Hydrostatic force
- Pressure at depth
- p = ρgh
- Force on a vertical wall
- F = ρg·hc·A
- Centre of pressure
- yp = yc + Ic/(ycA)
- Rectangle
- Ic = bH³/12
Hydraulic Engineering: cram pack
Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 10 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.
1Formulas and methods
Continuity & Bernoulli
- Continuity
- A1v1 = A2v2
- Bernoulli
- p1 + ½ρv1² + ρgz1 = p2 + ½ρv2² + ρgz2
- Flow rate
- Q = A·v
- Circle area
- A = πd²/4
Pipe friction & head loss
- Reynolds number
- Re = V·D/ν = ρ·V·D/μ
- Flow regime
- laminar below Re ≈ 2000, turbulent above Re ≈ 4000
- Mean velocity
- V = Q/A, A = π·D²/4
- Darcy–Weisbach
- hf = f·(L/D)·V²/(2g)
- Minor losses
- hm = ΣK·V²/(2g)
- Typical K values
- entrance 0.5, exit 1.0, 90° bend ≈ 0.3
- Pressure drop
- Δp = ρ·g·hf
- Two open reservoirs
- Δz = (f·L/D + ΣK)·V²/(2g)
- Free outlet
- H = (1 + f·L/D + ΣK)·V²/(2g)
Pumps & pump power
- Hydraulic power
- Ph = ρ·g·Q·H = Q·Δp
- Shaft power
- Pshaft = Ph/ηpump
- Electrical power
- Pel = Pshaft/ηmotor
- Pump head
- H = Δz + Δp/(ρ·g) + hL
- System losses
- hL = (f·L/D + ΣK)·V²/(2g)
Open-channel flow (Manning)
- Manning equation
- V = (1/n)·R2/3·S1/2
- Flow rate
- Q = A·V
- Hydraulic radius
- R = A/P (P = wetted perimeter, free surface excluded)
- Rectangle
- A = b·y, P = b + 2y
- Trapezoid (side slope z:1)
- A = (b + z·y)·y, P = b + 2y·√(1 + z²)
- Circular pipe, full or half full
- R = D/4
- Required slope
- S = (n·Q/(A·R2/3))²
2Practice problems
1.Hydrostatic forceMedium
A vertical rectangular gate 1.5 m wide sits in the wall of a tank of water, with its top edge 1.5 m below the surface. Find the resultant hydrostatic force F on the gate.
d = 1.5 mH = 3 mb = 1.5 mρ = 1000 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
F = kN
2.Hydrostatic forceHard
A vertical rectangular gate 1 m wide sits in the wall of a tank of water, with its top edge 2.5 m below the surface. Find the resultant hydrostatic force F on the gate.
d = 2.5 mH = 1.5 mb = 1 mρ = 1000 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
F = kN
3.Continuity & BernoulliMedium
Water flows through a horizontal venturi meter with an inlet diameter of 300 mm and a throat diameter of 150 mm. The pressure at the inlet is 11 kPa higher than at the throat. Ignoring losses, find the flow rate Q.
d1 = 300 mmd2 = 150 mmp1 − p2 = 11 kPaρ = 1000 kg/m³
Q = L/s
4.Continuity & BernoulliHard
A hose with an inner diameter of 32 mm siphons water from an open tank. The highest point C of the hose is 0.5 m above the water surface, and the outlet (open to the air) is 1 m below the water surface. Ignore losses and take g = 9.81 m/s². Find the flow rate Q.
d = 32 mmzC = +0.5 mz2 = −1 mg = 9.81 m/s²
Q = L/s
5.Pipe friction & head lossMedium
Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 3 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 200 m long, with an inside diameter of 200 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.028 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the pressure drop Δp over the pipe in kPa.
V = 3 m/sL = 200 mD = 200 mmf = 0.028ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
6.Pipe friction & head lossHard
Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 100 m long with an inside diameter of 100 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.018. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 2 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 0.2) and the exit into the lower reservoir (K = 1.0). Use g = 9.81 m/s². What difference in water level Δz between the reservoirs gives a flow rate of 8 L/s?
Q = 8 L/sL = 100 mD = 100 mmf = 0.018Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 0.2Kexit = 1.0
Δz = m
7.Pumps & pump powerMedium
A pump delivers 80 L/s of water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) against a head of 34 m. The pump efficiency is 65% and the electric motor driving it has an efficiency of 94%. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the electrical power Pel the motor draws, in kW.
