Stability of Floating Bodies

CE123-1
Hydraulics

ENGR. ROGELIO FRETTEN C. DELA CRUZ

INSTRUCTOR
For stability of a submerged body, the body’s center of gravity must lie directly
below the center of buoyancy of the displaced liquid. If the two points
coincide, the submerged body is in equilibrium for all positions.

Upright position

Center of buoyancy is the point through which the buoyant force act. It is
located at the center of gravity of the displaced fluid.
Stability of other floating objects will depend upon whether a righting or
overturning moment is developed when the center of gravity and center of
buoyancy move out of vertical alignment due to shifting of position of center
of buoyancy.

Stable position Unstable position

The center of buoyancy will shift if the floating object tips, because the shape
of the displaced liquid changes and hence, its center of gravity shifts.
The determination of stability and non-stability can also be made by referring
to the point of intersection of the vertical axis and the line of action of the
buoyant force. This point of intersection is called the metacenter (M).

Stable position Unstable position

It is clear that a floating body is stable if its G is below the M, and unstable if
its G is above the M.
RIGHTING MOMENT (RM) AND OVERTURNING MOMENT (OM)

Stable position Unstable position

 I - moment of inertia of the
waterline section.

THIS FORMULA IS APPLICABLE TO ANY TYPE OF SECTION.

FOR RECTANGULAR SECTION:

3
LB
I= →Moment of inertia of the waterline section.
12
FOR RECTANGULAR SECTION:
Problem 1. If the center of gravity of a ship in the upright position is 10 m above the center
of gravity of the portion under water, the displacement being 1000 metric tons, and the ship
is tipped 30° causing the center of buoyancy to shift sidewise 8 m.
a) Is the moment righting or overturning and why?
b) What is the value of this moment in kg·m?
Solution:
8m
Sin 30° = 𝑀𝐵
𝑜

𝑀𝐵𝑜 =16 m
𝑀𝐺= 𝑀𝐵𝑜 − 10m
𝑀𝐺= 16 m −10m
𝑀𝐺= 6 m
𝑥
Sin 30° = 6 m

x = (6 m) Sin 30°
x =3m
a) Righting moment (RM), because the metacenter M is above the center of gravity
G. The moment tends to bring the ship in upright position.
b) RM = Wx = 1000 metric tons(1000 kg/metric ton)×3m
RM = 3,000,000 kg·m
Problem 2.
Solution:
1

Let W1 be the max. single weight that can be moved.

BF
2
tan  =
10
2
 = tan −1  
 10 
 = 11.31

B 2  tan 2  
MBo = 1 + 
12 D  2 

MBo =
(20 )  (tan 11.31) 
2
1 +
2

12(6 ) 
 2 

MBo = 5.67 ft
 1

MG = 5.67 − 3 BF
MG = 2.67 ft
BF = 62.4(6 )(20 )(40 ) BF (MG sin  ) =
10 W1
cos 
BF = 299,520 lb
299,520(2.67 )(sin 11.31) =
10 W1
Σ𝑀𝐺 +↻= 0 cos 11.31

 10 
− BFx + W1  =0 W1 = 15,365.87 lb
 cos  
The maximum single weight that can be moved
10 W1 transversely from the center of the scow and
BFx = unloaded over the side without sinking the scow.
cos 
References:
▪ Fluid Mechanics 7th Edition
by Frank M. White
▪ Fluid Mechanics: Fundamental and Applications
by Yunus A. Cengel & John M. Cimbala
▪ Mechanics and Hydraulics 4th Edition
by Ranald V. Giles, Jack B. Evett, & Cheng Liu