UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

Centre for Diploma Studies

________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

LAPORAN MAKMAL
LABORATORY REPORT

Kod & Nama Kursus

DAC 22303 (FLUID MECHANICS)
Course Name & Code
Tajuk Ujikaji
STABILITY OF FLOATING BODY
Title of Experiment
Seksyen
6
Section
Kumpulan
4
Group
Nama Pensyarah/Pengajar ENCIK KHAIRUL AZMAN BIN ABDUL MALEK
Lecturer/Instructor’s Name
Nama Ketua Kumpulan MOHAMMAD MUZAMMIL BIN
Matric No. AA221246
Name of Group Leader MOHD KHAIRI

Ahli Kumpulan No. Matrik Penilaian Laporan (%)

Group Members Matric No. Report Assessment (%)
1. 1.MOHAMMAD AMIRUL Teori, Objektif & Prosedur
A220432 10
DANIAL BIN NOORZAMANI Theory, Objectives & Procedures
2. 2.MOHAMMAD HAKIMI BIN Data
AA221386 20
ZAINAL ABIDIN Data
3. 3.MOHAMMAD MUZAMMIL Analisis & Keputusan
AA221246 25
BIN MOHD KHAIRI Analysis & Result
4.MUHAMMAD AFIQ AIMAN BIN Perbincangan
AA220699 25
SUHAIRI Discussion
Kesimpulan & Cadangan
5. 15
Conclusion & Recommendation
Rujukan
6. References 5

Tarikh Ujikaji
17.11.23
Date of Experiment
Tarikh Hantar JUMLAH
12.12.23 100
Date of Submission TOTAL

ULASAN PEMERIKSA/COMMENTS COP DITERIMA/RECEIVED STAMP

 PART A: LAB REPORT ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

Lab Report Rubric (Assessment Form) Test Title: STABILITY OF FLOATING BODY

Criteria 1 2 3 4 5 SCR WT TSCR (%)

Theory,  Theory and other information  Theory and other information  Theory and other information  Theory and other information  Theory and other information
objective, regarding the laboratory is not regarding the laboratory is regarding the laboratory is partly regarding the laboratory is regarding the laboratory is well
procedure presented presented minimally presented presented with some mistakes presented 2

(10%)

Data  Data is not represented or is not  Data lacks precision  Good representation of the  Accurate representation of the  Accurate representation of the data
accurate  Greater than 20% difference data using tables and/or graphs data using tables and/or graphs using tables and/or graphs
(20%) with accepted values  Less than 15% difference with  Data is fairly precise  Graphs and tables are labeled and
4
accepted values  Less than 10% difference with titled
 Precision is acceptable accepted values  Data is precise with less than 5%
difference with accepted values

Analysis / Result  Trends / patterns are not  Trends / patterns are not  Trends / patterns are logically  Trends / patterns are logically  Trends / patterns are logically
analyzed analyzed analyzed for the most part analyzed analyzed
(25%)  Analysis is not relevant  Analysis is inconsistent  Questions are answered in  Questions are answered in  Questions are answered thoroughly 5
complete sentences complete sentences and in complete sentences
 Analysis is general  Analysis is thoughtful  Analysis is insightful

Discussion  No discussion was included or  A statement of the results is A statement of the results of  Accurate statement of the  Accurate statement of the results of
shows little effort and reflection incomplete with little reflection the lab indicates whether results results of the lab indicates lab indicates whether results support
(25%) on the lab on the lab support the hypothesis whether results support the hypothesis
5
hypothesis  Possible sources of error and what
  Possible sources of error was learned from the lab discussed
identified

Conclusion &  Conclusion & recommendation  Conclusion & recommendation  Conclusion & recommendation  Conclusion & recommendation  Conclusion & recommendation was
Recommendation was not presented  was minimally presented  was presented somewhat was presented accurately and presented accurately and relevant to
(15%) accurate and relevant to result relevant to result obtain from the result obtain from the laboratory work  3
obtain from the laboratory work  laboratory work with minor
mistakes

Reference  Reference was not presented in  Reference was minimally  Reference was partly  Reference was presented in  Reference was presented in proper
the report presented in the report presented in somewhat proper proper format and relevant to format and relevant to the laboratory
1
(5%) format and relevant to the the laboratory work with some work 
laboratory work  minor mistakes

NAME OF LECTURER : SIGNATURE : DATE : TOTAL SCORE : / 100

Note : SCR = SCORE, WT = WEIGHTAGE, TSCR = TOTAL SCORE

 PART B: LAB WORK ASSESSMENT RUBRIC (INDIVIDUAL)

Lab Report Rubric (Assessment Form) Test Title: STABILITY OF FLOATING BODY

Criteria 1 2 3 4 5 SCR WT TSCR (%)