Q = 80 L/sH = 34 mηpump = 65%ηmotor = 94%g = 9.81 m/s²
Pel = kW
8.Pumps & pump powerHard
A pump moves 75 L/s of water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) from an open lower reservoir to an upper tank whose water surface is 26 m higher. The pipe is 400 m long with an inside diameter of 200 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.018; the minor-loss coefficients add up to ΣK = 8 (entrance and exit included). Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the head H the pump must add.
Q = 75 L/sΔz = 26 mL = 400 mD = 200 mmf = 0.018ΣK = 8
H = m
9.Open-channel flow (Manning)Medium
A rectangular brickwork channel is 6 m wide. Water flows uniformly 1.1 m deep. Manning n = 0.015 and the bed slope is S = 0.0005. Find the flow rate Q in m³/s.
b = 6 my = 1.1 mn = 0.015S = 0.0005
Q = m³/s
10.Open-channel flow (Manning)Hard
A trapezoidal finished concrete channel with a bottom width of 5 m and side slopes of 1.5:1 (horizontal:vertical) must carry 47 m³/s in uniform flow at a depth of 1.6 m. Manning n = 0.012. Find the required bed slope S (in m/m).
Q = 47 m³/sb = 5 my = 1.6 mz = 1.5n = 0.012
S = m/m
3Solutions
1.Hydrostatic force
Answer: F = 132.4 kN
Hydrostatic force on a plane surface: F = ρ·g·yc·A. It acts at the centre of pressure, ycp = yc + Ic/(ycA), which always lies below the centroid.
Centroid depth and area
yc = d + H/2 = 1.5 + 3/2 = 3 m
A = H·b = 3·1.5 = 4.5 m²
Resultant force
F = ρ·g·yc·A = 1000·9.81·3·4.5 = 132.4 kN
Answer
F = 132.4 kN
2.Hydrostatic force
Answer: F = 47.82 kN
Hydrostatic force on a plane surface: F = ρ·g·yc·A. It acts at the centre of pressure, ycp = yc + Ic/(ycA), which always lies below the centroid.
Centroid depth and area
yc = d + H/2 = 2.5 + 1.5/2 = 3.25 m
A = H·b = 1.5·1 = 1.5 m²
Resultant force
F = ρ·g·yc·A = 1000·9.81·3.25·1.5 = 47.82 kN
Answer
F = 47.82 kN
3.Continuity & Bernoulli
Answer: Q = 85.6 L/s
Continuity and Bernoulli: for an incompressible fluid the flow rate is the same at every section, Q = A₁v₁ = A₂v₂. Along a streamline without losses, p + ½ρv² + ρgz is constant, so where the fluid is faster or higher its pressure is lower.
Continuity
v1 = v2·(150/300)² = 0.25·v2
Bernoulli between inlet and throat
The pipe is horizontal, so only pressure and velocity change.
p1 − p2 = ½ρv2²(1 − β⁴)
v2 = √(2·11000/(1000·(1 − 0.0625))) = 4.844 m/s
v1 = 1.211 m/s
Flow rate
Q = A2·v2 = 0.01767·4.844 = 0.0856 m³/s = 85.6 L/s
Answer
Q = 85.6 L/s
4.Continuity & Bernoulli
Answer: Q = 3.562 L/s
Continuity and Bernoulli: for an incompressible fluid the flow rate is the same at every section, Q = A₁v₁ = A₂v₂. Along a streamline without losses, p + ½ρv² + ρgz is constant, so where the fluid is faster or higher its pressure is lower.
Velocity in the hose
Surface and outlet are both open to the air, so the pressure terms cancel.
v = √(2g·1) = √(2·9.81·1) = 4.429 m/s
Flow rate
Q = A·v = 0.0008042·4.429 = 0.003562 m³/s = 3.562 L/s
Answer
Q = 3.562 L/s
5.Pipe friction & head loss
Answer: Δp = 126 kPa
Pipe flow: the Reynolds number Re = V·D/ν = ρ·V·D/μ tells laminar flow (Re below about 2000) from turbulent flow (above about 4000). Friction along a pipe costs the Darcy–Weisbach head loss hf = f·(L/D)·V²/(2g). Fittings, valves, the entrance and the exit add minor losses hm = ΣK·V²/(2g). Between two open reservoir surfaces the energy equation gives Δz = hf + hm, with the exit loss K = 1 included.
Head loss
hf = f·(L/D)·V²/(2g) = 0.028·(200/0.2)·3²/(2·9.81) = 12.84 m
Pressure drop
The pipe is horizontal and the velocity does not change, so the energy equation reduces to Δp = ρ·g·hf.
