Calculating Fluid Force on a Circular Pressure Release Gate in a Dam

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the total fluid force acting on a circular pressure release gate located in a dam. The gate has a radius of 2 meters and is positioned 5 meters below the water surface in the reservoir. Participants are discussing the setup of the problem and the appropriate equations to use for the calculation.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are exploring different coordinate systems and the implications of using variables x and y interchangeably. There are discussions about the area of the gate slice and the integration process, including substitutions and limits of integration.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on integration techniques and questioning the setup of the problem. There is a recognition of the need to adjust limits of integration and consider the physical implications of pressure distribution across the gate.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the absence of a specified coordinate system in the problem statement, leading to varied interpretations. There are also references to symmetry arguments and the need to account for pressure differences across the gate's height.

Nyasha
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Homework Statement


A circular "pressure release gate" is located in the vertical face of a dam. The radius of the gate is 2 metres and the gate is positioned so that its top lies 5 metres below the surface of the water held in the reservoir behind the dam.Find the total fluid force acting on the door of the gate, when it is in a fully closed position.


Homework Equations


Area= 2\sqrt{4-x^2} dy

Pressure = pg(5+x)

The Attempt at a Solution


F= pg∫ 2\sqrt{4-x^2} (5+x) dy
 
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Nyasha said:
F= pg∫ 2\sqrt{4-x^2} (5+x) dy

Hi Nyasha! :smile:

(have a square-root: √ and a rho: ρ :wink:)

almost right :smile:, but the area of the slice is 2√(4 - y2) dy, at depth 5+y :wink:
 
I don't see your point, tiny-tim. There is no coordinate system given with the problem. It perfectly legitimate to set up a coordinate system in which x is vertical.

pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- x^2}(5+x)dx is exactly the same as pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- y^2}(5+y)dy
 
HallsofIvy said:
I don't see your point, tiny-tim. There is no coordinate system given with the problem. It perfectly legitimate to set up a coordinate system in which x is vertical.

pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- x^2}(5+x)dx is exactly the same as pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- y^2}(5+y)dy

erm … the point is you can't use x and y at the same time! :wink:

(i assume that's why Nyasha was puzzled about how to integrate)
 
HallsofIvy said:
I don't see your point, tiny-tim. There is no coordinate system given with the problem. It perfectly legitimate to set up a coordinate system in which x is vertical.

pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- x^2}(5+x)dx is exactly the same as pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- y^2}(5+y)dy

If my integration is correct then how do l further simplify this integration using the area of a disk of radius "R" where x=Rsinθ and dx=Rcosθ and a simple symmetry argument
 
Nyasha said:
If my integration is correct then how do l further simplify this integration using the area of a disk of radius "R" where x=Rsinθ and dx=Rcosθ and a simple symmetry argument

Make the substitution and see!

What do you get? :smile:
 
tiny-tim said:
Make the substitution and see!

What do you get? :smile:

I get :


<br /> pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- R^2sin\theta^2}(5+Rsin\theta)Rcosd\theta<br />


From here l don't know how to further simplify this
 
Nyasha said:
<br /> pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- R^2sin\theta^2}(5+Rsin\theta)Rcosd\theta<br />

… and now put R = 2 … :rolleyes:

(oh, and you haven't substituted the limits)
 
tiny-tim said:
… and now put R = 2 … :rolleyes:

(oh, and you haven't substituted the limits)


<br /> <br /> pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- 4sin\theta^2}(5+2sin\theta)2cosd\theta<br /> <br />


I am not supposed to multiple this integral by two using the symmetry argument
 
  • #10
Nyasha said:
<br /> <br /> pg\int_0^2 2\sqrt{4- 4sin\theta^2}(5+2sin\theta)2cosd\theta<br /> <br />


I am not supposed to multiple this integral by two using the symmetry argument

Nyasha, you still haven't changed the limits of integration …

and what is √(4 - 4sin2θ) ?
 
  • #11
tiny-tim said:
Nyasha, you still haven't changed the limits of integration …

and what is √(4 - 4sin2θ) ?