Participation  Not shows any commitment to  Shows little commitment to  Demonstrates commitment to  Demonstrates commitment to  Actively helps to identify group goals
group goals and fails to perform group goals and fails to perform group goals, but has difficulty group goals and carries out and works effectively to meet them in 3
(15%) assigned roles assigned roles performing assigned roles assigned roles effectively all roles assumed

Procedural  Do not selects appropriate or
Knowledge (15%) appropriate skills and/or
strategies required by the task
and makes critical errors in
applying them
 Selects appropriate or
inappropriate skills and/or
strategies required by the task
and makes critical errors in
applying them
 Selects and applies
appropriate skills and/or
strategies required by the task,
but makes a number of non-
critical errors in doing so
 Selects and applies the  Selects and applies appropriate
appropriate strategies and/or strategies and/or skills specific to the
skills specific to the task without task without error, and applies some in 3
significant errors innovative ways

Safety (5%)  Ignore all the safety procedure  Requires constant reminders to  Requires some reminders to  Follows safety procedures  Routinely follows safety procedures
1
even after constantly reminder follow safety procedures follow safety procedures with only minimal reminders without reminders

Use Of  Very incompetence to use  Uses tools, equipment and  Uses tools, equipment and  Uses tools, equipment and  Uses tools, equipment and materials
Equipment (15%) tools, equipment and materials materials with limited materials with some materials with considerable with a high degree of competence
competence competence competence 3


NAME OF LECTURER : SIGNATURE : DATE : TOTAL SCORE : / 50

Note : SCR = SCORE, WT = WEIGHTAGE, TSCR = TOTAL SCORE

 STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC
(SCE)
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
CENTRE FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES

We, hereby confess that we have prepared this report on our own effort. We
also admit not to receive any help from any third party during the preparation of
this report and pledge that everything mentioned in the report is true.

↳
_________________
Student Signature (Group Representative)

Name : ……………………..
MOHAMMAD MUZZAMIL BIN MOHD KHAIRI

Matric No. : ………………………….

AA221246

Date : ……………………..
13/12/23
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To determine the key parameters of a pontoon and to investigate its stability
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this experiment, students are able to:
1. To calculate the position of the metacenter and predict the result of the stability.
2. To describe the movement of the floating body according to the weight and forces acts
to the pontoon.

Figure 2.1: Derivation of conditions for stability

3.0 THEORY

Stability of Floating Bodies

Pontoon is a term used to denote a flat bottomed vessel which is rectangular in cross section
and in plan. Considering Figure 3.1, the weight force, W acting vertically down through the
centre of gravity, G, of the pontoon. Since the pontoon is floating in water with a constant
depth immersion, it follows that there must be an equal force acting the opposing direction of
the weight force, known as buoyancy force, F, which acts vertically up through the centre of
gravity of the displaced water.
 Figure 3.1: A pontoon floating on even keel with W and F collinear.

Since the pontoon is a simple rectangle, the shape of the displaced liquid is also a rectangle
with it centre at the geometrical centre namely the centre of buoyancy, B. The buoyancy force,
F acts upwards through B. Note that W and F act collinearly with G situated some distance
above B.

Figure 3.2: A pontoon floating with an imposed angle of tilt, showing the righting couple

When a pontoon is tilted as shown in Figure 3.2, W acts vertically down through G which
maintained at the same position but F now acts through point B* instead of B. This is because
acts through the centre of gravity of the displaced liquid which is now trapezoidal in shape with
its centre of gravity at B*. As a result, F and W are no longer collinear, but a couple of forces
that return the pontoon to an even keel are formed. This is known as righting couple. In this
case the pontoon is capable of righting itself when tilted, hence it is stable.

Figure 3.3: A pontoon with a raised G and an imposed angle of tilt, showing the

overturning couple caused by W acting outside F

It a relatively tall piece of weight is placed on the pontoon as shown in Figure 3.3, the combined
weight, W of the pontoon and its load acts through the centre of gravity, G which is relatively
high. When G becomes higher and the angle of tilt increases, W acts further and turn further to
the left. This means that at the some point the movement of buoyancy force, F from B to B* is
unlikely to be large enough to produce a righting couple. The situation depicted in Figure 3.4,
where the line of action of W is outside (nearer the edge of the pontoon) than the line along
which F acts. Thus W is trying to overturn the pontoon. The two forces F and W form an
overturning couple. Thus it is unstable.

Figure 3.4: The position of metacentre

A pontoon floating on an even keel has its centre of buoyancy at B and its centre of gravity at
G. A line joining B to G would be as shown in Figure 3.3, that is vertical and at 90° to the deck
of pontoon. Imagine line BG extends upwards and how consider the pontoon in tilted position
as in Figure 3.4, the centre of buoyancy moved from B to B*. A line drawn vertically upwards
through B* will intersect the line BG at the point labelled M in the diagram. This called the
metacentre. Provided the G does not move, then for all relatively small angle of tilt;

1. The vertical line through up B* through M. Consequently, if the location of B* can be

calculated, the position of M can be found graphically.

