Pressure Prism

- Another method in determining the magnitude of the FR and

location of cp (graphical technique).
- The use of pressure prisms is very convenient for the vertical plane
problem.
- Consider the pressure distribution along a vertical wall of a tank
of width b, which contains a liquid having a specific weight .
- Since the pressure must vary linearly with depth, we can
represent the variation as is shown in Fig. 2.22 (a), where the
pressure is equal to zero at the upper surface and equal to h
at the bottom and Fig. 2.22 (b) shows it 3D representation.

Fig. 2.22 : The pressure prism

Due to this method, the magnitude of the resultant force acting on

the surface is equal to the volume of the pressure prism or,
FR = volume of pressure prism
1
= base width height
2
1
= (h )(b )(h )
2

= bh 2
2

Lets CHECK!....
FR

= Volume of pressure prism

h
= bh 2 = A
2
2
sin ce h = hc
2
FR = hc A = ghc A
The resultant force must pass through the centroid of the pressure
prism which is located along the vertical axis of symmetry of the
surface, and at a distance h/3 above the base (since the centroid of a
triangle is located at h/3 above its base) or 2/3h from the upper end.
Or it can be proved as follows,
I
hR = hc + xc
hc A
h bh 3 / 12
= +
2 h / 2 bh
h h
= +
2 6
2
= h
3

This same graphical approach can be used for plane surfaces that do
not extend up to the fluid surface as illustrated in Fig. 2.23. In this
instance, the cross section of the pressure prism is trapezoidal.
However, the resultant force is still equal in magnitude to the volume
of the pressure trapezoidal, and it passes through the centroid of the
volume.

Fig. 2.23 : The pressure distribution on the vertical plates located far
below from the free surface.
Specific values can be obtained by decomposing the pressure
prism/trapezoidal into two parts, ABDE and BCD. Thus,
FR = F1 + F2

where the components can readily be determined by inspection for

rectangular surfaces. The location of FR can be determined by
summing moments about some convenient axis, such as one passing
through A. In this instance,
FR y A = F1y 1 + F2 y 2

Therefore the location where the FR acts measured from point A is

yA =

F1y 1 + F2 y 2
FR

Or hR (measured from free surface) = h1 + yA

# Example 2.18 : Determination of Hydrostatic Force on the Vertical Plane
Using Pressure Prism Technique
Solve Example 2.16 using pressure prism technique.
Solution :

Fig E2.18
F1 = (ps + h1 )A
= [(50000) + [(0.90 1000 9.81)(2)]](0.6 0.6)
= 24.4 kN

h h
F2 = 2 1 A
2

 0.6
= (0.90 1000 9.81) (0.6 0.6)
2
= 0.954 kN

Total hydrostatic force,

FR = F1 + F2 = 24.4 + 0.954 = 25.4 kN

The location of FR measured from O, ho,

FR ho = F1 (0.3) + F2 (0.2 )
So,

ho =

F1 (0.3) + F2 (0.2)
FR

(24.4 10 )(0.3) + (0.954 10 )(0.2) = 0.296m

=
(25.4 10 )
3

= 0.296m
Therefore the location of FR measured from free surface, hR,
hR = 2.6 0.296 = 2.3m

2.8 Hydrostatic Forces Acting On Submerged Curved

Surfaces
The equations FR=ghCA and hR =Ixc/hC.A + hC which obtained from
integration are developed for the magnitude and location of the
resultant force acting on a submerged surface only apply to plane
surfaces. However,many surfaces of interest (such as those
associated with dams, pipes, and tank) are nonplanar.

Fig. 2.24 : Examples of curved or nonplanar surfaces.

For submerged curved surface, the determination of the resultant
force (FR) typically requires the integration of the pressure force that
change along the curve surface.
However, the easiest way to determine the FR acting on the curved
surface by separating it into the horizontal and vertical components,
FH and FV.
This is done by considering the free-body diagram of the fluid volume
enclosed by the curved surface of interest and the horizontal and
vertical projections of this surface, as shown in Fig. 2.25 below.

