KEVOS® MAKEOS · Hydraulics
Hydrostatic Pressure and Tank Wall Force
What pressure and force does this liquid depth put on a tank wall and floor?
Pressure at depth, resultant force on a vertical rectangular wall and its centre of pressure, and the force on the tank floor, for any liquid.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid depth | m | Depth of liquid at the wall. |
| Liquid density | kg/m³ | Liquid density (water 1000, seawater 1025, coolant emulsion about 1000 kg/m³). |
| Wall width | m | Width of the vertical wall panel. |
| Floor area | m² | Area of the tank floor. |
| Gas pressure above liquid (gauge) | kPa | Gauge pressure of gas above the liquid; 0 for an open tank. |
Method and formulas
- Bottom pressure p = p_s + ρ g h.
- Wall force (open tank) F = ρ g w h² ÷ 2 acting at h ÷ 3 above the bottom; a gas pressure adds p_s × w × h acting at mid-height.
- Floor force = p × floor area.
- Example: 2 m of water on a 3 m wide wall gives 58.84 kN, acting 0.66667 m above the floor.
Limitations
- Static liquid only; sloshing, filling surges and wind are not included.
- Wall design must also consider support conditions and deflection.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Size tank walls, doors and bund panels
- Find bolt loads on an inspection door
- Check floor loading of a tank
Who it is for
- Hydraulic and process engineers
- Maintenance engineers
- Design engineers
What you get
- Pressure at the bottom
- Resultant force on the wall and its height
- Force on the floor
Interpreting the result
- Design wall stiffeners for the force distribution, which is greatest at the bottom.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 3024–3027. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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