CVE 111

Hydraulics I
Buoyancy
Statical Stability of Floating Bodies

Kristine D. Sanchez, Ph.D.

Course Instructor
Contents [1]
• Overview
• Intended Learning Outcomes
• Objectives
• Buoyancy
• Archimedes’ Principle
• Calculation of buoyant force
• Sample Problem 4.1
• Sample Problem 4.2
• Sample Problem 4.3
• Sample Problem 4.4 (Exercise)
• Sample Problem 4.5
Contents [2]
• Statical Stability of Floating Bodies
• Introduction to Statical stability of floating bodies
• Forces on a floating body
• Notation
• Righting moment, overturning moment & metacentric height
• Value of 𝑀𝐵𝑜
• Sample Problem 4.6
Overview
• This topic deals with the buoyant forces exerted by a liquid unto a
fully or partially submerged body.
• It also deals with the conditions for statical stability for a floating
body.
Intended Learning Outcomes
• At the end of this topic, the student will be able to:
• Learn about the concepts and equations needed for solving buoyant
forces exerted on a fully or partially submerged body;
• Learn about the conditions needed for statical stability of a floating
body by solving for the metacentric height.
Objectives
• At the end of this topic, the student shall be able to:
• State the Archimedes’ principle;
• Solve for the magnitude and location of buoyant forces, and other
forces, for problems involving buoyancy;
• Enumerate the conditions needed for statical stability of floating
bodies;
• Solve for the magnitude and location of buoyant forces, and other
forces, for problems involving stability of floating bodies; and
• Solve for the metacentric height for problems involving stability of
floating bodies.
BUOYANCY
Archimedes’ Principle [1]
• A principle discovered by the Greek scientist Archimedes that states
that:

“Any body in a fluid is acted upon by an upward force (buoyant force) equal to
the weight of the displaced fluid.”

• Also known as the law of hydrostatics

• Applies to both floating and submerged bodies, and to all fluids.
Archimedes’ Principle [2]
• Consider the body in Fig. 4.1
• Horizontal components of the force acting on the body are in
equilibrium
• The upper face is subjected to a vertical downward force equal to the
weight of the fluid above it
• The lower face is subjected to a vertical upward force equal to the
weight of the fluid (real or imaginary) above it.
• The net upward force is called buoyant force.
Calculation of buoyant force [1]
𝐹1 𝐹1
𝑉𝑜𝑙1 𝑉𝑜𝑙2

𝐹2
𝐹2
Fig. 4.1 Forces acting on a submerged body
𝐵𝐹 = 𝐹2 − 𝐹1
𝐵𝐹 = γ 𝑉𝑜𝑙2 − γ 𝑉𝑜𝑙1
𝐵𝐹 = γ 𝑉𝑜𝑙2 − 𝑉𝑜𝑙1

𝐵𝐹 = γ𝑉𝐷 (4.1)
Calculation of buoyant force [2]
• where:
• γ = unit weight of the fluid
• 𝑉𝐷 = volume of the displaced fluid

• For a homogeneous solid body of volume 𝑉 floating in a

homogeneous fluid at rest:

𝑠. 𝑔. 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 γ𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦
𝑉𝐷 = 𝑉= 𝑉 (4.2)
𝑠. 𝑔. 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 γ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑
Sample Problem 4.1 [1]
• A stone weighs 460 N in air. When submerged in water, it weighs 300
N. Find the volume and specific gravity of the stone.

stone

Figure 4.2. Illustration for Sample

Problem 4.1

• Ans: 𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 = 0.0163 𝑐𝑢. 𝑚, γ𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 = 28204 𝑁/𝑚3

