Forces on Fluid Boundaries

Forces on Fluid Boundaries

Whenever a fluid comes in contact with solid boundaries it exerts a force on it. Consider a rectangular vessel of base size l × b filled with water to a height H as shown in the fig.(12.26). The force acting at the base of the container is given by

Unlike the base, the pressure on the vertical wall of the vessel is not uniform but increases linearly with depth from the free surface. Therefore, we have to perform the integration to calculate the total force on the wall. Consider a small rectangular element of width b and thickness dh at a depth h from the free surface. The liquid pressure at this position is given by

p = ρgh

The force at the element is

dF = p(b dh) = ρgbh dh

The total force is F = ρgb

The total force acting per unit width of the vertical wall is

(12.23)

The point of application (the centre of force) of the total force from the free surface is given by

hc = (12.24)

where is the moment of force about the free surface.

Here

Since F = , therefore,

hc = 2/3H (12.25)

The net resultant force acts at a depth 2/3 H  from the free surface.

Example: 12.19

Solution

Consider a small element of thickness dy at a distance y measured along the wall from the free surface. The pressure at the position of the element is

p = ρgh = ρgysinθ

The force is given by

dF = p(b dy) = ρgb(y dy) sin θ

The total force per unit width b is given by

Note that the above formula reduces to for a vertical wall (θ = 90o)

Alternatively, the force on the inclined wall may be obtained in two parts viz. horizontal and vertical.

Fy = 1/2 ρgb(H)(H cot θ) = 1/2 ρgbH² cotθ

The magnitude of the resultant force is given by

F = 1/2 ρgbH2 cosec θ (12.27)

or F =