CEE 3310 Hydrostatics

2.6

Review

Compressible fluids Isothermal, adiabatic

The U.S. standard atmosphere is based on the concept of adiabatic conditions

( = ()) for the troposphere (0 < z < 11.0 km) and isothermal conditions
( = 0 ) for the stratosphere (11.0 < z < 20.1).

Pressure measurement absolute, relative to a vacuum; gage, relative to local atmosphere; vacuum/suction, the negative of gage.

2.7

Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

Note: The approach presented here is different than the approach presented
in the text but I feel it is more powerful and makes more sense!
Consider the force on a horizontal plate due to a fluid of depth H

We know that over the entire plate (with surfae area A) the pressure is constant (since
we do not change our z position) hence we can write FR = P A where FR is known as
the resultant force, as the net of the pressure acting on the plane surface is equivalent
to the resultant force applied at a particular location (which can be shown to be the
centroid of the area). Recall that for the case shown (a rectangular fish tank) P = h
FR = hA = = the weight of the fluid! Thus the pressure force on the bottom of
the tank is just the weight of the fluid which makes sense!
What about a surface inclined to the horizontal? Consider

We start with the differential form of our statement above about the force on an area,
namely:

dFR = P dA which we integrate to find FR =

P dA

In a hydrostatic fluid we expect no variation of P with position in the x direction but

we do expect P to vary as the depth changes (e.g., as we move in z).
If we consider a 2-D Cartesian coordinate system with its origin in the plane of our surface
(S), the y coordinate oriented vertically along the surface (e.g., maximally aligned with
gravity note we are now using y as the vertical coordinate along the surface and it is
in the direction of gravity, as opposed to z which is in the opposite direction of gravity,
and, in particular, is still truly vertical) and the x direction normal to the y direction on
the surface, we can write this
FR =

Z Z

P (x, y) dxdy

In stating the above all we have assumed is:

1. The fluid is hydrostatic (u = constant).
2. The surface S is planar.
Thus for flat surfaces in hydrostatic fluids the above is always true.
If we now allow ourselves one more assumption, namely:
3. The density over the surface S is constant.

(2.1)

CEE 3310 Hydrostatics

Then we may write
FR = PC A

(2.2)

Z Z

(2.3)

where
1
PC =
A

P (x, y) dxdy

hence PC is just the average pressure acting over the surface S which we see is mathematically the same as the pressure acting at the centroid of the surface S and A is the
area of the surface S. Thus our only restriction in applying equation 2.2 is that the fluid
must have a constant density wherever it contacts S. Setting equations 2.1 and 2.2 equal
yields equation 2.3 confirming that the pressure acting at the centroid (PC ) is equivalent
to the average pressure acting over the surface S.
Therefore the magnitude of the force depends on

PC the pressure acting at the centroid of the surface S.

A the area of the surface S.

Note the above is a bit different than most books present this material. If we make two
more assumptions

4. The column of fluid above the surface S is exposed to atmospheric pressure.

5. The density of the entire fluid, from the deepest part of the surface S all the way
to the free surface of the fluid, is constant.

Then we arrive at the form our book (and most books) present, namely
FR = sin

y dA

where is the angle between vertical and our surface S (e.g., = 0 for a vertical surface).
R
But from mechanics we recognize A1 A y dA as the first moment of the area A with respect

4
to the x axis which we will denote yc since this is the position along the y axis of the
centroid of the area. Hence we have
yc
FR

Z
1
y dA and hence
=
A A
= sin yc A but we can write hc = sin yc hence

FR = hc A
where hc is the depth of the centroid (e.g., now in a direction parallel to gravity).
But this assumes assumptions 4 and 5 are true! Examples of problems that
violate these assumptions will appear in the problem sets and Lab #2 so
proceed with caution if you like the books approach.

2.7.1

Where is the force located on the surface?

Why doesnt the resultant force just act at the centroid of the area?

O.K., lets rigorously determine where the force acts. Lets define our 2-D coordinate
system on the surface such that the origin is at the centroid of the surface S with y
directed positively downward (e.g., aligned maximally with gravity). We can define x by
the right-hand-rule where what would be the positive third axis points in the direction
of the surface normal (e.g., equal and opposite to FR ). Now, we define as the angle
between the vertical and the y axis (e.g., = 0 is a vertical surface).
The location that the force acts on the surface is known as the center of pressure and is

CEE 3310 Hydrostatics

denoted yR as it is the location that the resultant force, FR , acts on the surface.

Based on the definition of pressure, the force is clearly directed perpendicular to the
surface S, and from the fluid toward the surface.
Now, recalling from mechanics that the moment of the resultant force about any point
is equal to the sum of the moments of the component forces about the same point, we
can write
yR FR =

yP dA =

y(PC + y cos ) dA = PC

y dA + cos
A

y 2 dA

But the first term on the right-hand-side is just the first moment of A which occurs at
the centroid and hence in our coordinate system this is just = 0! Hence
yR FR = cos

y 2 dA

recalling that FR = PC A and solving for yR

cos
yR =
PC A

y 2 dA

The integral in the above expression is the second moment of the area with respect to the
x axis through the centroid (horizontal axis, or the line perpendicular to gravity through
the centroid of the surface S) and is denoted Ixc , hence we arrive at our final expression
for yR
yR =

Ixc cos
PC A

(2.4)

Ixc =

(2.5)

where
y 2 dA

We make two important findings based on this last equation:

1. The above is positive definite hence we find that yR is always positive which in our
coordinate system means that it always acts below the centroid (which is located
at y = 0 by definition.

