CHE 2161/ MEC 2404

Mechanics of Fluids
Week 2 Lecture 2
Hydrostatic Forces Location of the
Pressure Force

Fluid Statics

Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Force on a Planar

Surface (Munson 2.8)

Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Force on a Planar

Surface - Magnitude
Last Lecture Summary
dF pdA gh dA gy sin dA

FR g sin * yc A ghc A
hc is the depth of the position of the centroidal axis

Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Force on a Planar

Surface - Location
NOW - determine where
the resultant pressure
force acts
Normal to the
surface since it arises
due to the fluid
pressure
Intuitive to think it passes through
the CENTROID but this is NOT TRUE
In fact, it is always below the centroid
since the pressure is larger in the
lower regions

Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Force on a Planar

Surface - Location
Since the moment of FR must be equal to the
moment of the distributed pressure force
dF, where:

dF gy sin dA

FR yR y dF
A

FR yR g sin y 2 dA
A

Second moment of area about the xaxis:

I x y 2 dA
A

Fluid Statics

2nd Moment of Area

Second moment of area with respect to an axis:
Deals with bending of a plane, i.e. it is the property of a shape that is used to
predict its resistance to bending and deflection

I x y dA
2

The second moment of area is a measure of the 'efficiency' of a cross-sectional

shape to resist bending caused by loading.

http://www.learneasy.info/MDME/MEMmods/MEM30006A/Area_Moment/Area_Moment.html
Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Force on a Planar

Surface - Location
We know that:

FR yR gsin y2 dA gsin I x
A

We also know that (Last lecture summary):

FR = gAyc sin
Therefore:

yR

y dA
Ay c

Ix

Ay c
Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Force on a Planar

Surface - Location
Parallel axis theorem: moment of inertia of a rigid object of mass m about any
axis x, I'x, can be found from the moment of inertia of the object about the parallel
axis through the objects center of mass I'xc and the perpendicular distance between
the axes d:

md 2
I x I xc
The parallel axis theorem also applies to the second moment of area
which gives:

I x I xc Ad

I x I xc Ay

2
c

Ix

Ixc

Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Force on a Planar

Surface - Location
y dA
I

Ay c

Ay c

I x I xc Ay c2

I xc
yR
yc
Ay c
Thus resultant force does not pass through centroid but
below it, since

Ixc/(Ayc) > 0 at all times

Fluid Statics

Second Moment of Areas

yR

I xc
yc
Ay c
sin

This diagram is given in class

tests and final exams

Fluid Statics

Summary
Magnitude of resultant force

FR ghc A hc A
y location of centre of
pressure (where resultant
force acts)

I xc
yR
yc
Ay c

Fluid Statics

Summary
Magnitude of resultant force

FR ghc A hc A
y location of centre of
pressure (where resultant
force acts)

I xc
yR
yc
Ay c

Fluid Statics

Worked Example 8
A square gate (4 m by 4 m) is located on the 45 0 face of
a dam. The top edge of the gate lies 1 m below (i.e.
vertical distance) the water surface. Determine the
resultant hydrostatic pressure force of the water acting
on the gate .

Worked Example 8

Worked Example 13
A square gate (4 m by 4 m) is located on the 450
face of a dam. The top edge of the gate lies 1 m
below (i.e. vertical distance) the water surface.
Determine the resultant hydrostatic pressure location
(both coordinate and vertical distance from the
surface)on the gate .

Worked Example 9
A 4m diameter circular gate is located in the inclined
wall of a large reservoir containing water . The gate is
mounted on a shaft along its horizontal diameter. The
water depth is 10 m above the shaft.
Determine the magnitude of the
resultant water force exerted on the
gate by the water.

Worked Example 9

Worked Example 14
A 4m diameter circular gate is located in the inclined
wall of a large reservoir containing water . The gate is
mounted on a shaft along its horizontal diameter. The
water depth is 10 m above the shaft.
Determine the y-location () of the
resultant water force exerted on
the gate by the water.