<br /> <br /> <br /> pg\int_0^4 2\sqrt{4- 4sin\theta^2}(5+2sin\theta)2cosd\theta<br /> <br /> <br />


What am l supposed to do with √(4 - 4sin2θ) ? I'm l supposed to use some trig identity
 
  • #12
If x = 2sinθ, and x goes from 0 to 2, what does θ go from?

And you must learn your trignonometric identities … what is 1 - sin2θ?
 
  • #13
tiny-tim said:
If x = 2sinθ, and x goes from 0 to 2, what does θ go from?

And you must learn your trignonometric identities … what is 1 - sin2θ?


<br /> <br /> <br /> pg\int_0^2 {4\cos\theta}(5+2sin\theta)2cosd\theta<br /> <br /> <br />


The limit of the integral is from 0 to π/2. I don't know how to put it into the integral using Latex source code.


<br /> <br /> pg\int_0^2 ({20\cos\theta +8\cos\theta\sin\theta})2cosd\theta<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Is 8\cos\theta\sin\theta} = sin(8\theta) ?<br />
 
  • #14
nyasha1 said:
<br /> <br /> <br /> pg\int_0^2 {4\cos\theta}(5+2sin\theta)2cosd\theta<br /> <br /> <br />


The limit of the integral is from 0 to π/2. I don't know how to put it into the integral using Latex source code.


<br /> <br /> pg\int_0^2 ({20\cos\theta +8\cos\theta\sin\theta})2cosd\theta<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Is 8\cos\theta\sin\theta} = sin(8\theta) ?<br />

Hi nyasha! :smile:

(you can put π/2 into the integral with ^{\pi /2} :wink:)

You don't like undoing those brackets, do you? :rolleyes:

It's a combination of cos2θ and cos2θsinθ.

No, sin2θ = 2sinθcosθ, but it doesn't work for sin8θ.

btw, going back to the original integral, it would have been simpler to just integrate x√(4 - x2) and √(4 - x2) separately, without substituting …

and shouldn't the limits have been -2 to +2? :smile:
 
  • #15
tiny-tim said:
Hi nyasha! :smile:

(you can put π/2 into the integral with ^{\pi /2} :wink:)

You don't like undoing those brackets, do you? :rolleyes:

It's a combination of cos2θ and cos2θsinθ.

No, sin2θ = 2sinθcosθ, but it doesn't work for sin8θ.

btw, going back to the original integral, it would have been simpler to just integrate x√(4 - x2) and √(4 - x2) separately, without substituting …

and shouldn't the limits have been -2 to +2? :smile:


If we integrate x√(4 - x2) and √(4 - x2) separately then do we need x=Rsinθ. The question says in order to evaluate the integral l will need the use the formula of disk of radius "R" where x=Rsinθ.

How did you get your limits to be -2 to +2 ?

pg\int_0^{\pi /2} {4\cos\theta}(5+2sin\theta)2cosd\theta<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Is this integral correct ?
 
Last edited:
  • #16
FluidForce.jpg


According to the solutions manual when l evaluate one of my integrals l should get zero. What am l doing wrong on this question ? Please help.
 
  • #17
Hi Nyasha! :smile:

Your integral (from 0 to 2) is only over the top half of the gate …

you need to integrate from -2 to 2.
 
  • #18
tiny-tim said:
Hi Nyasha! :smile:

Your integral (from 0 to 2) is only over the top half of the gate …

you need to integrate from -2 to 2.


I used the symmetry argument so that l could integrate from 0 to 2 and then multiply it by two. Is that correct ?
 
  • #19
Well, it would be … if it wasn't for the (5 + y).

(in physical terms: the pressure on the bottom half of the gate is obviously more than on the top half)
 
  • #20
tiny-tim said:
Well, it would be … if it wasn't for the (5 + y).

(in physical terms: the pressure on the bottom half of the gate is obviously more than on the top half)


Thanks very much tiny-tim it now makes perfect sense.
 

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