Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

A pressure diagram may

be defined as a
graphical representation
of the variation in the
intensity of pressure
over a surface.
Such diagram are very
useful for finding out
the total pressure and
the centre of pressure
of liquid on a vertical
surface (i.e., wall or
dam).

Figure 1.41 :The hydrostatic forces

acting on a plan surface form a
pressure prism whose base (left face) is
the surface and whose length is the
pressure.

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

Consider a vertical wall, subjected to pressure due to

one kind of liquid, on one of its sides as shown in
Figure 1.41 . The pressure on the wall is zero at the
liquid surface, and will increase by straight line law to
the bottom. Therefore the pressure diagram will be a
triangle ABC as shown in figure 1.41. the total
pressure on the wall per unit length
=
1
=
2

Figure 1.41 :Pressure due to one

kind of liquid

This pressure will act at the center of gravity of the

2
triangle at a depth of 3 from the liquid surface or in
1

other words at a height of 3 from the bottom of the

liquid.

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

Pressure due to one kind of liquid on one side

A water tank contains 1.3m depth water. Find

the hydrostatic force exerted by the water per
meter length of the tank.

The hydrostatic force exerted by water

per meter length of the tank,
2
9.81 1.32
=
=
1 = 8.289
2
2
or
=
1
= 1.3 12.753 1 = 8.289
2

1.3

9.81 1.3 = 12.753/2

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

A swimming pool contains 3.6m depth have water

in one of its sides. If the pool is 10m width,
calculate the hydrostatic force on the vertical side
of the pool. Also calculate the point where the
total pressure acts on the wall.

3.6

The hydrostatic force exerted by water

2
=
= 63.567 10 = 635.688
2
or
=
1
= 3.6 35.316 10 = 63.688
2

9.81 3.6 = 35.316/2

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

A tank contains water for a height of 0.5m and

immiscible liquid of specific gravity 0.8 above the
water for a height of 1m. Find the hydrostatic force
if the length of the tank is 5m.

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

The intensity of pressure at D (or B) due to

the oil with SG 0.8
= = 1 1
= 0.8 1000 9.81 1
= /2
The intensity of pressure at B due to water
= = 2 2 = 1000 9.81 0.5 = 4905/2

Total Pressure = 1 + 2 + 3
= 1 + 2 + 3
1
1
=
7848 1 + 7848 0.5 +
0.5 4905
2
2
= 9074.24/
=
= 9074.25 5
= 45371.25

7848

7848

4905

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

A bulkhead (dinding sekat) 3m long divides a storage tank. On one side, there is
a petrol of specific gravity 0.78 stored to the depth of 1.8m, while on the other
side there is an oil of specific gravity 0.88 stored to the depth 0.9m. Determine
hydrostatic force exerted by the fluid on the bulkhead and the position at
which it acts.

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

Hydrostatic force exerted on the bulkhead

Total Pressure = 1 2
= 1 2
1
1
=
13.773 1.8
0.9 7.77
2
2
= 12.4 3.497
= 8.903/
=
= 8.903 3
= 26.709

13.773

7.063

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Pressure Diagram for Hydrostatic Structure

Position of the Hydrostatic force
Let,
=
1
1 2 ,
3
.
:
= 1 0.6 2 0.3

26.709 =

12.4 3 0.6 3.497 3 0.3

26.709 = 22.32 3.147

19.173

= 26.709
= 0.718

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Exercise 1.3:
Question 1
A rectangular tank 5m long and 3m deep is
divided by partition wall parallel to the
shorter wall of the tank. One of the
compartments contains water to a depth of
3m and the other contains water to a depth
of 3m and the other contains oil of specific
gravity of 0.75 to the depth of 2m.
Determine hydrostatic force exerted by the
fluid on the partition wall.
[Ans: 147.15kN]
Question 2
A cubical tank has sides of 1.5m. It contains
water for the lower 0.6m depth. The upper
remaining part is filled with oil of specific
gravity 0.9. Calculate for one vertical side of
the tank, the hydrostatic force and the
position of the centre of pressure.
[Ans: 33844.5N;1.611m]