ADDIS ABABA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

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Layouts
Introduction
Pressure distribution in hydrostatics
 Pressure at a point
 Pressure Variation along depth
Hydrostatic forces on surfaces
Vertical plane surface submerged in liquid
Horizontal plane surface submerged in liquid
Inclined plane surface submerged in liquid
Curved plane surface submerged in liquid

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 Introduction
The science of fluid statics will be treated into parts:
 the study of pressure intensities and their
variation throughout a fluid
 the study of pressure forces on finite surfaces.
Objective
to show the pressure distribution at a point, its
variation along its depth and the pressure force on a
plane.
Methodology
 referring different books and related materials.
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 Pressure distribution in hydrostatics
 Introduction
 Hydrostatics deals with the study of fluids at
rest.

 Engineering applications of hydrostatics

principles include the study of forces acting on
submerged bodies such as dam faces, gates and
others.

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  Pressure at a point
The pressure intensity on a surface is expressed by
dF
the relation P= but the force should be applied
dA
normal to the surface.
 Pascal’s law
He states that the pressure at a point or intensity of
pressure at a point in a static fluid is equal in all
directions.
Consider a finite but small element of liquid at rest,
acted upon by the fluid around it.

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…….cont.

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 …….cont.
Force on face dydz = Px*dy*dz

Similarly Force on face dxdz = Py*dx*dz

Force on face dydx = Pz*dy*dx

Weight of the fluid element = γ*1/2*dx*dy*dz

Resolving the surface force (P) in x and y direction

 Surface force in x direction = P*dy*dz

Surface force in y direction = p*dx*dz

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 …….cont.
For equilibrium condition
The force in x direction is equal to zero
Px*dy*dz - P*dy*dz = 0
Px=P
The force in y direction is equal to zero
Py*dx*dz - p*dx*dz + γ *1/2*dx*dy*dz = 0
Py=P

 P=Pz=PX=Py

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 Pressure Variation along depth
 Consider an elementary cylindrical volume of fluid (
length L, and cross-sectional area dA) within the static
fluid mass.

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 …….cont.
For equilibrium of elementary volume
P*dA - 𝛾 dALsinθ – (P+dp)dA = 0, but Lsinθ = dh
P*dA - 𝛾 dAdh – PdA – dpdA = 0
dp = −γ dh
𝛾 is constant for incompressible fluids and integrate
‫ ׬‬dp = −γ ‫ ׬‬dh
p=-γh
 The above equation shows that pressure is
proportional to the depth below the free surface.

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 HYDROSTATIC FORCES ON SURFACES
 Introduction
The distributed hydrostatic forces resulting from the
action of fluid on a finite area can be conveniently
replaced by resultant force.

The determination of these forces is important in the

design of storage tanks, ships, dams, and other
hydraulic structures.

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 …….cont.

Total pressure and center of pressure

Total pressure is defined as the force exerted by a

static fluid on a surface either plane or curved
when the fluid comes in contact with the surfaces.
This force always acts normal to the surface.

Centre of pressure is defined as the point of

application of the total pressure on the surface.
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 …….cont.

There are four cases of submerged surfaces on which

the total pressure force and center of pressure is to be
determined.
1. Vertical plane surface,
2. Horizontal plane surface.
3. Inclined plane surface, and
4. Curved surface
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 Vertical plane surface submerged in
liquid
 Consider a plane vertical surface of arbitrary shape immersed in
a liquid as shown in Fig .

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 …….cont.
Total Pressure (F): The total pressure on the surface
may be determined by dividing the entire surface into
a number of small parallel strips.
Pressure intensity on the strip.
P=γz
Area of the strip.
dA = bxdz
Total pressure force on strip.
dF =p x Area=Pxdz
= ρgzxbxdz

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 …….cont.
 Total pressure force on the whole surface.
F= ‫ ׬‬dF = ‫ ׬‬ρgzxbxdz = ρg‫ ׬‬bx zx dz , but dA=bxdz
 Therefore ‫ ׬‬bx zx dz=‫ ׬‬zx dA
= Moment of surface area about the free
surface of liquid
= Area of surface x Distance of C.G from free
surface
=Axതz
F = ρgAതz

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 …….cont.
Centre of Pressure (z*): Centre 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.
Hence moment of the force F about free surface of the
liquid
=F x z*
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 …….cont.
Moment of force dF, acting on a strip about free
surface of liquid
= dF x z. ( i.e, dF = ρgz x b x dz )
= ρgzxbxdzx z
Sum of moments of all such forces about free surface
of liquid
= ‫ ׬‬ρgzxbxdzxz = ρg‫ ׬‬bx zxdzxz
=ρg‫ ׬‬bz 2 dz=ρg ‫ ׬‬z 2 dA
(i.e, b x dz=dA)
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 …….cont.
But ‫ ׬‬z 2 dA =‫ ׬‬bz 2 dz
= IO moment of inertia of the surface about free
surface of liquid
 Sum of moments about free surface
=ρgIO
Fx z* = ρgIO , but F = ρgAതz
ρgAതz x z* = ρgIo then solve for z*
ρgIo Io
z* = =
ρgAതz Aതz

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 …….cont.
Parallel axis theorem

 it state that “the moment of inertia of any given

surface about an axis parallel to the centroidal axis is
taken as the sum of moment of inertia about the
centroidal axis and the product of area and distance
square between the two axes.”

