Hydrostatic Force
Tutorial
MOD002281
www.aru.ac.uk
Question 1
A lock on a canal is sealed by a gate that is 3.0 m wide. The gate is perpendicular to the sides of the lock. When the
lock is used there is water on one side of the gate to a depth of 3.5 m and 2.0 m on the other side.
1. what is the hydrostatic force of the two sides of the date?
2. at what height from the bed do the two forces act?
3. what is the magnitude of the overall resultant hydrostatic force on the gate and wat what height does it act?
2
Solution
Wetted area = A2 – right hand side view
Wetted area=A1 - left hand side view
F1 = Hydrostatic Force on the left-hand side F2 = Hydrostatic Force on the right-hand side
A1 = 3.5×3=10.5 m2 A2 = 2 × 3 = 6 m2
hG1 = 3.5 / 2 = 1.75 m hG2 = 2/2 = 1.0 m
a) F1, F2?
• 𝐹1 = 𝜌. 𝑔. ℎ𝐺1 . 𝐴1
F1 = 1000×9.81×1.75×10.5=180,259 N (convert to KN) = 180,259/1000=180.26 KN
•𝐹2 = 𝜌. 𝑔. ℎ𝐺2 . 𝐴2
F2 = 1000×9.81×1.0×6=58,860 N (convert to KN) = 58,860/1000=58.86 KN
b) Y1 and Y2 ?
You can calculate this in two ways:
• Method 1
In triangular shape pressure intensity diagrams, hP is located 1/3 from the bottom and / or 2/3 from
the top (i.e., surface of the water). In this example Y1 and Y2 have been used to denote hP.
Y1 = 1/3 × 3.5 = 1.17 m Y2 = 1/3 × 2 = 0.67 m
• Method 2
𝐼
You can calculate hP1 and hP2 and then work out Y1 and Y2. ℎ𝑃 = 𝐴.ℎ𝐺 + ℎ𝐺
𝐺
Left hand side:
𝐼𝐺1
• ℎ𝑃1 = 𝐴 .ℎ + ℎ𝐺1
1 𝐺1
• 1
𝐼𝐺1 = 12 𝑏. ℎ3 b=3; h=3.5 IG1 = 1/12 ×3×3.53 = 10.72 m4
10.72
ℎ𝑃1 = 10.5×1.75 + 1.75=2.33 m
• Y1=3.5-hP1 = 1.17 m Y2=2.0 – hP2 = 0.67 m
• FR = F1-F2
3
FR = 180.26 ×103 – 58.86 ×103 = 121.46 ×103 N = 121.46 kN
Taking Moment about O
• FR × YR = F1 × Y1 – F2 × Y2
121.46 × 103 × YR = 180.26 ×103 × 1.17-58.86×103×0.67
YR = 1.41 m
4
Question 2
The rigid gate OAB is hinged at O and rests against a rigid support at B. What minimum horizontal force, P, is
required to hold the gate closed if its width is 3.00 m? Neglect the weight of the gate and friction in the hinge. The
back of the gate is exposed to the atmosphere.
5
Solution
Fig1 -1 Fig1 -2 Fig1 -3
A=wetted area =4×3=12 m2 hG=3+4/2=5 m
• Horizontal Force = F1 (Hydrostatic Force)
o 𝐹1 = 𝜌. 𝑔. ℎ𝐺 . 𝐴 Equation 1
o 𝐹1 = 1000 × 9.81 × 5 × 12 = 𝟓. 𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑵
• Vertical Force = F2 (weight of the column of water above the gate=W) – For Volume (see Fig 1.3)
o F2 = W= ρ.g.Volume Equation 2
o F2 = W= 1000 × 9.81× (2×(3+4)×3) = 4.12×105 N
𝐼
o ℎ𝑃 = 𝐴.ℎ𝐺 + ℎ𝐺 Equation 3
𝐺
1
o 𝐼𝐺 = 12 𝑏. ℎ3 (you can find the equation in the information sheet or any Hydraulics book) Equation 4
b=3 m; h = 4 m (see Fig 1.2)
1
• 𝐼𝐺 = 12 × 3 × 43 = 16 𝑚4
16
Use Equation 3 ℎ𝑃 = 12×5 + 5 = 𝟓. 𝟐𝟔𝟕 𝒎
In order to find P, you can calculate Momentum about point O.
6
∑ 𝑀𝑂 = 0 Equation 5
To do this, you first need a sign convention for moment.
