MODULE - 2

HYDROSTATIC FORCES AND BUOYANCY

Hydrostatic forces on Plane;

Inclined and Curved surfaces;
Buoyancy ;
Condition of Equilibrium for Submerged Floating Bodies;
Centre of Buoyancy – Metacenter;
Determination of Metacentric Height.

1
 Hydrostatic Forces on Surfaces

• Hydrostatic Force is the force due to the pressure of a fluid at rest.

• When a surface is submerged in a fluid, forces develop on the surface due to the
fluid.

• The determination of these forces is important in the design of storage tanks, ships,
dams, and other hydraulic structures.

Total Pressure

• Total pressure is defined as the force exerted by a static fluid on a surface either
parallel or curved when the fluid comes in contact with the surfaces.

• Since the fluid is at rest, no tangential force exists, the total pressure acts in the
direction normal to the surface.
 Centre of Pressure

• It is defined as the point of application of the total pressure on the surface.

• There are four cases of submerged surfaces on which the total pressure

force and center of pressure is to be determined. They are

1. Horizontal plane surface

2. Vertical plane surface

3. Inclined plane surface

4. Curved surface.
Horizontal Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid

Consider a plane horizontal surface immersed in a static

fluid.

As every point of the surface is at the same depth from the

free surface of the liquid the pressure intensity will he
equal on the entire surface.

(P = ρ x g x h ) where h is depth of surface.

Let A = Total area of the surface

Then total force F on the surface = P * Area
−
= ρxgxℎxA
−
ℎ = Depth of CG from the free surface of liquid = h
h* = Depth of Centre of pressure from the free surface = h
Vertical Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid

Consider a plane vertical surface of arbitrary shape immersed in a liquid.

A
−
: Total area of the surface
ℎ : Distance of C.G. of the area from free surface of liquid
G : Centre of gravity of parallel surface
P : Centre of pressure
h* : Distance of center of pressure from free surface of liquid.

Total Pressure
• The total pressure on the entire surface is determined by dividing the entire surface into a
number of small parallel strips.

• The force on the small strip is then calculated and the total pressure force on the whole area is
calculated by integrating the force on small strip.

• Consider a strip of thickness dh and width b at a depth of h from free surface of liquid.
Vertical Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid

Pressure intensity On the strip. P = ρxgxh

Area of the strip = dh x b
Total pressure force on strip dF = P x Area
= ρ x g x h x b x dh

Total pressure force on the whole surface is 𝐹= 𝑑𝐹 = 𝜌 × g × h × b × dh

= 𝜌 × g h × b × dh

But
h × b × dh = h × dA
= Moment of surface area above the free surface of liquid

= Area of surface * Distance of CG from free surface

−
=A xℎ
−
= 𝜌×g×A×ℎ
Vertical Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid

Centre of Pressure (h*)

Centre of pressure is calculated by using the "Principle of Moments", which states that the
‘moment of the resultant force about an axis is equal to the sum of moments of
components about the same axis.

The resultant force F is acting at P, at a distance h* from free surface of the liquid.

Moment of the force about free surface of the liquid = F X h*

Moment of force dF acting on a strip about free surface of liquid = 𝑑𝐹 × ℎ

= 𝜌 × g × 𝑏 × 𝑑ℎ × ℎ

Sum of moments of all such forces about free surface of liquid = 𝜌 × g × ℎ × 𝑏 × 𝑑ℎ × ℎ

= 𝜌 × g ℎ2 𝑑𝐴
Vertical Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid

But ℎ2 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑏 × ℎ2 𝑑ℎ

= Moment of Inertia of the surface about free surface of

liquid −
= Io 𝐹 = 𝜌×g×A×ℎ
Sum of moments about free surface = ρ x g x Io

Equating the terms F X h* = ρ x g x Io

𝐼𝑜
−
ℎ∗ = −
𝜌 × g × A × ℎ × h* = ρ x g x Io 𝐴ℎ

𝐼𝑜 = 𝐼𝐺 + 𝐴 × ℎ2
By the theorem of parallel axis. We have

where IG moment of inertia of area about an axis passing through the C G. of the area and
parallel to the free surface of liquid. ∗
𝐼𝐺
ℎ = +ℎ
𝐴ℎ
Vertical Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid

−
ℎ is the distance of CG. of the area of the vertical surface from free surface of the liquid.