Δp = ρ·g·hf = 1000·9.81·12.84 = 126000 Pa = 126 kPa
Answer
Δp = 126 kPa
6.Pipe friction & head loss
Answer: Δz = 1.073 m
Pipe flow: the Reynolds number Re = V·D/ν = ρ·V·D/μ tells laminar flow (Re below about 2000) from turbulent flow (above about 4000). Friction along a pipe costs the Darcy–Weisbach head loss hf = f·(L/D)·V²/(2g). Fittings, valves, the entrance and the exit add minor losses hm = ΣK·V²/(2g). Between two open reservoir surfaces the energy equation gives Δz = hf + hm, with the exit loss K = 1 included.
Velocity
V = Q/A = 0.008/0.007854 = 1.019 m/s
V²/(2g) = 0.05288 m
Loss coefficients
f·L/D = 0.018·100/0.1 = 18
ΣK = 0.5 + 2·0.3 + 0.2 + 1.0 = 2.3
Total head loss
hf = 18·0.05288 = 0.9519 m
hm = 2.3·0.05288 = 0.1216 m
Δz = hf + hm = 1.073 m
Answer
Δz = 1.073 m
7.Pumps & pump power
Answer: Pel = 43.67 kW
Pump power: the power given to the water is the hydraulic power Ph = ρ·g·Q·H = Q·Δp. The shaft must deliver more because the pump loses some: Pshaft = Ph/ηpump, and the motor draws Pel = Pshaft/ηmotor. The pump head H follows from the energy equation: static lift + pressure head + all friction and minor losses.
Hydraulic power
Ph = ρ·g·Q·H = 1000·9.81·0.08·34 = 26.68 kW
Shaft power
Pshaft = 26.68/0.65 = 41.05 kW
Electrical power
Pel = 41.05/0.94 = 43.67 kW
Answer
Pel = 43.67 kW
8.Pumps & pump power
Answer: H = 38.78 m
Pump power: the power given to the water is the hydraulic power Ph = ρ·g·Q·H = Q·Δp. The shaft must deliver more because the pump loses some: Pshaft = Ph/ηpump, and the motor draws Pel = Pshaft/ηmotor. The pump head H follows from the energy equation: static lift + pressure head + all friction and minor losses.
Velocity
V = Q/A = 0.075/0.03142 = 2.387 m/s
V²/(2g) = 0.2905 m
Head losses
hL = (f·L/D + ΣK)·V²/(2g) = (36 + 8)·0.2905 = 12.78 m
Pump head
Both surfaces are open and practically at rest, so pressure and velocity terms drop out.
H = Δz + hL = 26 + 12.78 = 38.78 m
Answer
H = 38.78 m
9.Open-channel flow (Manning)
Answer: Q = 8.513 m³/s
Manning’s equation (SI): for uniform flow in an open channel V = (1/n)·R2/3·S1/2 and Q = A·V, with n the roughness coefficient, S the bed slope (m/m) and R = A/P the hydraulic radius: flow area divided by wetted perimeter. Only the boundary in contact with the water counts in P, not the free surface. Rectangle: A = b·y, P = b + 2y. Trapezoid with side slopes z:1 (horizontal:vertical): A = (b + z·y)·y, P = b + 2y·√(1 + z²). A circular pipe flowing full or half full has R = D/4.
Geometry
A = b·y = 6·1.1 = 6.6 m²
P = b + 2y = 6 + 2·1.1 = 8.2 m
R = A/P = 0.8049 m
Velocity
V = (1/0.015)·0.80492/3·0.00051/2 = 1.29 m/s
Flow rate
Q = A·V = 6.6·1.29 = 8.513 m³/s
Answer
Q = 8.513 m³/s
10.Open-channel flow (Manning)
Answer: S = 0.002 m/m
Manning’s equation (SI): for uniform flow in an open channel V = (1/n)·R2/3·S1/2 and Q = A·V, with n the roughness coefficient, S the bed slope (m/m) and R = A/P the hydraulic radius: flow area divided by wetted perimeter. Only the boundary in contact with the water counts in P, not the free surface. Rectangle: A = b·y, P = b + 2y. Trapezoid with side slopes z:1 (horizontal:vertical): A = (b + z·y)·y, P = b + 2y·√(1 + z²). A circular pipe flowing full or half full has R = D/4.
Geometry
A = (b + z·y)·y = (5 + 1.5·1.6)·1.6 = 11.84 m²
P = b + 2y·√(1 + z²) = 5 + 2·1.6·√(1 + 1.5²) = 10.77 m
R = A/P = 1.099 m
Solve Manning for S
S1/2 = n·Q/(A·R2/3) = 0.012·47/(11.84·1.065) = 0.04472
S = 0.04472² = 0.002
Answer
S = 0.002
That is a fall of 2 m per kilometre.
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