Total Hydrostatic Force on Plane Surfaces

If the pressure over a plane area is uniform, as in the case of a horizontal surface submerged in a liquid or a
plane surface inside a gas chamber, the total hydrostatic force (or total pressure) is given by:

𝐹 = 𝑃𝐴

In the case of an inclined or vertical plane submerged in a liquid, the total pressure can be found by the following
formula:

Consider the plane surface shown inclined at an angle 𝜃 with the horizontal. To get the total force 𝐹, consider
a differential element of area 𝑑𝐴. Since this element is horizontal, the pressure is uniform over this area, then

𝑑𝐹 = 𝑃𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝐹 = 𝛾𝑦 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝐴

∫ 𝑑𝐹 = 𝛾 sin 𝜃 ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝐴

From Calculus, ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐴𝑦̅

𝐹 = 𝛾 sin 𝜃 (𝐴𝑦̅)

𝐹 = 𝛾(𝑦̅ sin 𝜃)𝐴

From the figure, 𝑦̅ sin 𝜃 = ℎ̅

̅𝑨
𝑭 = 𝜸𝒉

Problem 26. A vertical rectangular plane of height 𝑑 and base 𝑏 is submerged in a liquid with
its top edge at the liquid surface. Determine the total force 𝐹 acting on one side and its
location from the liquid surface.

Problem 27. A vertical triangular surface of height 𝑑 and horizontal base width 𝑏 is
submerged in a liquid with its vertex at the liquid surface. Determine the total force 𝐹 acting
on one side and its location from the liquid surface.
Problem 28. A vertical rectangular gate is 1.5 m wide and 3 m high is submerged in water
with its top edge 2 m below the water surface. Find the total pressure acting on one side of
the gate and its location from the bottom.

Problem 29. A vertical triangular gate with top base horizontal and 1.5 m wide 3 m high is
submerged in oil having 𝑠 = 0.82 with its top base submerged to a depth of 2 m. Determine
the magnitude and location of the total hydrostatic pressure acting on one side of the gate.

Problem 30. A vertical rectangular plate is submerged half in oil (𝑠 = 0.8) and half in water
that its top edge is flushed with the oil surface. What is the ratio of the force exerted by
water acting on the lower half to that by oil acting on the upper half?

Problem 31. A vertical circular gate in a tunnel 8 m in diameter has oil (𝑠 = 0.8) on one side
and air on the other side. If oil is 12 m above the invert and the air pressure is 40 kPa, where
will be a single support be located (above the invert of the tunnel) to hold the gate in
position?

Problem 32. A closed cylindrical tank 2 m in diameter and 8 m deep with axis vertical contains
6 m deep of oil (𝑠 = 0.82). The air above the liquid surface has a pressure of 0.8 kg/cm 2.
Determine the total normal force in kg active on the wall and its location from the bottom
of the tank.

Problem 33. The gate shown is 4-ft wide, hinged

at point B, and rests against a smooth wall at A.
Compute:

a. the force on the gate due to seawater

pressure
b. the force exerted by the wall at point
A.
c. the reaction at hinge B.

Problem 34. Determine the magnitude and location

of the total hydrostatic force acting on the 2 m x 4 m
gate shown in the figure.
Dams

Dams are structures that block the flow of a river, stream, or other waterway. Some dams divert the flow of
river water into a pipeline, canal or channel. Others raise the level of inland waterways to make them navigable
by ships and barges. Many dams harness the energy of falling water to generate electric power. Dams also hold
water for drinking and crop irrigation and provide flood control.

Purpose of a Dam

Dams are built for the following purposes:

1. Irrigation and drinking water

2. Power supply
3. Navigation
4. Flood control
5. Multipurposes

Problem 35. Calculate the width of concrete dam

that is necessary to prevent the dam from sliding.
The specific weight of the concrete is 150 lb/ft3, and
the coefficient of friction between the base of the
dam and the foundation is 0.42. Use 1.5 as factor of
safety against sliding. Will it also be safe against
overturning?

Problem 36. A dam is triangular in cross-section with the upstream face vertical. Water is
flushed with the top. The dam is 8 m high and 6 m wide at the base and weighs 2.4 tons/m3.
Determine:

a. The maximum and minimum unit pressure on the foundation

b. Factor of safety against overturning and against sliding.

Problem 37. A gravity dam of trapezoidal cross-section with one face vertical and horizontal
base is 22 m high and has a thickness of 4 m at the top. Water upstream stands 2 m below
the crest of the dam. The specific gravity of masonry is 2.4.

Condition 1: Neglecting hydrostatic uplift:

a. Find the base width of the dam so that the resultant force will cut the extreme
edge of the middle third near the toe.
b. Compute the factors of safety against sliding and overturning. Use 𝜇 = 0.5.

Condition 2: Considering uplift pressure to vary uniformly from full hydrostatic pressure at
the heel to zero at the toe:
a. Find the base width of the dam so that the resultant force will cut the extreme
edge of the middle third near the toe.
b. Compute the maximum and minimum compressive stresses acting against the
base of the dam.