MECH 411 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics

American University of Beirut, Fall 2004-2005

October 30, 2004

Handout # PS2

Selected Problems from Problem Set 2

Problem 2.97

dF
F=-p
r dS
r
y = R sin

0
x

r = cos x + sin y
dS = R d

The gauge pressure at y is

pg (y) = p(y) pa = g (H y) = g (H R sin )

(1)

The unit outward normal vector is

= r = cos x
+ sin y

(2)

The force due to pressure distribution is

F =
=

dF =

dS
pg (y) n

dF = W R

+ sin y
) d
g (H R sin ) (cos x

/4

3 1
1
R
H
+ gW R R
= gW R
H 1+
x
+
4
8
4
2
2


!!

(3)

+yy
= R(cos x
+ sin y
), the
Noting that the position vector on the gate is r = x x
moment about the center of coordinates is
MO =

r dF = R F

is the center of pressure. Then satisfying the x and y components

+ y y
where R = x x
of the above equation yields
Z

x dFy = x Fy
Z

y dFx = y Fx
1

Notice that since dF is always along the radial coordinate, the moment about O is zero,
is determined as follows
+ y y
i.e. x Fy = y dFx . The center of pressure R = x x


R
R
R
2

3
H
x
dF
2
y
/4

x =
=
(4)
Fy
3 4 2H 3 R 2 R + 8 H


R
2

3
H
R
R
y
dF
1
x
/4

(5)
=
y =
Fx
3 2 2H R
With R = 2 m, W = 4 m, H = 4 m, g = 10050 N/m3 , we get
Fx
Fy
x
y

=
=
=
=

140.4 kN
239.5 kN
0.385 m
0.6565 m

(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)

x*

Fy

FA

Fx
FBy

A
0

y*

B FBx
To get the reaction forces at A and B, we employ
chosen point. Then

O
P

F = 0 and

M = 0 about any

FAx + FBx = Fx FBx = Fx + FA cos 0

FAy + FBy = Fy FBy = Fy FA sin 0
moments about B Fy (R + x ) Fx y + FA R(1 + 2 cos 0 ) sin 0 = 0
Solving for FAx , FAy , FBx and FBy , we get
FA
FAx
FAy
FBx
FBy

=
=
=
=
=

140.3 kN
99.2 kN
99.2 kN
41 kN
140 kN

Problem 2.119

F 

F 

mg
W/ 3



We assume that the angle is small so that the floating volume is

Vf loat =

(W )(W )
(D)
2

where D is the depth. The weight of the piece of wood must balance the buoyant force
wood Vwood + mg = water Vsubmerged

W 2 D
HW D
2

wood HW D + mg = water

(10)

where mg is the weight placed at the end of wooden beam.

For equilibrium the sum of moments about the center of gravity of the wooden beam
must be zero. We split the buoyant force into two components. Component Fb1 due
to a rectangular volume of fluid and component Fb2 due to triangular volume of fluid.
The component Fb1 due to the rectangular volume of water passes throught the center
of gravity of the wooden beam. This is because the angle is small. Then the moment
induced by the weight placed at the edge of the wooden beam must be balanced by Fb2
as shown in the Figure. Then
W
mg
2

W
W
= Fb2

2
3


(W )(W ) W
= water (D)
2
6
6mg

water DW 2


Setting mg = 5 lbf, W = 9 ft, D = 4/12 ft, water = 62.4 lbf/ft3 , we get = 0.0178 rad
or 1.02o .

Substituting in equation (10), we get wood = 42.4 lbf/ft3 . The specific gravity of wood is
then SG wood /water = 0.68.

Problem 2.147
We start by applying Newtons second law per unit volume

gc
o s

s
p

a=
g si
n


X

F = a
p + g = a
The free surface is characterized by uniform pressure, pa . Then the pressure gradient is
normal to the free surface. If s is the unit vector along the free surface, then p s = 0,
then
g s = a s
Note that
=ax
= a = g sin 0
gx
Then we must have
s = x

i.e. the water surface is aligned with the x coordinate.