Sample Problem 4.1 [2]
• Solution:
• Buoyant force, 𝐵𝐹 = 𝑊𝑎𝑖𝑟 − 𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
• γ𝑙𝑖𝑞 𝑉𝐷 = 460 − 300 = 160
𝑁
• 9810 𝑉𝐷 = 160 N
𝑚3
• So, Volume of stone, 𝑽𝑫 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟔𝟑 𝒎𝟑
𝑠.𝑔.𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 γ𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑊𝑡𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 Τ𝑉𝐷
• = =
𝑠.𝑔.𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 γ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 γ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑊𝑡𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 Τ𝑉𝐷 460Τ0.0163
• 𝑠. 𝑔.𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 = (𝑠. 𝑔.𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ) = 1.00 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟕𝟓
γ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 9810
Sample Problem 4.2 [1]
• A block of wood 0.20 m thick is floating in seawater. The specific gravity of
wood is 0.65 while that of seawater is 1.03. Find the minimum area of a
block which will support a man weighing 80 kg.

𝑊𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑛 = 80 𝑘𝑔

𝑊𝑡𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑

𝐵𝐹𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
Figure 4.3. Illustration for Sample Problem 4.2 Figure 4.3.a FBD for Sample Problem 4.2

• Ans: 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 1.05 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚.

Sample Problem 4.2 [2]
• Solution:
• σ 𝐹𝑣 = 0
• 𝐵𝐹𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑊𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑛 + 𝑊𝑡𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
• γ𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 𝑊𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑛 + γ𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
• (γ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑥 𝑠. 𝑔.𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 )𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 𝑊𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑛 + (γ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑥 𝑠. 𝑔.𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 )𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
𝑘𝑔
• Use: γ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1000
𝑚3
• 1000 𝑥 1.03 𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 80 + 1000 𝑥 0.65 𝑥 𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
• So, 𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 0.2105 𝑚3 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑥 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑥 0.2
• We get: 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟓 𝒔𝒒. 𝒎
Sample Problem 4.3 [1]
• A block of wood 0.60 m x 0.60 m x “h” meters in dimension was
thrown into the water and floats with 0.18 m projecting above the
water surface. The same block was thrown into a container of a liquid
having s.g. of 0.90 and it floats with 0.14 m projecting above the
surface. Determine the following:
a. the value of “h”,
b. the specific gravity of the block, and
c. the weight of the block.

Ans: 𝑎 ℎ = 0.54 𝑚, 𝑏 𝑠. 𝑔. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 0.667, 𝑐 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 =

1272𝑁
Sample Problem 4.3 [2]

0.18 0.14

h -0.18 h -0.14

Figure 4.4.a. Immersed in water (𝑠. 𝑔.𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1.0) Figure 4.4.b. Immersed in other liquid (𝑠. 𝑔. = 0.9)
Sample Problem 4.3 [3]
• In water:
𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
• 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑡 = ℎ
𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
• ℎ − 0.18 = ℎ
1.0
• So: 𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 ℎ = ℎ − 0.18 Eq. (1)
• In another liquid:
𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
• 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑡 = ℎ
𝑠𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑
𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑
• ℎ − 0.14 = ℎ
0.9
• So: 𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 ℎ = 0.9ℎ − 0.126 Eq. (2)
Sample Problem 4.3 [4]
• Equate Eq. (1) with Eq. (2):
• 𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 ℎ = 𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 ℎ
• ℎ − 0.18 = 0.9ℎ − 0.126
• We get: 𝒉 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟒 𝒎
• To get specific gravity of wood, substitute h to Eq. (1) (or Eq. (2)):
• 𝑠𝑔𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 (0.54) = 0.54 − 0.18
• So, 𝒔𝒈𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟕
𝑘𝑁
• 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 = γ𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑥 𝑉𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 = 9.81 𝑥 0.667 𝑥 (0.6 𝑥 0.6 𝑥 0.54)
𝑚3
• So, 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟕𝟐 𝒌𝑵
Sample Problem 4.4 (Exercise)
• If a 5-kg steel plate is attached to one end of a 0.1 m x 0.3 m x 1.20 m
wooden pole, what is the length of the pole above the water? Use s.g.
of wood of 0.50 and that of steel of 7.85.

wooden pole Figure 4.5. Illustration for

Exercise

steel plate

• Ans: 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.455 𝑚

Sample Problem 4.5 [1]
• A 100 mm diameter solid cylinder, 95 mm high and weighing 3.75 N, is
immersed in a liquid (γ = 8.175 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 ) contained in a tall metal cylinder
having a diameter of 125 mm. Before immersion, the liquid was 75 mm deep.
At what level will the cylinder float?

