Lab 2

Forces on a Sluice Gate

Prepared For:
Qi Shen
ME 380L, Section 1002
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Prepared By:
Raymond Lopez, Mail Box #24

Date Performed:
February 19, 2016

Due Date:
March 4, 2016

Introduction

This lab employs a fluid flow in a control volume to generate force on a sluice
gate. This force acting on the gate is found using several methods: the hydrostatic
pressure method, actual pressure method, and applying the momentum equation.
The fluid flow is controlled at a steady height when the sluice gate is closed, raised
0.5, and raised 0.75. The readings in the manometer tubes correspond to the
pressure distribution along the sluice gate, or the piezometric head at certain points
of the gate. From these readings, the pressure at these points can be found, which
can, in turn, find the forces acting on the sluice gate. This sluice gate lab simulates
fluid discharge from a reservoir, and the data retrieved is a good representation of
large scale sluice gates at water treatment plants.

Theory
Hydrostatic Pressure Method: the forces acting on the gate are assumed to be
at a hydrostatic pressure distribution, only when the gate is closed.

F gate=

B h 2
(1)
2

In equation 1, Fgate is the hydraulic force on the gate, B is the width of the gate, h is
the depth of the fluid to the bottom of the gate, and is the specific weight of the
fluid.

Pgate=

F gate h
= (2)
Bh
2

In equation 2, Pgate is the hydrostatic pressure.

Actual Pressure Method: this method can be applied when the gate is opened
and the fluid is being discharged. The pressure at the bottom of the gate in the
fluids highest streamline is atmospheric, and the pressure behind the gate at the
tip is near atmospheric pressure as well.
n

F gate = pdA= p i Ai (3)

A

i=1

A i= y i B(4)
where p is pressure along the cross-sectional area A i and yi is the height of the
level in the manometer.
Momentum Theorem: this allows the force on the gate to be found using the
momentum equation. The pressure in the control volume is assumed to be
hydrostatic.

V = ( 0.9 ) ( 2 g )( h ) (5)
where g is acceleration due to gravity and h is the depth of the water level.

Q= AV ( 6 )
where A is the width of the channel multiplied by the opening underneath the gate.

q=

Q
( 7)
B

M=

y2 q2 ( )
+
8
2 gy

This is the momentum equation, which can be used to solve for F gate, which is

F gate =b ( M 1M 2) (9)

Procedure
The sluice gate was inserted into the A8 channel and was shut completely.
The pump was switched on, allowing the fluid to flow into the system. The flow rate
was controlled through the small and large orifices in order to maintain a constant
control volume at a depth of 8 inches. Once there, the manometer levels were
observed. This same process was repeated when the sluice gate was opened 0.5
inches and 0.75 inches, maintaining that same constant control volume of depth 8
inches of fluid.

Results
When the gate is completely closed:
Width of the channel (m), B = 6 = 0.1524 m
Specific weight of the fluid (N/m3), = 9810 N/m3
Depth of the water level, upstream side (m), h1 = 8 = 0.2032 m
Difference in head in the U-tube manometer at inlet end (m), h = 8 = 0.2032 m
Water temperature (C), T = 21C

Table 1: Specifics when the gate is completely closed

Manomet
er No.
1

Channel
Width
y (in)
0.5

Elevation
Head, h,
(in)
0.2

Elevation
Head, h,
(m)
0.00508

Piezometr
ic Head
(in)
7.6

Piezometr
ic Head
(m)
0.19304

Pressure Head (m) =

Piezometric Head
Elevation Head
0.18796

0.5

0.3

0.00762

7.59

0.192786

0.185166

0.5

0.5

0.0127

7.6

0.19304

0.18034

0.5

0.0254

7.6

0.19304

0.16764

0.5

1.5

0.0381

7.59

0.192786

0.154686

0.5

0.0508

7.61

0.193294

0.142494

0.5

2.5

0.0635

7.6

0.19304

0.12954

0.5

3.5

0.0889

7.6

0.19304

0.10414

0.75

4.5

0.1143

7.62

0.193548

0.079248

10

5.5

0.1397

7.58

0.192532

0.052832

11

0.1778

7.59

0.192786

0.014986

12

1.25

0.2032

7.6

0.19304

-0.01016

13

1.25

10

0.254

7.7

0.19558

-0.05842

Table 2: Results when gate is completely closed

When the gate is opened 0.5:
Width of the channel (m), B = 6 = 0.1524 m
Specific weight of the fluid (N/m3), = 9810 N/m3
Depth of the water level, upstream side (m), h1 = 8 = 0.2032 m
Depth of the water level, downstream side (m), h 2 = 0.5 = 0.0127 m
Difference in head in the U-tube manometer at inlet end (m), h = 7.5 = 0.1905 m
Discharge through open channel (m3/s), Q =
Water Temperature (C), T = 21C

