Department of Mechanical &

Manufacturing Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, UPM

Course: Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 2

Course Code: EMM 3808
Session: Semester 3 (2019/2020)

Report Title: Metacentric Height

Group Session: Tuesday
Name Matric No. Signature

Afina binti Abdul Rahman 197471

Muhammad Nazrul bin Mohd Rodzi 196489

Ahmad Khusairi bin Alias 198956

Nur Syifa’ binti Mohd Noor 195908

Noorashikin Soh binti Zulariffin Soh 197659

Mas Aisya Sofea binti Nor Azman 198673

Date of laboratory/experiment: 17 September 2019

Submission date of report: 24 September 2019
Lecturer Name: Dr. Eris Elianddy bin Supeni
Demonstrator Name (if any): Ishak bin Mohd Yusof
: Nor Mahayon binti Mohd Mahayuddin

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1.0 Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to calculate the metacentric height of a floating body using

its position of centre of gravity and its angle, and to relate this to the stability of the floating

body. To do this, a Metacentric Height Apparatus was used. The horizontal and vertical sliding

weights were manipulated, with one being held as constant while the other one was adjusted.

The angle on the heel indicator was recorded.

It was found that when the sliding weights were manipulated, the centre of gravity of the

floating body changed. This caused the angle on the heel indicator to change as the boat listed

to one side. The centre of gravity influences the metacentric height, which in turn influences

the stability of the floating body. As the angle of heel increased, the metacentric height

decreased. Therefore, increasing the metacentric height is important in order to increase the

stability of a floating body.

2.0 Introduction

Metacentric height is the distance between a floating body’s centre of gravity and its metacentre.

Because of this, metacentric height is affected by a change in centre of gravity. Metacentric

height affects the stability of a floating body. A larger metacentric height means that the

floating body is less susceptible to overturning and is therefore more stable.

When designing a ship, it is important to consider the metacentric height. In order to do so, one

must understand the relationship between metacentric height with centre of gravity and angle

of heel. Changing the centre of gravity of a ship to be distributed to one side will increase its

tendency to incline, or heel, to that side. The ship’s body rotates around a point called the

metacentre in order to return to a stable position. Changing the centre of gravity to more

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extreme positions decreases the metacentric height, so it is more difficult for the ship to return

to a stable position. A negative metacentric height would cause the ship to capsize.

Modern ships are equipped with anti-heeling systems such as ballast tanks. These systems

measure the angle of heel and counteract it by redistributing the ship’s weight by filling or

emptying different ballast tanks. Reducing a ship’s tendency to heel helps ensure its occupants’

safety and reduces damage to the ship and its equipment. [4]

This experiment was conducted using a Metacentric Height Apparatus which simulates a

floating body. The horizontal and vertical sliding weights were used to manipulate the centre

of gravity, and the apparatus was then floated in a tank of water. The angle of heel was recorded

from the apparatus indicator.

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3.0 Objective

To study the stability of a floating body experimentally and compare with the

calculated stability.

4.0 Apparatus

Metacentric Height Apparatus

5.0 Experimental Procedure

1. The weight positions were set at the apparatus

2. Vertical sliding weights were moved to the bottom position.

3. The provided tank was filled with water and inserted with floating body.

4. The vertical sliding weight was raised gradually and the angle on heel indicator was recorded.

The height of sliding weight at the top edge of weight was read off and entered in table together

with angle.

6.0 Data / Results

Table 6.1 shows data of angle of heel when the position of horizontal weight is constant

Position of horizontal sliding weight x =4.00 cm

Height of vertical sliding weight z (cm) 5.0 10.0 15.0

Angle α 9 13 25

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 dXs
Table 6.2 shows data of centre of gravity (zs) and the stability gradient ( )
𝑑α

Horizontal position of centre of gravity xs =0.22 cm

Height of vertical sliding weight z 5.0 10.0 15.0

Centre of gravity position zs 6.147 6.930 7.713

Angle α 9 13 25

dXs 0.024 0.017 0.009

𝑑α

Table 6.3 shows data of angle of heel when the position of vertical weight is constant

Position of vertical sliding weight z =10.00 cm

Height of horizontal sliding weight x (cm) 2.0 4.0 6.0

Angle α 13 14 18

dZs
Table 6.4 shows data of centre of gravity (xs) and the stability gradient ( )
𝑑α

