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Chapter Three

Hydrostatic Forces on Surfaces .

3.1/ Vertical Plane Surface Submerged in Liquid :

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

shown in Fig.( 3.1) :

Let , A – Total area of the Surface. hc - Distance of center of gravity( C.G)of

the area from free surface of liquid. G – Center of gravity of plane surface. P –
Center Of pressure. hp – Distance of center of pressure from free surface of
liquid.

Fig.( 3.1)

Consider a strip of thickness (dh) and width( b) at a depth of ( h) from free

surface of liquid as shown in Fig.(3.1) :

Pressure on the strip P=ρgh

Area of the strip A = b×dh

Total Force on stripdF = p × Area = ρ g h× b× dh

Total Force on the whole surface F = ∫ dF = ∫ ρ gh ×b × dh

= ρ g ∫ b × h×dh

∫ b×h× dh = ∫ h × dA

= Moment of surface area about the free surface of liquid.

= Area of surface × Distance of ( C.G ) from free surface .

= A × hc

F = ρ g A hc (3.1)
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Center of pressure ( p ) : Center 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 the components about the same
axis . ( The distance of center of pressure ( p ) from the free surface is hp ).

Moment of Force = dF × h

= ρ g h × b × dh × h ( 3.2)

Sum of momentum of all such forces = ∫ ρ g h ×b × dh ×h

= ρ g ∫ bh2 dh = ρ g ∫ h2 dA

= ρ g ∫ bh2 dh = ρ g Io ( 3.3)

( In which Io is moment of inertia of the surface about free surface of liquid )

But , the moment of the force F about free surface of the liquid = F × h p

Therefore , F × h p = ρ g Io

But , F = ρ g A hc

Therefore , ρ g A h c × h p = ρ g Io
𝝆 𝒈 𝑰𝒐 𝑰𝒐
hp = = ( 3.4 )
𝝆 𝒈 𝑨 𝒉𝒄 𝑨 𝒉𝒄

By the theorem of parallel axis , we have

Io = IG + A ×𝒉𝟐𝒄
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.

Substituting Io in equation ( 3.4 ) , we get ,

𝑰𝑮 +𝑨 𝒉𝟐𝒄 𝑰𝑮
hp = = + hc ( 3.5)
𝑨 𝒉𝒄 𝑨 𝒉𝒄

The center of pressure hp lies below the center of gravity of the vertical surface
hc .

3.2 / Horizontal plane surface submerged in liquid :

Consider a plane horizontal surface immersed in a static fluid. As every point of
he surface is at the same depth from the free surface of the liquid, the pressure
will be equal on the entire surface and equal to :
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P=ρgh ( where h is depth of the surface )

Table ( 3.1) The moments of inertia and other geometric properties

of some important plane surfaces .

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3.3 / 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
as shown in Fig.( 3.2).

Fig.( 3.2) Inclined immersed surface

Let , A total area of inclined surface , hc depth of C.G of inclined area from
free surface , hp distance of center of pressure from free surface of liquid , ϴ
angle made by the plane of the surface with free surface , yc distance of the C.G
of the inclined surface from O – O , yp distance of the center of pressure from
the O – O .

Consider a small strip of area dA at a depth ( h) from free surface and at a

distance y from the axis O – O as shown in Fig.( 3.2).

Force dF on the strip = p × Area of strip = ρ g h ×dA

Total Force on the whole area , F = ∫ dF = ∫ ρ g h dA

𝒉 𝒉𝒄 𝒉𝒑
But from Fig.(3.2) , sinϴ = = =
𝒚 𝒚𝒄 𝒚𝒑

Therefore , h = y sin ϴ

F = ∫ ρ g × y sinϴ × dA = ρ g sin ϴ ∫ y dA

But , ∫ y dA = A yc

Therefore , F = ρ g sin ϴ × A×yc

F = ρ g A hc ( 3.6 )

Force on the strip , dF = ρ g h dA

𝒉
Sin ϴ = 𝒚, h = y sin ϴ
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dF = ρ g y sinϴ dA
Moment of force ( dF ) about axis O – O ,

dF × y = ρ g y sin ϴ dA × y = ρ g sin ϴ y2 dA
Sum of moments of all such forces about O - O ,

M = ∫ ρ g sinϴ y2 dA = ρ g sinϴ ∫ y2 dA

But ∫ y2 dA = Io

Therefore , M = ρ g sinϴ Io (3.7)

Moment of the total force F , about O – O is given by : F × yp( 3.8)

Equating the two values given by equations (3.7 ) & (3.8)

F × yp = ρ g sinϴ Io
𝝆 𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 𝑰𝒐
yp = ( 3.9)
𝑭

𝒉𝒑 𝒉𝒑
But , sinϴ = , yp = , and F = ρ g A hc
𝒚𝒑 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽

And Io = IG + A 𝒚𝟐𝒄 , Substituting these values in eq.(3.9) , we get :

𝒉𝒑 𝝆 𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
= ( IG + A 𝒚𝟐𝒄 ) ( × sin ϴ )
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 𝝆 𝒈 𝑨𝒉𝒄

𝒉𝒄 𝒉𝒄
But , sinϴ = , yc =
𝒚𝒄 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽

𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽 𝒉𝟐𝒄
hp = ( IG + A )
𝑨𝒉𝒄 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽

𝑰𝑮 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽
hp = + 𝒉𝒄 ( 3.10)
𝑨 𝒉𝒄

If the ϴ = 900, equation (3.10) becomes same as equation ( 3.5) ( vertical plane
submerged) .

3.4 / Curved Surface Submerged in Liquid :

Consider a curved surface ( AB) , submerged in a static liquid as shown in
Fig.(3.3) . Let dA is the area of a small strip at a depth of ( h) from water surface.
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Fig.( 3.3)

Then pressure ( p ) = ρ g h

Force ( dF ) = p × area = ρ g h × dA ( 3.11) This force dF acts normal

to the surface , hence , total force on the curved surface should be:

F = ∫ ρ g h dA ( 3.12)
By resolving the force dF in two components dF , and dFx and dFy in the x
and y directions respectively . The total force in the x and y directions , i .e , Fx
and Fy are obtained by integrating dFx and dFy , Then total force on the curved
surface is :

F= 𝑭𝟐𝒙 + 𝑭𝟐𝒚 ( 3.13)

And inclination of resultant with horizontal is ,

𝑭𝒚
tan ϴ = (3.14)
𝑭𝒙

Resolving the force dF given by equation (3.11) in x and y directions :

dFx = dF sinϴ = ρ g h dA sinϴ

dFy = dF cos ϴ = ρ g h dA cos ϴ

Total forces in the x and y directions are :

Fx = ∫ dFx = ρ g ∫ h dA sinϴ ( 3.15 )

Fy = ∫ dFy = ρ g ∫ h dA cos ϴ ( 3.16 )

Fig.(3.3) b , shows the enlarged area dA , from this figure , i.e. , Δ EFG :

EF = dA , FG = dA sinϴ , EG = dA cosϴ
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Thus , in Eq.(3.15) , dA sinϴ = FG = Vertical projection of the area dA .

Therefore , Fx force on the projected area on the vertical plane .

Thus , in Eq.( 3.16) , dA cosϴ = EG = Horizontal projection of the area dA.

Therefore , ∫ h dA cosϴ is the total volume contained between the curved

surface , extended up to free surface .

Hence , ρ g ∫ h dA cosϴ is the total weight supported by the curved surface , thus
, Fy = ρ g ∫ hdA cos ϴ = Weight of liquid supported by the curved surface
up to free surface of liquid.