A bridge is in the form of an elliptical arch and wter flows just touching the bottom. The major axis is 8 m and the minor axis is 3 m. Determine the upward force due to water pressure. The bridge is 4 m wide.
The upward force is due to the weight of water displaced as shown in figure.
Area of half ellipse = πbh/8 = π × 8 × 3/8 = 3π m²
Area of rectangle = 8 × 1.5 = 12 m²
Weight of water displaced = (12 – 3π) × 4 × 9810 = 101052 \mathrm{N}