Chapter 1 Hydrostatic Force

CHAPTER 1 : HYDROSTATIC FORCE
CC501-HYDRAULIC 2
CHAPTER 1
HYDROSTATIC FORCE
1.1
Introduction
This chapter focuses on how to determine hydrostatic forces exerted on a plane or
curved surface submerged in a static fluid. It covers the force produced by the pressure
in a fluid that acts on the wall and the location of the resultant force, called the centre of
pressure.
At the end of this chapter, student should be able to:
a) Define the terms of Pressure and Hydrostatic Force.
b) Understand the terms centroid and center of pressure.
c) Understand the basic knowledge of hydrostatic forces acting on plane surface.
d) Understand the basic knowledge of hydrostatic forces action on curve surface.
e) Understand the basic knowledge of hydrostatic forces action on inclined
surface.
1.2
Hydrostatic Force
Hydrostatic is the branch of fluid mechanics that related to the fluids at rest. In
other word, it's deal with pressures and forces resulting from the weight of fluids at
rest. By referring Figure 1.1, the fluid exerts force and pressure against the walls of its
container, whether it is stored in a tank or flowing in a pipe. But there is a difference
between force and pressure, although they are closely related.
Hydrostatic Forces
Figure 1.1: Hydrostatic Forces in Tank
In summarize, the formula of hydrostatic forces (F) is:
F=P*A
[1]
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Where, P = pressure & A = area over which the force is distributed.

Unit is in Newton (N).
1.2.1 Hydrostatic Pressure
The pressure water exerts is called hydrostatic pressure. These principles always
apply to hydrostatic pressure:
a) Pressure depends only on the depth of water above the point in question (not
on the water surface area).
b) Pressure increases in direct proportion to the depth of water.
c) Pressure in a continuous volume of water is the same at all points that are at
the same depth or elevation.
d) Pressure at any point in the water acts in all directions at the same magnitude.
Specifically, pressure is defined as force per unit area. In S.I units, pressure is
usually expressed in Newton per square meter (N/m2). For convenience, the unit N/m2
is called a Pascal (Pa). In this equation, pressure can be expressed as:
P=F/A
Where, P = pressure,
F = hydrostatic force
A = area over which the force is distributed
Depending on the benchmark used (with/without atmospheric pressure), pressure
can be described as absolute pressure or relative pressure.
a)
Atmospheric pressure (a) is defined as the pressure at any given point in

the earth atmosphere caused by the weight of air above the measurement
point. Atmosphere pressure at sea level (standard) is approximately
101.325 kPa or 760 mmHg.
[2]
b)
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Absolute pressure (abs) is the pressure with its zero point set at the
vacuum pressure.
c)
Relative pressure (r) is the terms of pressure with its zero set at the
atmospheric pressure. This pressure is more widely use in engineering
than absolute pressure.
There is the relationship between them is:
r
= abs - a
1.2.2 Head Pressure

It is often convenient to express pressure in terms of the height of a column of
water in meters instead of terms of kPa. This is called pressure head, h. The water
that filled into a tank will produce pressure at the sides and bottom of the tank. If the
h is high, the hydrostatic pressure is calculated from the bottom of the tank:
P
= gh
Where is fluid density, g is gravity acceleration and h is head pressure.

Problem 1.1
What is the pressure and force at the bottom of the cylindrical containers?
OIL
(s.g = 0.9)
2.4 m
WATER
(s.g = 1.0)
1.5 m
3.0 m
[3]
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Solution:
The pressure for cylindrical tank:
P
= gh(oil) + gh(water)
= (0.9 x 1000 x 9.81 x 2.4) + (1.0 x 1000 x 9.81 x 1.5)
= 21189.6 + 14715
= 35904.6 Pa
= 359.046 kPa
The force for cylindrical tank:

F
=PxA
= 359.046 x ( x 32 / 4)
= 253.795 kN
1.2.3 Definition of Centroid, C

The centroid gives a definition of the mean
position of an area (volume). It is closely related
to the center of mass a body. One adds up
position of x for all the little pieces dAi of the
Area, A to get average x position, xc. The x and y
coordinates
of
the
centroid
are
evaluated
mathematically as:
Figure 1.2: Centroid Location
[4]
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1.2.4 The First Moment of Area

By referring Figure 1.2 above, the 1st moments of areas are the average
displacement of an area about an axis of rotation. They are closely related to the
centroid.
The first moment of area about the y -axis is:
So;
The first moment of area about x axis is:
The first moment of area have units of m3.

