2/3/2016

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Any floating body is subjected to two opposing
vertical forces. One is the body's weight W
which is downward, and the other is the
buoyant force BF which is upward.
STABILITY OF FLOATING BODIES The weight is acting at the center of gravity G
and the buoyant force is acting at the center of
buoyancy BO.

Prepared by:
Engr. Jerome Jordan F. Famadico, CE
Instructor

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Weight W and Buoyant Force BF are always The body may tilt from many causes like wind
equal and if these forces are collinear, the body or wave action causing the center of buoyancy
will be in upright position as shown below. to shift to a new position BO’ as shown below.
Engr. Jerome Famadico

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Point M is the intersection of the axis of the If M is above G, BF and W will produce a
body and the line of action of the buoyant force, righting moment RM which causes the body to
it is called metacenter. return to its neutral position, thus the body is
stable.

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 2/3/2016

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Engr. Jerome Famadico

If M is below G, the body becomes unstable If M coincides with G, the body is said to be just
because of the overturning moment OM made stable which simply means critical.
by W and BF.

Engr. Jerome Famadico

The distance MG is called metacentric height.

The value of righting moment or overturning
moment is given by:
Use (-) if G is above Bo *Note that M is always
Use (+) if G is below Bo above Bo
Engr. Jerome Famadico

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Value of MBO Value of MBO
Assume that the body is rectangular at the top view The moment due to the shifting of the buoyant force is
and measures B by L at the waterline when in upright equal to the moment due to shifting of wedge.
position.

(exact)

(approximate)

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 2/3/2016

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Value of MBO Legends:
Where:
For Rectangular Sections ONLY:
W = weight of the body
BF = buoyant force
M = metacenter
G = center of gravity of the body
BO = center of buoyancy in upright position
BO' = center of buoyancy in tilted position
MG = metacentric height or the distance from M to G
MBO = distance from M to BO
GBO = distance from G to BO
v = volume of the wedge either immersion or emersion
s = horizontal distance between the center of gravity of the wedges
θ = angle of tilting
I = moment of inertia of the waterline section of the body
RM = righting moment
OM = overturning moment

Engr. Jerome Famadico

Engr. Jerome Famadico

PRACTICE PROBLEMS: PRACTICE PROBLEMS:
1. A rectangular scow 9 m wide, 15 m long and 3.6 m 2. It is desired to float in fresh water a wooden cone,
high weighs 3304 kN. 18 cm in diameter and 25 cm high, with the apex
downward. If the specific gravity of the cone is
a. What is its draft in sea water weighing 10.20 0.60,
kN/m3?
a. Compute the submerged depth.
b. What is the metacentric height if its center of
gravity is 2.7 m above the bottom? b. Compute the distance of the metacenter from
the center of buoyancy.
c. If the scow tilts until one side is just at the point
of submergence, determine the righting couple. c. Locate the metacenter from the center of
gravity.