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handout 2.4
HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON A PLANE SURFACE (EXAMPLE)
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Consider the rectangular gate AB (width: b; length: L) submerged in a fluid of density  .
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What is the resultant hydrostatic force FR acting on the gate?
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What is the location of the center of pressure?
CALCULATION OF THE RESULTANT PRESSURE FORCE
Step 1: Pressure distribution in the fluid (and selection of a coordinate system)
Step 2: Integration over the surface.
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CALCULATION OF THE CENTER OF PRESSURE COORDINATES
handout 2.4
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Step 1: Selection of an origin for the calculation of all moments.
Step 2: Moment exerted by the resultant pressure force FR
handout 2.4
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handout 2.4
Step 3: Moment resulting from all the moments produced by the infinitesimal forces dF , along
the surface of the gate.
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Step 4: Solve for lc by setting the equality M1  M2
handout 2.4