1.2.5 The Second Moment of Area, Ix
The 2nd moments of areas are the average (displacement) of an area about an axis
of rotation. Have units of m4. The second moment of area about the x -axis is:
It is sometimes called the moment of inertia of the area. The second moment of
inertia is always positive since y2 > 0. The second moment of area about the y -axis is:
The products of inertia about a xy coordinate axes:
[5]
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Working out the second moments

would be troublesome as the axes of
rotations moved but for the parallel
axes theorem. The moments of many
objects through their centroid are
known.
The 2nd Moment of Area is:
One writes down second moment through centroid, then determines distance of
centroid to axis of rotation and finally applies the parallel axis theorem.
1.3
Hydrostatic Force on Plane Area

There are several steps to be followed for determine the hydrostatic force on
plane area:
a)
Specify the magnitude of the force.
b)
Specifying the direction of the force.
c)
Specifying the line of action of the force.
d)
To determine completely the resultant force acting on submerged force.
1.3.1 Hydrostatic Force on Horizontal Plane Area

This is the simplest cases to find forces on horizontal plane area. By referring
figure above, the tank bottom showed a uniform pressure distribution on the entire
plane. So, the pressure at the bottom is:
[6]
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= h
Now the Resultant force, FR:

FR = PA = hA
Where, A is bottom area of the tank.
1.3.2 Hydrostatic Force on Iclined Plane Surface
Consider a plane shown in Figure below:
Where:
The origin O is at the free surface.
is the angle that plane makes
with the free surface.
y is directed along the plane
surface.
A is the area of the surface.
dA is a differential element of the
surface.
dF is the force acting on the
differential element.
C is the centroid.
CP is the center of pressure.
FR is the resultant force acting

through CP.
Then, Differential force acting on differential area dA of plane:

dF
= (Pressure) . (Area) = (h). (dA)
(Perpendicular to plane)
Then, the magnitude of total resulting force, FR acting on the entire surface:
Where, h = y sin
[7]
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With and take as constant:

Note that the integral part is the first moment area about the x-axis:
Where, yc = y coordinate of the centroid
for the object.
Then,
Equation 1.1
Where, hc is the vertical distance from the fluid surface to the centroid of area.
Now, we must find the location of the center of pressure where the resultant force acts
as The moment
of resultant force must equal to the moment of the

distribution force.
Moment about the x-axis is:

*Note that dF = h dA and h = y sin
We note that, F = y Ayc sin

Then,
[8]
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Where, Ix = y2 dA is 2nd Moment of Inertia
By using Parallel Axis Theorem:

Where, Ixc = 2nd Moment of Inertia through centroid
Substitute parallel axis theorem and rearranging:

hp = Ixc sin2 + hs
hc A
Equation 1.2
where,
hp = center of pressure height from fluid surface
Ixc= second moment of area
= angle of the inclined object

A= area of the object
hc= centroid height from fluid surface
Note that for a submerged plane, the resultant force always acts below the centroid of
the plane.
Summary from above formula to determine Hydrostatic Force on Plane Surface:
a)
Find area in contact with fluid.
b)
Locate centroid of that area.
c)
Find hydrostatic pressure Pc at centroid, typically = (generally neglect

Patm).
d)
Find force F = Pc A.
e)
The location will not be at the centroid, but at a distance below the
centroid.
[9]
CC501-HYDRAULIC 2
1.3.3 Geometric Properties for locating Centroid Coordinates, Areas & Moment of
Inertia
Shape
Area, A
Centroid
Location, C
x
y
Moment of 2nd
Inertia, Ixc
ba
b
2
a
2
ba3
12
ba
2
2b
3
a
3
ba3
36
R2
4
R2
2
4R
3
0.1098R4
R2
4
4R
3
4R
3
0.05488R4
[10]
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1.3.3.1 Calculation of centroid, C or hc

