Experiment no. 1: Tabular Method of calculating Shear force & bending moment (Baxter p-251).

Theory:

The static force can be considered by imagining the ship to be floating in equilibrium in still water. The
forces are two in number, the weight of the ship and all that it carries acting vertically downwards, and
the hydrostatic pressure acting perpendicular to the outside surface of the ship.

Although the total buoyant force is equal to the weight, it does not necessary that the distribution of the
weight and buoyancy along the length will be similar.

If b= buoyancy per foot of length and w= weight per foot length, then,

Weight per unit length, w =LBdρ / L

Total weight = ʃw dx

Buoyancy per foot length if a sinusoidal wave is imposed

𝐵 ℎ
b = 35 [ d + 2 cos 2𝜋𝑥/𝐿 ]

Total buoyancy = ʃ b dx

Then, Load, L = w-b

Force on part of structure from 0 to L = ʃw dx - ʃb dx.

We can write, Shear force, F= ʃ(w-b) dx

This represents a shearing force on the ship which is tending to push portion to the left of x up or down
relative to the portion to the right, according to whether the buoyancy or weight is in excess. Calculating
this difference for various points along the length of the ship, it is possible to plot a curve of shearing
forces.

The moment of weight and buoyancy about the section at x is given by;

Mw = ʃʃ w dx dx;

Mb = ʃʃ b dx dx;
𝐵ℎ 𝐿 2𝜋𝑥
Or, Bending moment, M =ʃ F dx = ʃʃ L dx dx = ( 70 ) (2𝜋)2 (cos 𝐿
) +A

At x= 0, M=0; Then finding the value of A ,

𝐵ℎ 𝐿 2 2𝜋𝑥
M= ( ) { 1- cos }
70 2π 𝐿

This represents a bending moment which is causing the ship to bend in a longitudinal vertical plane like a
beam. This is one of the consequences of differing distribution of weight and buoyancy along the length
of the ship.
The tabular method needs more initial works although it has great advantage of deriving quickly and
simply the values of S.F and Mb. Consider the length of the ship to be divided into a minimum of twenty
equal parts. The average weight per foot for each of the sections should be obtained. This may be done by
direct calculation, or by deriving the weight curve for the whole ship and then dividing it into equal parts.

The curve of buoyancy is then drawn and the value of the weight ordinate is plotted at the middle of the
length of each of the 20 sections. The weight curve is then drawn assuming that the curves of weight and
buoyancy are parallel over each section.

This will give a curve of loads as a series of rectangles and successive integration of the load curve will
give the values for the S.F. and Mb curves.

This tabular method of calculation is most useful when finding the frequency of vibration of a
ship using the deflection method.

Q: A ship 420 ft long has the following mean values for weight and buoyancy as measured
at the centres of each of the ten displacement stations. Find the bending moment at
amidships. (U.N.)

Solution
Assignment:

1. Obtain an expression for the wave bending moment for the case of a rectangular box
vessel meeting sinusoidal waves, crests normal to the vessel's length, of height h and of
length equal to the vessel's length.

2. A vessel of constant rectangular cross-section is 350 ft long and 50 ft broad. The hull
weight is 2,800 tons and is distributed uniformly over the entire length. There is a
weight of 600 tons distributed uniformly over a length of 50 ft at amidships. Find the
bending moment at amidships when the vessel is poised on a sine wave 350 ft long by 12
ft high with crests at the ends. (U.N.) (Baxter Example 3; Page 252)

3. Draw the curves of weight , buoyancy, shear force and bending moment from table
given in example 2 on page 251. (in graph paper with proper labeling).