Plate thickness of diversion gate

[gibey]

I work for a construction firm that specializes in water and waste water treatment stations. A project that we are working on requires the temporary diversion of water to provide easy access. Water will be diverted by a steel plate (9 feet wide by 5 feet high). The plate will be supported at the vertical edge on each side of the plate. What should the thickness of the plate be if it is designed to handle constant loading on the 9'x5' area?

 

[JStephen]

Check the plate forumulas in Roark's Forumulas for Stress and Strain. They should have load cases for uniform loading and for loading decreasing to zero at the top edge.

 

[cvg]

you will have a hydrostatic loading which is not uniform but varies as indicated by Jstephen. If you are turning the flow, you may also need to consider momentum. Thickness of the plate will depend on the type of steel used.