𝑊 100mm ø

𝑥
𝐷
75 mm 75 mm
125mm ø 𝑦 125mm ø
Fig. 4.6 a. Before immersion Fig. 4.6 b. After immersion

• Ans: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 53.976 𝑚𝑚 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟.
Sample Problem 4.5 [2]
• Solution:
• Solve for the draft 𝐷 in Fig. 4.6b :
• Buoyant force, 𝐵𝐹 = 𝑊
• γ𝐿 𝑉𝐷 = 𝑊
• 8175𝑉𝐷 = 3.75
• 𝑉𝐷 = 0.0004587 𝑚3 = 458, 716 𝑚𝑚3
π
• (100)2 𝑥 𝐷 = 458, 716
4
• Draft, 𝐷 = 58.4 𝑚𝑚
Sample Problem 4.5 [3]
• When the solid cylinder is immersed, the liquid in the tall cylinder rises due to
volume of liquid displaced. Therefore, the volume of liquid displaced equals the
total volume of real and imaginary liquid above the original level.
• 𝑉𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔.𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 = 𝑉𝐷
π
• (125)2 𝑥 = 458, 716
4
• 𝑥 = 37.38 𝑚𝑚
• From Fig. 4.6b:
• 75 + 𝑥 = 𝐷 + 𝑦
• 𝑦 = 75 + 37.38 − 58.4 = 53.98 𝑚𝑚
• Therefore, the cylinder will float with its bottom at 53.976 mm above the bottom
of the hallow cylinder.
STATICAL STABILITY OF FLOATING BODIES
Introduction to Statical stability of floating
bodies
• A floating body is acted upon by two opposing forces: weight and
buoyant force.
• Weight acts at the center of gravity of the body.
• Buoyant force acts at the center of buoyancy located at the center of
gravity of the displaced liquid.
• When these forces are collinear , it floats in upright position (Fig.
4.7a).
• When the body tilts due to wind or wave action, the center of
buoyancy shifts to a new position, as either stable (Fig. 4.2b) or
unstable (Fig. 4.7c).
 𝑾
Forces on a floating body 𝑥
𝐺

𝑀 𝑀

wedge of emersion
θ wedge of immersion θ

𝑾 𝑾
θ θ
θ θ
𝐺 𝐺
𝐵𝑜 𝐵𝑜 𝐵𝑜 ′ 𝐵𝑜 𝐵𝑜 ′
𝑩𝑭
𝑩𝑭 𝑩𝑭
𝑥
Fig. 4.7a Upright position. Fig. 4.7b Stable position. Fig. 4.7c Unstable position.
𝑀 is above 𝐺. 𝑀 is below 𝐺.
Notation
• 𝑊: weight of the body
• 𝐵𝐹: buoyant force (always equal to weight for a floating body)
• 𝐺: center of gravity of the body
• 𝐵𝑜 : center of buoyancy in the upright position (centroid of the displaced liquid)
• 𝐵𝑜 ’: center of buoyancy in the tilted position
• 𝑉𝐷 : volume displaced
• 𝑀: metacenter, the point of intersection between the line of action of the buoyant force and the axis on the
body
• 𝑐: center of gravity on the wedges (emersion and immersion)
• 𝑠: horizontal distance between the cg’s of the wedges
• 𝑣: volume of the wedge of immersion
• θ: angle of tilting
• 𝑀𝐵𝑜 : distance from 𝑀 to 𝐵𝑜
• 𝐺𝐵𝑜 : distance from 𝐺 to 𝐵𝑜
• 𝑀𝐺: metacentric height, distance from 𝑀 to 𝐺
Righting moment, overturning moment &
metacentric height
• Righting moment / overturning moment