To determine the hydrostatic force, first we must locate centroid of the area.
Centroid means the geometric center of the objects shape, or in other word center of
gravity for the object/mass. Below are the some examples to calculate the centroid:
Problem 1.2
An object is immersed in the water that has specific weight, = 9.81kN/m3. Determine
the centroid of object, hc for the following cases below:
i.
If object is immersed horizontally.
ii.
If object is immersed vertically.
iii.
If object is immersed at an inclination of .
Case 1:
1.1m
1.1m
hc
hc
60cm
90cm
Solution:
Height of rectangular is 0.6m. Centroid of the rectangular,
C = 0.6/2
= 0.3m
Locate centroid of the object from the surface, hc is:
hc = 1.1 + 0.3
= 1.4m
Case 2:
1.1m
hc
[11]
d = 1.0m
Solution:
Diameter of circle is 1.0m. Centroid of the circle,
C = 1.0/2
= 0.5m
hc = 1.1 + 0.5
= 1.6m
Case 3
0.5m
hc
1.5m
1.3m
1.5m
Solution:
First, define :
1.3m
sin = 1.0/1.3
1.0m
= 0.769
= sin-1 0.769
= 50.3
Then; define centroid of triangle, C:
h
2/3h
C = 2/3 (1.3)
1/3h
= 0.8666m

0.8666
m
Sin 50.3 = y/0.8666

50.3
y = sin 50.3 (0.8666)

= 0.668m
0.5m
1.168m
So;
[12]
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hc = 0.5 + 0.668
= 1.168m
Problem 1.3
By referring the Figure below, determine the hydrostatic force on the plate and location
of the center pressure.
Solution:
The Hydrostatic Force, F = gAhc
= 1000 (9.81) [(1.2 x 1.0)/2] [3 + (1.0/3)]
= 9810 (0.6) (3.333)
Where;
= 19618.038 N
Ixc = 1.2 x (1.0)3

36
= 0.0333 m4
= 19.62 kN
The Center of Pressure, hp = [Ixc*sin2 / Ahc] + hc
= [0.0333(1) / (0.6 x 3.333)] + 3.333
Sin 900= 1
Sin2900= 1
= 3.35 m
Problem 1.4
A pool has a water gate AB with 60diagonal to the water surface and has been fixed to
pool wall. The water gate has a rectangular shape and 2m width shown in Figure below.
Calculate the hydrostatic force and determine the center of the pressure gate.
A
60
3m
B
Pool Base
[13]
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Solution:
Find Hydrostatic Force, F = gAhc
Where, hc = distance from water surface to the gravity center
hc = 3/2 = 1.5m
60
Where;
3m
Where, h = 3 / (sin 60)
= 3.464m
A = 2 x 3.464
= 6.928m2
Ixc = bh3 /12
= 2 x 3.4643
12
= 6.928mm4
F = 1000 (9.81) (3.464 x 2) (1.5)

= 101945.52N = 101.95kN
Sin 60=
2
The Center of Pressure, hp = [Ixc sin / Ahc] + hc
Sin260= 0.75m
= [6.928 (0.75)/ (6.928 x 1.5)] + 1.5

= 2.0m
1.4
Hydrostatic Force on Curved Surface

Curved surface occurs in many hydraulic structures for example dams, tanks and
cross sections of circular pipes. Since this class of surface is curved, the direction of
the force is different at each location on the surface. The
pressure forces are divided into horizontal and vertical
component.
Look at forces acting on wedge of water ABC by referring
the right figure. Weight force W due to weight of volume of
water. F1 and F2 is the hydrostatic force on each planar face.
Reaction Forces of FH and FV due to wall of tank. The weight
force W passes through the center of gravity of the wedge.
To determine the horizontal force on static equilibrium:
FH = F2
= gAhc
[14]
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The vertical component of the force on a curved surface

may be determined by considering the fluid enclosed by the
BC curved surface and AC vertical projection lines extending
to the free surface. Thus:
FV = F1 + W
= gV1 + gVABC
= gV
Where, V is the volume on the curve BC.
The Resultant or Magnitude Forces, FR is a triangular
combination of the horizontal and vertical parts. So:
FR = (FV2 + FH2)
The direction of Resultant Force is determined by using following formula:
= tan-1 FV
FH
Problem 1.5
Determine the resultant force on the curved part of the base by referring Figure below.
5m
B
12m
Solution:
[15]
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We know that resultant force, FR = (FV2 + FH2)

So, lets find horizontal force first:
FH = gAhc
= 1000 x 9.81 x (12 x 1) x (5 + 12/2)
= 1294920 N = 1294 kN
Then, calculate vertical force:
FV = gV
But, the problem is how to find volumes, V?
Separate the Figure above to two blocks known as V1 volume for full blocks & V2 volume for
quadrant (quarter blocks).
V = V1 - V2
= (12 x 17 x 1) - [( x 122 / 4) x 1]
= 204 113.112 = 90.888 m3
FV
FV = 1000 x 9.81 x 90.888