2. The distance of M above M constant.

3. The distance GM is called metacentric height of pontoon.

When considering the stability of floating body, it is usual to assume that the angle of tilt θ
small. This is necessary to simplify the theory by making the assumption that θ radians = sin
θ = tan θ = θ radians.
Considering the restoring moment that rights a rectangular pontoon to an even keel when it is
tilted, the equation:

BM = Iws / V

Where:

V = the volume of water displaced by the body

Iws = the second moment of the area

Figure 3.5: Plan of the pontoon where the tilt takes place about the longitudinal axis X-X

LB 3
Iws =
12

It should be apparent that BM depends only upon:

a. I and b, the dimensions of the pontoon which govern the value of Iws .

b. V, the volume of displaced water which depends only upon the weight of the pontoon.

Referring to Figure 3.6, BM = BG + GM or, GM = BM-BG. If calculate BG, GM can be

obtained and hence determine if the body is stable or unstable. Now, B is the centre of
buoyancy, and with the pontoon floating on an even keel B is located at a height equal to half
the depth of immersion (h/2) above the point O on the bottom of the pontoon.
 Figure 3.6: A pontoon showing the key points and dimensions

It is common practice to carry out an experiment on vessel to assess its stability by calculating
GM. This is a simple procedure utilizing moveable weight positioned on the deck at
approximately the middle of the longitudinal centreline and a pendulum hanging inside the
vessel. The weight namely jockey weight (wj) is moved from the centreline known distance (
 ) towards the side as shown in Figure 3.7. This moves the centre of gravity of the pontoon
from G on the centreline to a new position G* and causes the vessel to tilt at the angle of  .

The magnitude of GG* depends upon how far the jockey weight is moved and its size relatively
to the total weight of the pontoon. Using the ratio of weight and x ,

 wj 
GG*   x
W 

Where W is the total weight of the pontoon including the pontoon

GG*  GM tan x

Combining both equations,

 wj  dx
GM   
 W  d

It is important to remember that  is in radian.

Figure 3.7: Movement of the jockey weight from the centreline

4.0 EQUIPMENT

Figure 4.1: Metacentric Height (Model FM43)

1. Sliding mast 2. Adjustable weight

3. Floating body 4. Plumb Line

5.0 PROCEDURE

1. The transverse adjustable mass is weighed.

2. The pontoon is assembled and weighed.
3. The sliding mass is positioned along the mast such that the centre of gravity occurs at the
top of the pontoon. This can be determined by using either a knife edge or by suspending
from a light string around the mast.
4. The basin is filled with water, the pontoon is floated ensuring that the adjustable mass is
in its central position.
5. The adjustable mass is moved to the right of centre in 5mm increments to the end of the
scale, nothing the angular displacement of the plumb line for each position.
6. The adjustable mass is repeated for movement to the left centre.
7. With the exception of weighing the adjustable weight and emptying and refilling the
volumetric tank, all the above is repeated for the sliding mass at different heights up the
mast, i.e. for different centres of gravity.
8. All the reading is recorded in the result sheet.
9. The graph of lateral position of adjustable mass against angle of list for each sliding mass
dx
height is prepared. The value of for each sliding mass height is obtained, the
d
metacentric height, GM and distance between the centre of buoyancy and the metacentre
is calculated.
6.0 RESULT AND CALCULATION

Total weight of floating assembly (W) 1.979 kg

Weight of adjustable mass (m) 0.221 kg
Breadth of pontoon (D) 200 mm
Length of pontoon (L) 350 mm
Second moment of area (I) 2.333 X 10-4 m4
Volume of water displaced (V) 0.001979 m3
Height of metacentre above centre of buoyancy (BM) 17.7 x 10-2 m
Depth of immersion of pontoon (IP) 0.028271 m
Depth of centre of buoyancy (CB) 1.41 x 10-2 m

Lateral displacement (cm)

Height of Lateral displacement (cm)

adjustable weight
-60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
(mm)
0 -5.4 -4.6 -3.4 -2.4 -1.4 -0.6 0.4 1.4 2.4 3.4 4.2 5.2 6.2
50 -6.8 -5.8 -4.8 -3.6 -2.2 -1.0 0.4 1.6 3.0 4.2 5.4 6.6 7.8
100 - -7.8 -6.2 -4.8 -3.4 -1.2 0.4 2.2 4.2 6.0 7.4 - -
Angle of list (𝜽)