1. Centre of pressure (h*) lies below the Centre of gravity of the vert al surface.

2. The distance of Centre of pressure from free surface of liquid is independent of the
density of the liquid .
Vertical Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid
Problems
Problems
Problems
Problems
Inclined Plane Surface Submerged In Liquid

Consider a plane surface of arbitrary shape

immersed in a liquid in such a way that the
plane of the surface makes an angle 𝜃 with
the free surface of the liquid

A : Total area of inclined surface

−
ℎ : Distance of C.G. of inclined area from free surface

h* : Distance of center of pressure from free surface of liquid.

𝜃 : Angle made by the plane of the surface with free liquid surface
Inclined Plane Surface Submerged In Liquid

Let the plane of the surface, if produced meet the free liquid surface at O. Then 0-0 is the axis
perpendicular to the plane of the surface.

𝑦 = distance of the CG of the inclined surface from 0-0

Y* = distance of the Centre of pressure from 0-0.

Consider a small strip of area dA at a depth ‘h' from free surface and at a distance y from the axis 0 – 0

Pressure intensity on the strip = ρgh

Pressure force dF, on the strip = P x Area = p x g x h x dA

Total pressure force on the whole area 𝐹= 𝑑𝐹 = 𝜌 × g × h dA But 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐴𝑦

−
𝑦 = Distance of CG from axis 0 -0
ℎ ℎ ℎ∗
= = = sin𝜃
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦∗
ℎ = 𝑦 × sin𝜃
𝐹= 𝜌𝑔 × 𝑦 × sin𝜃 × 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜌 × 𝑔 × sin𝜃 𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝐹 = 𝜌 × 𝑔 × sin𝜃 × 𝑦 × 𝐴
= 𝜌×𝑔×𝐴×ℎ
Inclined Plane Surface Submerged In Liquid

Centre of Pressure (h*)

Centre of pressure is calculated by using the "Principle of Moments", which states that the
moment of the resultant force about an axis is equal to the sum of moments of
components about the same axis.
The resultant force F is acting at P, at a distance h* from free surface of the liquid.

Pressure force on the strip dF = 𝜌 × g × h × 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜌 × g × 𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ × 𝑑𝐴

Moment of force dF acting on a strip about free surface of liquid = = 𝑑𝐹 × y

= 𝜌 × g × 𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ × 𝑑𝐴 × y = 𝜌 × g × 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ × 𝑦2 𝑑𝐴

Sum of moments of all such forces about O - O = 𝜌 × g × 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ × 𝑦2 𝑑𝐴

= 𝜌 × g × 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
Inclined Plane Surface Submerged In Liquid

But 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴 = Moment of Inertia of the surface about 𝑂 − 𝑂 = Io

Sum of moments about free surface 𝑂 − 𝑂 = ρ x g x 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ x Io

Equating the terms F X y* = ρ x g x Io ; y* = ρ x g x 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ x Io / F

− 𝐼𝑜
But 𝐹 = 𝜌 × g × A × ℎ and
ℎ∗
= sin𝜃 ℎ∗ = −
𝑦∗ 𝐴ℎ
−
By the theorem of parallel axis. We have Io = IG+ A 𝑦2

ℎ∗ 𝜌 𝑔 sin𝜃 ℎ
Substituting the values , we get; = 𝐼𝐺 + 𝐴𝑦 2 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑦 =
sin𝜃 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ sin𝜃
sin2 𝜃
ℎ∗ = 𝐼𝐺 + 𝐴𝑦 2
𝐴ℎ
sin2 𝜃 ℎ2
ℎ∗ = 𝐼𝐺 + 𝐴 sin2𝜃
𝐴ℎ
𝐼𝐺 sin2 𝜃
ℎ∗ = 𝐴ℎ
+ℎ

If θ= 90 the above equation becomes the same as vertically plane submerged surface.
PROBLEM
 Buoyancy

 When a body is immersed in a liquid, an upward force is exerted by the

liquid on the body.