FH
= 891611N = 891.6 kN
17 m
R
So, the Resultant Force, FR
= (FV2 + FH2)
= [(1294)2 + (891.6)2]
= 2469386.56 = 1571.4 kN
Therefore, Direction of Resultant Force,

= tan-1 (FV / FH)
= tan-1 (891.6/ 1294)
= 34.56
[16]
1 m long
12 m
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Problem 1.6
Determine the resultant force on the curved part of the base by referring Figure below.
4m
V1
3m
j = 2m
V2
FV
FH
Solution:
Area, A = 2 4 = 8 m 2
Centroid height, hc= 3 +
2
= 4m
2
Total volume, V = v 1 + v 2
v 1 = 4 3 2 = 24m 3
3.142(2 2 )
4 = 12.57 m 3
v 2 =
4
Total volume,V = 12.57 + 24 = 36.57 m 3

Horizontal Force, F H = gAhc = 10 3 (9.81)(8)(4)
= 313920 N = 313.92 kN
Vertical Force, F v = gV = 1000 (9.81)(36.57)
= 358751 N = 358.75 kN
[17]
FV
Resultant Force, R
R
= (FV2 + FH2)
= tan 1
1.5
= [(313.92)2 + (358.75)2] = 476.7 kN
Direction of Resultant Force, R = tan 1
FV
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FH
FH
358.75
= 48.8 0
313.92
Hydrostatic Force on A Vertical And Inclined Rectangular Wall

The dam is a structure that is built to hold and retain water. The dam surface contact
with the water experiences a hydrostatic force. This hydrostatic forces acting perpendicular to
the dam wall surface area that contact with water, either square-shaped dam or trapeziumshaped. Dam to withstand the force of gravity, weight or mass of the dam structure and act on
the center of gravity (centroid).
1.5.1 Hydrostatic Force Exerted On A Vertical Rectangular Wall

Problem 1.7
A concrete wall with 7m high and 5m long has been used to hold water up to 4.5m as
shown Figure below. Determine: i. Hydrostatic Force (F) over the dam wall.
ii. Center of pressure height from surface water (hp).
3m
7m
4.5m
[18]
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Solution:
i.
g = 9.81 m/s2
= 1000(9.81)(4.5/2)(4.5*5)
A= 4.5 * 5 = 22.5 m2
= 496631.25 N = 496.63 kN
ii.
= 1000 kg/m3
where;
Hydrostatic Force, F = ghcA
hs= 4.5/2 = 2.25 m

Ixc =
Center of pressure, hp = Ixc sin + hs
bd3
= 5(4.53)
12
hcA
12
= 37.96875 m
= 37.96875(1) + 2.25
= 900
2.25(22.5)
sin2 = 1
= 3 meter
1.5.2 Hydrostatic Force Exerted On An Inclined Trapezoidal Wall
Problem 1.8
A concrete dam with trapezium-shaped are 10 m high and 350 m long has been hold
water depth of 8m. Determine hydrostatic force over an inclined dam surfaced and
center of pressure.
5m
10m
8m
2m
[19]
7m
CC501-HYDRAULIC 2
Solution :
Determine the values of , A, hc and Ixc.
FH
Center of Pressure
FV
How to define
10/2 = tan
@ tan = 5
10m
= tan-1 5
= 78.690
= 78.690
2m
How to define area of section, A
8m
Sin = 8/x
x = 8/sin 78.690
x = 8.16 m
Area, A
= Ldam. * x
= 350 * 8.16
= 2856 m2
[20]
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How to define hc
= 8/2
hc
= 4m
centroid
8m
How to define Ixc
hc = d/2
L @ b = 350m
Ixc = bd3
x @ d = 8.16 m
12
Front elevation of dam
= 350(8.163)
12
= 196244.7448
12
= 15847.37 m4
i.Hydrostatic Force, F = ghcA
= 1000(9.81)(8/2)(8.16*350)
= 112069 kN
ii.Center of pressure, hp = Ixc sin2 + hc
where;
= 1000 kg/m3
g
hcA
= 15847.37(0.96) + 4
4(2856)
= 15213.48 + 4
[21]
= 9.81 m/s2
A = 2886.1 m2
hc = 4 m
Ixc = 16353.73
m4
= 78.690
sin2 = 0.96
11424
= 5.33 m
[22]
CC501-HYDRAULIC 2

Chapter 1 Hydrostatic Force

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Chapter 1 Hydrostatic Force

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CHAPTER 1 : HYDROSTATIC FORCE