Vertical position of centre of gravity zs =6.93 cm

Height of horizontal sliding weight x 2.0 4.0 6.0

Centre of gravity position xs 0.110 0.220 0.330

Angle α 13 14 18

dZs 0.530 0.495 0.385

𝑑α

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 Figure 6.1 shows the graph of vertical centre of gravity position zs versus stability gradient

Graph of vertical centre of gravity position zs versus stability gradient

Vertical centre of gravity position

9 7.713
8 6.93
7 6.147
6
5
zs

4
3
2
1
0
0.024 0.017 0.009

Stability gradient

Figure 6.2 shows the graph of horizontal centre of gravity position zs versus stability gradient

Graph of horizontal centre of gravity position xs versus stability gradient

Vertical centre of gravity position

0.33
0.35
0.3
0.25 0.22
xs

0.2
0.15 0.11
0.1
0.05
0
0.53 0.495 0.385

Stability gradient

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7.0 Discussion

1. The position of the metacentre is depend on the position of the C of G. This is because, when

it is at rest on even keel, the vessel's centre of buoyancy is directly below the centre of

gravity which is also below the metacentre. The stability of the distance

between metacentre and centre of gravity which is called as the metacentric height will

increase.

2. Based on the experiment that has been conducted, it was shown that the metacentric height

will always kept constant even with different angle of heel. The metacentric height (GM) will

not change but with different angle of heel, the righting moments varies. Hence if the ship has

a comparatively large GM tends to be stiff, whilst a small GM tends to be tender. It can be

noticed that the stability of ship depends not only upon the size of GM, but also upon the

displacement. However, lower values of metacentric heights result in larger list angles for

similar displacements of the jockey weight. In other words, the lower the metacentric height,

the more susceptible a floating object is to list which indicates a decrease in stability.

3. One of the effects of changing the position of the metacentre is the ship is in unstable

equilibrium. If G is above M, the ship will not remain upright. The ship heel to an angle called

an angle of loll. At that angle of loll, the ship picked up stability and return to the angle of loll

if disturbed by an external force. If G is sufficiently far above M, then the angle of loll may be

large and the vessel capsizes. Besides that, the ship will achieve neutral equilibrium. This

happens when G and M coincide, the vessel will have no reason to remain upright. Also, if it

is heeled, it will have no tendency either to heel further or to return upright. This unsafe state

is called a loll.

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4. The values of GM at lowest level of theta are likely to be less accurate because the metacentre

has a direct relationship with a tank’s rolling period. A tank with a small GM will be tender’

by having a long roll period. An excessively low or negative GM increases the risk of a tank

capsizing. A tank with low GM is less safe if damaged and partially flooded because the lower

metacentric height leaves less safety margin which means factors of safety. From this

experiment, possible sources of error were parallax error when taking measurements as well as

errors due to inaccurate measuring equipment. In order to achieve a more accurate

measurement, reference points are needed on the pontoon. Also, when measuring the centre of

gravity, care must be taken to ensure that the rig is completely, balancing on the thin metal

piece and not being influenced by another factor.

8.0 Conclusions

Based on the experiment, the stability of the floating body depends on the value of the

metacentric height. In order to achieve the stability of the floating body, the metacentric height

must above the centre of the gravity. From the table, it can be shown that the lower the

metacentric height value, the larger the angles shown, the less stable the floating body. In other

words, the higher the metacentric height, the more stable the floating body.

9.0 References

1. C.B. Barrass, D.R. Derrett, 2012, Ship Stability for Masters and Mates (Seventh Edition)
[Online], United Kingdom: Butterworth Heinemann. (Accessed 20 September 2019).

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2. Soumya Chakraborty, 2019, Ship Stability-Understanding Intact Stability of Ships, Marine
Insight, Available from:
< https://www.marineinsight.com/naval-architecture/intact-stability-of-surface-ships/>. (20
September 2019).

3. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012, Metacentre-Fluid Mechanics,

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Available from:
<https://www.britannica.com/science/metacentre>. (20 September 2019).

4. Ship Stability – Understanding Intact Stability of Ships - Marine ...., 25 Jan 2019,
<https://www.marineinsight.com/naval-architecture/intact-stability-of-surface-ships/>. (23
Sep 2019). [4]

10.0 Appendix

Figure 10.1 shows the apparatus used for the Metacentric Height experiment.

Figure 10.1 shows the Metacentric Height Apparatus.