Table 3: Specifics when gate is opened 0.5

Manometer
No.
1

Channel
Width
y (in)
0.5

Elevation
Head, h,
(in)
0.7

Elevation
Head, h,
(m)
0.01778

Piezometr
ic Head
(in)
5.06

Piezomet
ric Head
(m)
0.128524

Pressure Head (m) =

Piezometric Head Elevation Head
0.110744

0.5

0.8

0.02032

5.79

0.147066

0.126746

0.5

0.0254

6.08

0.154432

0.129032

0.5

1.5

0.0381

6.49

0.164846

0.126746

0.5

0.0508

6.79

0.172466

0.121666

0.5

2.5

0.0635

6.89

0.175006

0.111506

0.5

0.0762

6.92

0.175768

0.099568

0.5

0.1016

6.94

0.176276

0.074676

0.75

0.127

6.95

0.17653

0.04953

10

0.1524

6.91

0.175514

0.023114

11

7.5

0.1905

6.96

0.176784

-0.013716

12

1.25

8.5

0.2159

6.94

0.176276

-0.039624

13

1.25

10.5

0.2667

7.35

0.18669

-0.08001

Table 4: Results when gate is opened 0.5

When the gate is opened 0.75:
Width of the channel (m), B = 6 = 0.1524 m
Specific weight of the fluid (N/m3), = 9810 N/m3
Depth of the water level, upstream side (m), h1 = 8 = 0.2032 m
Depth of the water level, downstream side (m), h 2 = 0.75 = 0.01905 m
Difference in head in the U-tube manometer at inlet end (m), h = 7.25 = 0.18415 m
Discharge through open channel (m3/s), Q =

Water Temperature (C), T = 21C

Table 5: Specifics when gate is opened 0.75

Manomet
er No.
1

Channel
Width y
(in)
0.5

Elevation
Head, h,
(in)
0.95

Elevation
Head, h,
(m)
0.02413

Piezometr
ic Head
(in)
4.5

Piezomet
ric Head
(m)
0.1143

Pressure Head (m) =

Piezometric Head Elevation Head
0.09017

0.5

1.05

0.02667

5.3

0.13462

0.10795

0.5

1.25

0.03175

5.6

0.14224

0.11049

0.5

1.75

0.04445

6.1

0.15494

0.11049

0.5

2.25

0.05715

6.51

0.165354

0.108204

0.5

2.75

0.06985

6.68

0.169672

0.099822

0.5

3.25

0.08255

6.65

0.16891

0.08636

0.5

4.25

0.10795

6.69

0.169926

0.061976

0.75

5.25

0.13335

6.7

0.17018

0.03683

10

6.25

0.15875

6.72

0.170688

0.011938

11

7.75

0.19685

6.89

0.175006

-0.021844

12

1.25

8.75

0.22225

6.88

0.174752

-0.047498

13

1.25

10.75

0.27305

7.35

0.18669

-0.08636

Table 6: Results when gate is opened 0.75

1) The measured value of h from experiment 1 is 8 = 0.2032 m. Using equation
1 for the hydrostatic pressure method, the force on the gate is

0.2032 m 2

N
(9810 3 )(0.1524 m)
m
B h 2
F gate=
=
2

Piezometric, Elevation, and Pressure Head Distributions for Experiment 1

2
0

Piezometric
0

10

12

14

-2
-4

Elevation

-6
-8

Pressure

-10
-12
-14

Figure 1: Piezometric, elevation, and pressure head distributions for

experiment 1
2) Experiments 2 and 3:
Experiment 3

Experiment
2
Pressure
(Pa)
1086.39864

1243.37826

1058.9895

1265.80392

1083.9069

1243.37826

1083.9069

1193.54346

1061.48124

1093.87386

979.25382

976.76208

847.1916

732.57156

607.98456

485.8893

361.3023

Manometer No.