Fig. 2.25 : Hydrostatic force on the curved surface

The forces acting on this enclosed volume include :
1. W is the weight of the enclosed fluid volume and acts downward
through the centroid of this volume which is simply given by,

W=gV
2. Fx is the hydrostatic force acting on the vertical projection surface
area, through the centroid of this vertical surface where,

Fx=gh2.Avertical
3. Fy is the hydrostatic force acting on the horizontal projection
surface area, through the centroid of this horizontal surface
where,

FY=gh1.Ahorizontal
Note that :
vertical surface = the projection of the curved surface on a
vertical plane,
horizontal surface = the projection of the curved surface on a
horizontal plane.

From the Fig. 2 25 (b), for the equilibrium, the force balances in the
horizontal and vertical directions give;
FH = Fx

and

FV = Fy + W

The magnitude of resultant force, FR is then given by,

2

FR = FH + FV

And its direction,

FV
FH

= tan1

Summary of the procedure for computing the hydrostatic

force on submerged curved surface.
1.
2.

5.
6.

Isolate the volume of fluid above/under the curved surface.

Sketch the free body diagram (FBD) of the fluid volume and
show all the forces involved with correct direction and location.
Compute the Fx=gh2.Avertical . (identify first the h2 and vertical
projection surface area, Avertical for Fx).
Compute FY=gh1.Ahorizontal (identify first the h1 and horizontal
projection surface area, A horizontal for FY).
Compute W=gV (identify first the fluid volume,V).
Calculate FV and FH from the FBD.

7.

Calculate the resultant force, FR from FR = FH + FV and its

8.

F
direction from = tan1 V .
FH
Show the resultant force acting on the curved surface in such a
direction that its line of action passes through the center of
curvature of the surface.
Sketch the FBD and solve problem using M=0 if required*.

3.
4.

9.

# Example 2.19: Hydrostatic Force on the Curve Surface

A 5 m width curved gate is located in the side of a reservoir containing water as

shown in Fig. E2.19. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force and its location.

Fig. E2.19
Solution :

Fig. E2.19 (b)

From the free body diagram of the fluid on the curve surface,
FH = Fx

And
where,

FV = Fy + W

Fx = ghAy
3
= (1000)(9.81)6 + (5 3)
2
= 1104 kN
Fy = ghAx
= (1000)(9.81)(6 )(5 3)
= 883kN

r 2
W = g = g

4

(3 )2
= (1000)(9.81)
5
4

= 347kN
Therefore,

FH = Fx = 1104 kN

FV = Fy + W = 883 + 347 = 1230 kN

Thus,
2

FR = FH + FV
=

(1104)2 + (1230)2

= 1653kN
and

FV
FH

= tan1

1230

= tan 1
= 48
1104

# Example 2.20: Hydrostatic Force on the Curve Surface

A long solid cylinder of radius 0.8 m hinged at point A is used as an automatic
gate, as shown in Fig. E2.20. When the water level reaches 5 m, the gate opens by
turning about the hinge at point A. Determine the hydrostatic force per m length of
the cylinder and its line of action when the gate opens.

Fig. E2.20

Solution :
From the free body diagram of the fluid under curve surface,

FH = Fx
and

FV = Fy W

where,

Fx = ghAy

0.8
= (1000)(9.81)4.2 + (0.8 1)
2

= 36.1kN

Fy = ghAx
= (1000)(9.81)(5)(0.8 1)
= 39.2kN

R 2
2
W = g = g ( R
4

(0.8 )2
2
= (1000)(9.81)(0.8)
(1)
4

= 1.3kN
Therefore,

FH = Fx = 36.1 kN

and

FV = Fy W = 39.2 1.3 = 37.9 kN

Thus,
2

FR = FH + FV
=

(36.1)2 + (37.9)2

= 52.3kN
and,

FV
FH

= tan1

37.9

= tan 1
= 46.4
36.1