Fluid mechanics calculating force needed to lift submerged disc

[Gman2013]

Homework Statement

The problem:

There is an illustration and the question is to find the force F to lift a concrete block gate if the the concrete weighs 160 lb/ft3. The block is 3' in diameter and 1' thick. It is in a tank of fresh water 15 ft down. the specific weight of the fresh water is 62.4 lb/ft3 and specific weight of the sea water on the other side is 64 lb/ft3

Knowns:
Specific weight fresh water:62.4 lbs/ft3
Specific weight salt water 64 lb/ft3
concrete: 160 lb/ft3, 3' diameterx1' thick

Homework Equations

equations I see:
wt=fb
F=F(water)-F(disc)

The Attempt at a Solution

Steps I see so far
1. Find area of the disc
2. calculate the Volume of the disc
3. Calculate weight of disc
4. Sum of forces acting on disc
-weight acting down
-Calculate force needed to act upward

-Does this use Bernoulli's equation?

 

[LawrenceC]

If the fluid is not moving you do not need to be concerned with Bernoulli's equation.

What about buoyancy? You did not mention it.

 

[Gman2013]

Looking at the problem again I did forget buoyant force so...
Weight=buoyant force when an object floats... Analysis of the system bernoullis eqations at three points
1. top of sea water
2. At concrete disc
3. surface of freshwater

Would I calculate the pressures at the points to figure the impact on the Concrete disc and then factor that force needed to lift the disc is F(seawater)+buoyant force.

 

[LawrenceC]

When the water is not flowing, there is no velocity so all you have is depth and pressures. You can think of Bernoulli's equation because two terms remain if you wish.

The buoyant force is the amount of force the liquid exerts on an object in the upward direction. It is created by pressure differences applied to the surface area of an object.

Do a force balance on the concrete. You have several forces to consider.

1. Its weight
2. Fresh water force
3. Salt water force
4. Force to dislodge it.

The sides don't matter because they are vertical so the pressure only causes forces perpendicular to the direction you are considering.