Pressure (Pa)
884.5677

10

226.74834

117.11178

11

-134.55396

-214.28964

12

-388.71144

-465.95538

13

-784.8981

-847.1916

Table 7: Pressure calculations for experiments 2 and 3; Pressure = *

pressure head
3) Force in each manometer tube using the actual pressure method using equations
3 and 4:

Manometer No.

yi

0.1930
4
0.1927
86
0.1930
4
0.1930
4
0.1927
86
0.1932
94
0.1930
4
0.1930
4
0.1935
48
0.1925
32
0.1927
86
0.1930
4
0.1955
8

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Ai =
yiB
0.0294
19
0.0293
81
0.0294
19
0.0294
19
0.0293
81
0.0294
58
0.0294
19
0.0294
19
0.0294
97
0.0293
42
0.0293
81
0.0294
19
0.0298
06

pi
0.1879
6
0.1851
66
0.1803
4
0.1676
4
0.1546
86
0.1424
94
0.1295
4
0.1041
4
0.0792
48
0.0528
32
0.0149
86
0.0101
6
0.0584
2

Sum of Forces (N)

F_gate
(N)
0.0055
3
0.0054
4
0.0053
05
0.0049
32
0.0045
45
0.0041
98
0.0038
11
0.0030
64
0.0023
38
0.0015
5
0.0004
4
0.0002
99
0.0017
41
0.0431
93

Table 8: Experiment 1 forces using actual pressure method

Manometer No.

yi

0.1285
24
0.1470
66
0.1544
32
0.1648
46
0.1724
66
0.1750
06
0.1757
68
0.1762
76
0.1765
3
0.1755
14
0.1767

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Ai =
yiB
0.0195
87
0.0224
13
0.0235
35
0.0251
23
0.0262
84
0.0266
71
0.0267
87
0.0268
64
0.0269
03
0.0267
48
0.0269

pi
0.1107
44
0.1267
46
0.1290
32
0.1267
46
0.1216
66
0.1115
06
0.0995
68
0.0746
76
0.0495
3
0.0231
14
0.0137

F_gate
(N)
0.0021
69
0.0028
41
0.0030
37
0.0031
84
0.0031
98
0.0029
74
0.0026
67
0.0020
06
0.0013
33
0.0006
18
0.0003

12
13

84

42

16

0.1762
76
0.1866
9

0.0268
64
0.0284
52

0.0396
24
0.0800
1

0.0010
64
0.0022
76
0.0277
37

Sum of Forces (N)

Table 9: Experiment 2 using actual pressure method

Manometer No.

yi

0.1143

0.1346
2
0.1422
4
0.1549
4
0.1653
54
0.1696
72
0.1689
1
0.1699
26
0.1701
8
0.1706
88
0.1750
06
0.1747
52
0.1866
9

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Sum of Forces (N)

Ai =
yiB
0.0174
19
0.0205
16
0.0216
77
0.0236
13
0.0252
0.0258
58
0.0257
42
0.0258
97
0.0259
35
0.0260
13
0.0266
71
0.0266
32
0.0284
52

pi
0.0901
7
0.1079
5
0.1104
9
0.1104
9
0.1082
04
0.0998
22
0.0863
6
0.0619
76
0.0368
3
0.0119
38
0.0218
44
0.0474
98
0.0863
6

F_gate
(N)
0.0015
71
0.0022
15
0.0023
95
0.0026
09
0.0027
27
0.0025
81
0.0022
23
0.0016
05
0.0009
55
0.0003
11
0.0005
83
0.0012
65
0.0024
57
0.0234
96

Table 10: Experiment 3 using actual pressure method

4)

Elevation vs. Pressure Head for Experiment 2

0.15
0.1
0.05
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

-0.05
-0.1

Figure 2: Experiment 2 elevation vs. pressure head

5) Using equations 5 through 8, the momentum equations can be found:

V = ( 0.9 ) ( 2 g )( h )= (0.9)(2)(9.81

m
)(0.1905 m)=1.834 m/s
s2

m
m3
=0.0568 (upstream)
s
s

m
m3
=0.00355 (downstream )
s
s

Q= AV =( 0.1524 m )( 0.2032 m ) 1.834

Q= AV =( 0.1524 m )( 0.0127 m ) 1.834

Q 0.0568
m2
q= =
=0.3727 (upstream)
B 0.1524
s
Q 0.00355
m2
q= =
=0. 02329 (downstream)
B 0.1524
s
y 2 q2 0.20322
0.37272
M upstream= + =
+
=0.0903
2 gy
2
(9.81)(0.2032)
M downstream =

y 2 q 2 0.01272
0.023292
+ =
+
=0.004435
2 gy
2
( 9.81)( 0.0127)

F gate=b ( M 1M 2) =( 9810 ) ( 0.0127 ) ( 0.09030.004435 )=10. 698 N

The force on the gate for experiment 2 using the momentum equations method is
10.698 N.
6)

Elevation vs. Pressure Head for Experiment 3

0.15
0.1
0.05
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

-0.05
-0.1

Figure 3: Experiment 3 elevation vs. pressure head

Using the momentum equations method to find Fgate:

V = ( 0.9 ) ( 2 g )( h )= ( 0.9 ) ( 2 )( 9.81 )( 0.18415 ) =1.803m/ s

3
m
m
(
)(
)
Q= AV = 0.1524 m 0.2032 m 1.803 =0.05584 (upstream)
s
s

m
Q= AV =( 0.01905 )( 0.1524 )( 1.803 ) =0.005235 (downstream)
s
Q 0.05584
m2
q= =
=0.3664 (upstream)
B 0.1524
s
2

Q 0.005235
m
q= =
=0.03435 (downstream)
B
0.1524
s
M upstream=

y 2 q2 0.20322
0.36642
+ =
+
=0.08799
2 gy
2
(9.81)(0.2032)

M downstream =

y 2 q 2 0.019052
0.034352
+ =
+
=0.006495
2 gy
2
(9.81)(0.01905)

F gate=b ( M 1M 2) =( 9810 ) ( 0.01905 ) ( 0.087990.006495 )=15.23 N

The force on the gate for experiment 3 using the momentum equations method is
15.23 N.
7)
Experiment #
1
2
3

Hydrostatic Pressure
Method
30.865 N

Actual Pressure
Method
0.043 N
0.027 N
0.023 N

Momentum Equation
Method
10.698 N
15.23 N

Table 11: Comparison of the three methods

Discussion
From Table 11, it appears that the actual pressure method calculations done
were completely wrong. The values for the forces on the gate are way too small
compared to the force values resulting from the hydrostatic pressure method and
the momentum equation method. The reason why this method was poorly
calculated was probably due to inputting wrong data used to calculate p i, Ai, and yi.
The lab manual was pretty unclear as to what data or readings correspond to what
variables, so there may have been a mix-up and the wrong data may have been
used.
The hydrostatic pressure method appears that it should be used when the
sluice gate is completely closed. This method, based on the results, appears to be
the most accurate for determining the forces on the gate, only when the gate is
closed. The momentum equation method cannot be used when the gate is closed
because there is no downstream effect to take into consideration. And when
applied to equation 9, the value of b would be 0 since the gate is shut. Also, the
momentum equation method was more accurate for determining the force on the
gate when the gate is opened and the fluid is allowed to discharge from the control
volume, than the hydrostatic pressure method or actual pressure method. The
hydrostatic pressure method could be applied to experiments 2 and 3 when the
gate is opened, but the results would not be as accurate as the results from the
momentum equations method.

Conclusion
After completing the lab, it was found that the actual pressure method was
completely wrong when it came to calculating the force on the gate. This was
mainly due to unclear descriptions in the lab manual and applying wrong data to the
different variables in the equations. The hydrostatic pressure method is best suited

for finding the force on the gate when the gate is closed. This seemed to deliver
the most accurate results. However, when the gate is opened and the fluid is
allowed to discharge from the control volume, the momentum equations method
was deemed the most accurate for finding the forces on the gate. So, the
hydrostatic pressure method can be used when the gate is closed, and the
momentum equations method can be used when the gate is opened.