School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering

THERMODYNAMICS & FLUID MECHANICS I (MM1TF1)

EXERCISE SHEET 3
Inclined submerged surfaces

1.7m

3.1 Figure Q3.1 shows an inclined gate in the side of a tank containing oil of
density 800 kg/m3. The gate is 60cm wide and 80 cm long. What is the
force on the gate and its line of action?

0.8 m
38
Figure Q3.1
[ 7331.7 N acts perpendicular to gate at 1.96m below the surface]

3.2 Gate AB in Figure Q3.2 is 1.2 m long and 0.8 m into the paper.
Neglecting atmospheric pressure, compute the force F on the gate and the
location of the centre of pressure.

8m

4m

6m

1.2 m

A
1m

B
F
40
Figure Q3.2
[ 47.35 kN, 5.03m below the surface (0.62 m along the gate from A)]

University of Nottingham, Malaysia campus

3.3
The submerged trapezoidal face of a dam wall slopes at 60 to the
horizontal. It is 180 m long at its base and 300 m long at the water line
when the water is 30 m deep. Find:
a) the net force on the wall and
b) the depth of the centre of pressure.
[ a) 1.12 GN b) 19.1 m]

3.4 A rectangular plate is attached to a shaft along its centreline to form a

butterfly valve as shown. The valve is located in a 2 m square duct. Find:
a) the net hydrostatic force on the plate;
b) the moment of that force about the shaft axis;
c) the torque required to start to open the valve

water
2m

3m

shaft

60
Figure Q3.4
[ a) 90.6 kN, b) 17.7 kN (anticlockwise), c) 17.7 kN (clockwise)]

University of Nottingham, Malaysia campus