𝑅𝑀 𝑜𝑟 𝑂𝑀 = 𝑊 𝑥 = 𝑊 𝑀𝐺𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 (4.3)

• Metacentric height:

𝑀𝐺 = 𝑀𝐵𝑜 ± 𝐺𝐵𝑜 (4.4)

Use (-) if 𝐺 is above 𝐵𝑜 .
Use (+) if 𝐺 is below 𝐵𝑜 .
Value of 𝑀𝐵𝑜 [1]
• The stability of the body depends on the amount of the righting
moment which in turn is dependent on the metacentric height 𝑀𝐺.
• When the body tilts, the center of buoyancy shifts to a new position
(𝐵𝑜 ′).
• This shifting also causes the wedge to shift to a new position.
• The moment due to the shifting of the buoyant force 𝐵𝐹(𝑧) must be
equal to the moment due to the wedge shift 𝐹 𝑠 .
 Value of 𝑀𝐵𝑜 [2]
𝑀
𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝐹 = 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒
Volume, 𝑣
θ Volume, 𝑣 𝐵𝐹 𝑧 = 𝐹 𝑠
𝑭 𝐵𝐹 = 𝛾𝑓𝑙 𝑉𝐷
𝐹 = 𝛾𝑓𝑙 𝑣
𝑾 𝑧 = 𝑀𝐵𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
θ
θ 𝛾𝑓𝑙 𝑉𝐷 𝑀𝐵𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝛾𝑓𝑙 𝑣 𝑠
𝐺
𝑣𝑠
𝐵𝑜 𝐵𝑜 ′ 𝑀𝐵𝑜 = (4.4)
𝑉𝐷 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑭
𝑩𝑭

𝑧
𝑠
Fig. 4.8 Location for 𝑀𝐵𝑜
Sample Problem 4.6 [1]
• A block of wood 6 m by 8 m by 10 m floats on oil of rl dn 0.751. A
clockwise couple holds the block in the position shown in Fig. 3-8.
Determine:
• (a) the buoyant force acting on the block and its position,
• (b) the magnitude of the couple acting on the block, and
• (c) the location of the metacenter for its tilted position.
Sample Problem 4.6 [2]
Answers:
(a) BF = 1.36 MN, location = 5.39 m to the right of A
(b) Couple = 578 kNm clockwise
(c) MG = 0.849 m

A Fig. 4.9a Illustration for

θ = 30° oil
Sample Problem 4.6

Dimensions in meters
Sample Problem 4.6 [3]

Fig. 4.9b Free-body diagram for Sample

Problem 4.6. Red arrows indicate the
weight of the block and the buoyant
force. Taken from: Giles (1977).
 Sample Problem 4.6 [4]
• Solution to (a): Refer to Fig. 4.9b

Fig. 4.9c Solution for Item (a) of Sample Problem 4.6. Taken from: Giles (1977).
 Sample Problem 4.6 [5]
• Solution to (b): Refer to Fig. 4.9b

Fig. 4.9d Solution for Item (b) of Sample Problem 4.6. Taken from: Giles (1977).
Sample Problem 4.6 [6]
• Solution to (c): Refer to Fig. 4.9b

Fig. 4.9e Solution for Item (c) of Sample Problem 4.6. Taken from: Giles (1977).
Thank you for listening.
Sources:
• Giles, R. V. (1977). Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics 2nd edition,
McGraw-Hill, Inc. Ch.3, pp. 36-41.
• Gillesania, D. I. T. (2003). Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics revised
edition, GPP Gillesania Printing Press. Ch.3, pp. 73-98.