6
2. As PC gets larger for a given surface S with area A, the value of yR gets smaller
indicating that the deeper we go the closer the center of pressure is to the centroid
of the surface S.

2.8

Review

Manometer

Pdown = Pup + |z|

Force on Plane Surfaces

In general FR =

RR

P (x, y) dxdy where the surface S has surface area A

and the coordinates x and y are on the surface (y increases downward in the
gravitational sense)
If the surface S is horizontal, P = a constant

FR = P A

If the surface S is in contact with a constant density layer of fluid FR = PC A

where PC is the pressure acting at the centroid of A

2.9

x-position of Center of Pressure

Now, we follow the same approach as previously used (taking the moments) to get xR ,
the x position of the center of pressure:
Z
Z
Z
Z
xR FR =
xP dA =
x(PC + y cos ) dA = PC
x dA + cos xy dA
A

But the first term on the right-hand-side is again just the first moment of A (with respect
to x this time) which occurs at the centroid (e.g., xC = 0 in our coordinate system) and
hence is zero! Therefore we have
xR FR = cos

xy dA

recalling that FR = PC A and solving for xR

cos
xR =
PC A

xy dA

(2.6)

CEE 3310 Hydrostatics

The integral in the above expression is known as the product of inertia (a mixed second
moment) of the area and is denoted Ixyc . Its values, along with Ixc can be found in
standard tables. It is essentially a measure of the asymmetry of the surface (surfaces
that are symmetric about either axis, which pass through the centroid by definition, will
have Ixyc = 0 . Our final expression for xR is

xR =

Ixyc cos
PC A

Since shapes of interest often obey symmetry about an axis through the centroid we will
often find that xR =0.
Summarizing our findings for the case when the density over the surface S is constant:

FR = PC A
Ixyc cos
xR =
PC A
Ixc cos
yR =
PC A

2.10

(2.7)
(2.8)
(2.9)

Pressure Prism

Consider the following example:

We can solve this directly by applying the analysis presented above (left as an exercise
for the student), however, for many situations (or just for many people who prefer to
think in a different manner!) a decomposition of the pressures into a series of pressure

8
prisms is often easier. Consider the decomposition such that
Fy R = F1 y1 + F2 y2

 


h2
h22
2h2
= (bh2 h1 ) h1 +
+ b
h1
2
2
3




h2
2h2
h2
+
h1 +
h1 h1 +
2
2
3
Therefore yR =
h2
h1 +
2

2h2
h2 h1 + 3
= h1 +

h2
2
h1 +

 2
4+4
= 4+3
= 7.43
4+3

2.11

Review

If the surface S is horizontal, P = a constant

FR = P A

Hydrostatic force on a plane surface

FR = PC A
Ixyc cos
xR =
PC A
Ixc cos
yR =
PC A

Pressure prism

break the force up into a part arising from the constant

pressure due to everything that happens to the point just above the surface and
the depth varying part over the surface.

Most easily applied to shapes with no lateral variation and constant density over
the surface.

CEE 3310 Hydrostatics

2.12

Hydrostatic Force on a Curved Surface

There are two approaches:

1. dFR = P dA non-planar hence the integration is hard!

2. Apply a static control volume

Fx = 0 = FAC FH FAC = FH

Fz = 0 = FAB W + FV FV = FAB + Q

Where is the center of pressure?

FH must be collinear (no shear) with FAC

FV must be collinear with the resultant of FAB + W

10
Example Oil Tanker

r
FH = FAC = PC A = hC A = (d )rb
2
Now assume we are interested in solving for a unit width (i.e., b = 1 m). Therefore
FH = 10

2.12.1

kN
1.5m
(24m
)(1.5m)(1m) = 349kN
3
m
2

Line of Action

How do we determine the line of action for the resultant force on a curved surface? We
could use the our moment of inertia based method reviewed above but lets use pressure
prisms here.

F1 = (d r)rb = 10 22.5 1.5 1 = 337.5kN

r
= 23.25m
2
1.5
r
1.5 1 = 11.25kN
F2 = rb = 10
2
2
r
y2 = d = 23.5m
3
y1 = d

Therefore
yAC FAC = F1 y1 + F2 y2 yAC =

337.5kN 23.25m + 11.25kN 23.5m

= 23.26m
348.75kN

11

CEE 3310 Hydrostatics

Similarly
FV = 355.3kN and xBC = 0.756m (x = 0 at the tankers vertical surface)

2.13

Buoyancy

FB =

(P1 P1 ) dAH =
body

(z2 z1 ) dAH = (body volume)

Therefore
FB = FV2 FV1 = Fluid weight above S2 fluid weight above S1
= weight of fluid occupying the volume of the body

2.13.1

Archimedes Principal

FB = Weight of fluid displaced by a body or a floating body displaces its own weight of
the fluid on which it floats.

2.13.2

Stability of Floating Bodies

The stability of a floating body depends on the location of the buoyancy force and the
weight of the body. They each exert a moment one is a righting moment (the tendency
to rotate the object to an upright position) while the other is an overturning moment

12
(the tendency to flip the body over).