• Moment of F1 about O = M1 (M1 is positive according to the sign convention)
M1 = F1×(hP-3) = 5.88×105×(5.267-3)=13.33×105 N.m
• Moment of F2 about O = M2 (M2 is positive according to the sign convention)
2
M2 = F2 × = 4.12×105×1=4.12×105 N.m
2
• Moment of P about O = MP (MP is negative according to the sign convention)
MP=P×4
∑ 𝑀𝑂 = 0 M1+M2= P×4 13.33×105 + 4.12×105 = P×4
P=(13.33+4.12) ×105/4 P=4.36×105 N to convert to ‘KN’
P=4.36×105 /1000 = 436 KN
7
Question 3
A 4.0 m long curved gate is located in the side of a reservoir containing water as shown in the figure. Determine
the magnitude of the horizontal and vertical components of the force of the water on the gate. Will this force pass
through point A?
8
Solution
Find all the forces acting on the gate and then draw a free-body diagram (the forces already annotated
on the picture). The free-body diagram looks like the one in the lecture notes.
The wetted area (A1) is rectangular.
• hG1 = (9-3)+3/2 = 7.5 m (depth of centroid) A1 = 3 × 4=12 m2
• FH=F1 F1=ρ.g.hG1.A1
F1 = 1000×9.81×7.5×12 = 882000 N = 882 kN
The vertical force can be calculated in two ways:
1. the method explained for a similar example in the lecture notes (the weight of the volume of water above
the gate); OR
2. The following method
• FV = F 2 + W F2=ρ.g.hG2.A2
hG2 = 9-3 = 6.0 m (depth of centroid) A2 = 3 × 4=12 m2
F2 = 1000×9.81×6.0×12 = 705600 N = 705.6 kN
• W = ρ.g. (Volume of the quarter of a circle = area × the width of the gate)
W = 1000×9.81× (1/4 × π × 32) × 4 = 276900 N = 276.9 kN
FH = 882 kN FV = 982.5 k N
FR = (8822+982.52)1/2 = 1320.31 N
Ø = tan -1 (982.5/882) Ø ≈ 48o
9
Question 4
Gate AB is a quarter -circle with a radius R=8.0m and w=10.0m wide. The gate is hinged at B. The fluid is water,
ɣ=9790 N/m3. Calculate:
a) The horizontal and vertical hydrostatic forces on gate AB (magnitude and direction).
b) The vertical force FA needed to keep the gate from opening. Neglect the weights of the gate.
ref: Prof David Naylor
10
Solution:
Pressure Intensity Diagram Free Body Diagram (water & gate)
a)
• Horizontal Force
• Vertical Force
b) Vertical Force FA
11
X1
y1
FA (8.0m) – FH (y1) – FV(x1)=0
Let’s first work out y1: y1 = 8.0 - hp (Eq. 2)
For AC:
IG
426.7 𝑚4
ℎ𝑃 = (8×10)×4 + 4 = 5.333 𝑚 and this is 1.333 m below centroid
Eq. 2 y1 = 8.0 - hp = 8.0-5.333=2.667 m
Now we work out x1:
We use Free Body Diagram for Water
X1
Fv X1 = 0 X1 =
Note: moments of FH cancel out.
X1 =
12
FA (8.0m) – FH (y1) – FV(x1)=0
Alternate Method for FV
Note: WBDA is a hypothetical section that can be utilised for calculating FV. However, to determine FA it is
necessary to determine its centroid, as this step is crucial for calculating the moment about the hinge.
13
Question 5
Calculate the total hydrostatic force on the curved gate AB per meter depth (into the page). The gate has a radius
of R=6.0m.
ref: Prof David Naylor
14
Solution
Free Body Diagram
Alternate Method for FV
Fv=WACB
WACB=ɣ×AACB× 1.0m
WACB=9800×(1/4 .π.62) × 1.0m ≈277 kN
15
Question 6
Water (ρ=998 kg/m3) is contained behind a rigid L-shaped gate (ABC). The gate has a depth of 0.5 m (into the
page). The gate rotates about a hinge at point A. Neglect the weight of the gate.
a) Draw a fully-labelled free body diagram of the gate.
b) Calculate the minimum vertical force (FB) applied at point B required to keep the gate from opening.
ref: Prof David Naylor
16
Solution
Min FB means FC=0
17
18