 The upward force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body is
called the Force of Buoyancy.

Centre of Buoyancy

 It is defined as the point through which the force of buoyancy is supposed

to act.

 Centre of buoyancy will be centre of gravity of fluid displaced

 Meta Centre

 It is defined as the point about which a body starts oscillating when the body is
tilted by a small angle.

 It may also be defined as the point at which the line of action of the force of
buoyancy will meet the normal axis of the body when the body is given a small
angular displacement.
 Meta Centre

Let the body is given a small angular displacement in the clockwise direction.

The centre of buoyancy which is the centre of gravity of the displaced liquid or centre of
gravity of the portion of the body submerged in liquid will now be shifted towards right
from the normal axis. Let it be B1.

The line of action of the force of buoyancy in this new position will intersect the normal
axis of the body at same point say M. This point M is called Meta Centre.

Meta-Centric Height

The distance MG is the distance between the meta centre of a floating body
and the centre of gravity of the body is called Meta Centric Height.
Analytical Method for Meta Centric Height

𝐼
Meta-Centre height = GM = ∀ − 𝐵𝐺

∀ = Volume of fluid displaced by the body or volume of the body submerged in water.

𝐼 = second moment of area of the plan of the body at water surface about the axis Y-Y

𝐼 = 2 𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴
Problem
Experimental Method

Meta-Centre height = GM
W = weight of vessel including w1 𝑤1 𝑥
G = Centre of gravity of vessel Meta-Centre height = GM =
𝑊 tan𝜃
B = Centre of buoyancy of vessel
Stability of a floating and sub-merged bodies

• Force that tend to lift the body is called the Buoyant Force and is denoted by
FB

• The buoyant force acting on a body immersed in a fluid is equal to the

weight of the fluid displaced by the body.

• It acts upwards through the centroid of the displaced volume.

Stability of a Sub-Merged Bodies

A sub-merged or a floating body is said to be stable if it comes back to its original position
after a slight disturbance.

The relative position of the centre of gravity (G) and centre of

buoyancy (B) of a body determines the stability of a sub-merged
body.
Stability of a Sub-Merged Bodies

Stable Equilibrium.
When W = FB ; point B is above G, the
body is said to be in stable
equilibrium.

Unstable Equilibrium.

If W = FB ; point B is below G, the

body is in unstable equilibrium.

Neutral Equilibrium.

If W = FB ; B and G are at the same

point, the body is said to be in neutral
equilibrium.
 Stability of Floating Bodies

The stability of a Floating body is determined from the position of Meta-centre

(M).

Stable Equilibrium:

If the point M is above G, the floating body will be in stable equilibrium. If a

slight angular displacement is given to the floating body in the clockwise
direction, the centre of buoyancy shifts from B to B1 such that the vertical line
through B1 cuts at M.

Then the buoyant force FB through B1 and weight W through G constitute a

couple acting in the anticlockwise direction and thus bringing the floating body
in the original position.
 Stability of Floating Bodies

• Unstable Equilibrium:
If the point M is below G, the floating body will be in unstable equilibrium. The
disturbing couple is acting in clockwise direction. The couple due to buoyant force FB
and W is also acting in the clockwise direction and thus overturning the floating
body.

• Neutral Equilibrium.
The point M is at the centre of gravity of the body. The floating body will be in
neutral equilibrium.
Stability of Floating Bodies
Problems
Problems
Problems