Height of Angle of list (𝜃)

adjustable
weight (mm) -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

0 -7.98 -6.81 -5.05 -3.57 -2.08 -0.89 0.59 2.08 3.578 5.05 6.23 7.69 9.15
50 -10.02 -8.57 -7.11 -5.34 -3.27 -1.49 0.59 2.38 4.46 6.23 7.98 9.73 11.45
100 - -11.45 -9.15 -7.11 -5.05 -1.79 0.59 3.27 6.23 8.86 10.88 - -

Angle of list (rad)

Height of Angle of list (rad)

adjustable weight
(mm) -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

0 -0.139 -0.080 -0.088 -0.062 -0.036 -0.016 0.010 0.036 0.062 0.088 0.109 0.134 0.160
50 -0.119 -0.101 -0.124 -0.093 -0.036 -0.026 0.010 0.042 0.078 0.109 0.139 0.170 0.200
100 - -0.136 -0.160 -0.124 -0.088 -0.031 0.010 0.057 0.109 0.155 0.189 - -
Metacentric Height
Height of Metacentric Height (mm)
adjustable weight
-60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
(mm)
0 48.36 69.87 50.83 54.07 62.05 69.80 0 31.03 36.05 38.12 41.06 41.79 42.06
50 56.44 55.34 36.12 36.08 62.05 42.96 0 26.60 28.66 30.80 32.24 33.00 33.73
100 - 41.18 28.04 27.09 25.41 36.03 0 19.6 20.53 21.70 23.78 - -

CALCULATION
tan θ° = lateral displacement (cm) / 38.5 cm
tan θ° = -5.4 cm / 38.5 cm
θ° = tan-1 (-5.4 cm / 38.5 cm) = -7.98°
θ° X π / 180 = θ rad
-7.98° X 3.142 / 180 = -0.139 rad

m = 0.221 kg

X = -60 mm
mp = 1.979 kg

θradian = -0.139 radian

H = [0.221 kg X (-60 mm)] / [1.979 kg X sin (-0.139 radian)] = 48.36 mm

7.0 QUESTION

1) Discuss about the result of this experiment.

From the experiment, the lateral displacement θ° was determined using the formula tan θ° =
lateral displacement (cm) / 38.5 cm. With a given lateral displacement of -5.4 cm, the
corresponding angle θ° was calculated as approximately -7.98°. Converting this to radians, the
angular displacement θ° was found to be approximately -0.139 rad. The experiment involved
a mass (m) of 0.221 kg, a lateral displacement (X) of -60 mm, and a projectile mass mp of 1.979
kg. Using these values, the height (H) was calculated using the formula

resulting in a height of approximately 48.36 mm. The

negative sign in the angle and displacement values suggests a particular direction, and these
results should be interpreted within the context of the experimental setup, potentially indicating
a downward or leftward movement. It is crucial to maintain consistent units throughout the
calculations and consider the physical significance of the obtained values in the context of the
experiment.

2) In practice, the stability of floating body applied in many hydraulic works. As a

potential civil technologist, describe how this experiment can be applied in this field.

In civil engineering practice making sure things that float, like bridges or docks, stay steady is
super important. The experiment we talked about, where they figured out angles and heights,
is like a toolkit for engineers. It helps them design these floating structures better so they can
handle waves, currents, and changes in the water. For someone into civil technology, this info
is handy when working on projects involving water, like building bridges or docks. It's like
having a guide to make sure things stay stable and work well in different situations, making
sure our structures can handle whatever the water throws at them.
8.0 DISCUSSION

In this experiment, we measured the stability of a floating object by experimenting with weights
and water pressure. We examined its tilt, its angles, and a measurement known as "metacentric
height," which provides information about its stability. We observed that the tilting and angles
also changed when we adjusted the height of the weight on it. Greater stability was indicated
by larger metacentric height numbers. Our calculations and the results agreed, indicating that
the measurements we took were reasonably accurate. This experiment is useful for building
objects that float perfectly on the water's surface and provides a glimpse into how we determine
whether boats and other objects will stay balanced on the water.

9.0 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

Considering the stability of the pontoon experiment aimed to figure out how steady it is in the
water. We played around with things like the metacentric height, which tells us about its
stability, and checked how it tilts and moves with different weights. Our results matched our
expectations, showing that a higher metacentric height means the pontoon is more stable. We
used an adjustable weight to test it out, and it worked well. To improve, we could try more tests
with different weights and setups. Overall, this experiment helps us understand how things stay
balanced in the water, like boats and pontoons, and it was pretty cool

10.0 REFERENCES

1. Stability and Metacentric Height.

https://www.codecogs.com/library/engineering/fluid_mechanics/floating_bodies/stabi
lity-and-metacentric-height.php
2. Stability of Floating Body Lab Report
https://www.academia.edu/27547211/the_stability_of_a_floating_body