By the theorem of parallel axis; the moment of inertia

about PQ is given by; IPQ=IXX+Ah2
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 …….cont.
 By the theorem of parallel axis; the moment of inertia about
PQ is given by; IPQ=IXX+Ah2

 Therefore;
Io=IG + A x zത2
 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
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 …….cont.
Substituting IG in Equation we get
IG+A zത 2 IG
z* = = + zത……
Aതz Aതz

 it is clear that:
Centre of pressure (i .e, z*) lies below the center of
gravity of the vertical surface .
The distance of center of pressure from free surface of
liquid is independent of the density of the liquid
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 Horizontal plane surface submerged in
liquid
Consider a plane horizontal surface immersed in a
static fluid.

As every point of the surface is at the same depth

from the free surface of the liquid.

The pressure intensity will be equal on the entire

surface and equal to,
P=ρgz
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 …….cont.

 F = p x Area =ρgz x A =ρgAതz

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 Inclined plane surface submerged in
liquid
Consider a plane surface of arbitrary shape immersed
in liquid such a way that the plane of the surface
makes an angle θ with the free surface of the liquid.

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 …….cont.
Consider a small strip of area dA at a depth z from free
surface and at a distance y from the axis O-O.
 Pressure intensity on the strip,
p=ρgz
 Pressure force, dF on the strip,
dF =p x Area of strip = ρgz x dA
 Total pressure force on the whole area.
F = ‫ ׬‬dF= ‫ ׬‬ρgzdA
∴ F =ρgAതz

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 …….cont.
 Centre of Pressure (z*)
 Pressure force on the strip ,
dF = ρgzdA (z=ysinθ)
= ρgysinθ dA
 Moment of the force,dF, about axis o-o
=dF x y= ρgysinθ dA x y = ρgsinθ y2 dA
 Sum of moments of all such forces about 0-0
=‫ ׬‬ρgsinθy 2 dA= ρgsinθ ‫ ׬‬y 2 dA

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 …….cont.
 But , ‫ ׬‬y 2 dA = moment of inertia of the surface about
0-0 = IO
∴ Sum of moments of all forces about 0-0 =ρg sinθ Io
* ρg sinθ Io
Or y=
∗ F
z
 Now, *
y= , F=ρgAതz
sinθ
and Io by the theorem of parallel axis = IG + Aതy 2 , then

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 …….cont.
∗
z ρgsinθ
 = (IG + Aതy 2 )
sinθ ρgAതz
sin 2θ
∴ z*= (IG + Aതy 2 )
Aതz
zത zത
But ഥ
= sinθ or yത =
y sinθ
sin 2θ zത 2
∴ z*= (IG +A x )
Aതz sin2 θ
* IG sin2 θ
z= + zത
Aതz

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 Curved surface submerged in
liquid
 Consider a curved surface AB, sub-merged in a static
fluid as shown below.
 Let dA is the area of a small strip at a depth of z from
water surface.

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 …….cont.
Then pressure intensity on the area dA is
p = ρgz
 and pressure force,
dF = p x Area = ρgz xdA
 This force dF acts normal to the surface.
 Hence total pressure force on the curved surface
should be
F=‫ ׬‬ρgzdA

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 …….cont.
 But here as the direction of the forces on the small
areas are not in the same direction, but varies from
point to point.

 Hence integration for curved surface is impossible.

The problem can, however, be solved by resolving the

force dF in two components dFx and dFy, in the x and
y directions respectively.
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 …….cont.
 The total force in the x and y directions. i.e, Fx. and Fy
are obtained by integrating dFx And dFy.

 Then the total force on the curved surface is

F= Fx 2 + Fy 2

 dFX=dFsinθ = ρgzdAsinθ ( ∴ dF=ρgzdA)

And dFy=dFcosθ=ρgzdAcosθ

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 …….cont.
 Total force in the x and y directions are

Fx=‫ ׬‬dFx=‫ ׬‬ρgzdAsinθ = ρg ‫ ׬‬zdAsinθ

Fy=‫ ׬‬dFy=‫ ׬‬ρgzdAcosθ =ρg ‫ ׬‬zdAcosθ

The expression ρg ‫ ׬‬zdAsinθ represents the total

pressure force on the projected area of the curved
surface on the vertical plane.

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 …….cont.
Fx =total pressure force on the projected area of the
curved surface on vertical plane.
Also zdAcosθ is the volume of the liquid contained in
the elementary area dA up to free surface of the
liquid.

Thus ‫ ׬‬zdAcosθ is the total volume contained

between the curved surfaces extended up to free
surface.
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 …….cont.

The total volume contained between the curved

surfaces extended up to free surface.
 Hence, ρg ‫ ׬‬zdAcosθ is the total weight supported by
the curved surface. Thus
Fy= ρg ‫ ׬‬zdAcosθ
= weight of liquid supported by the curved
surface up to free surface of liquid.

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 Conclusion

 The principle of hydrostatics have a great importance

to determine the force acting on fluid element at

different point and also force acting on submerged
bodies such as dam faces, gates and others and the
analysis of stability of floating bodies.

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