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A Strong Partner for Sustainable Development
LABORATORY MANUAL
in
CE109
HYDRAULICS
College of Engineering and Technology
BS in Civil Engineering
ii
Laboratory No. 1
Metacentric Height
Determination of a floating body
2nd Semester, AY 2023-2024
Engr. Reycielo B. Denzon
Instructor
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
METACENTRIC HEIGHT
Introduction:
To determine the metacentric height, the students will be exposed to the laboratory equipment
and apparatus. In this laboratory, a pontoon will be used to measure the metacentric height.
Objective:
To identify the position of the metacenter (M) of a floating body by referring the distance form
the center of gravity, G.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the laboratory activity, students will be able to:
• Determine the metacentric height of the pontoon by experiment.
• Analyze test data and present the solution.
• Work in group to produce a relevant technical report.
Theory:
Center of Buoyancy (B): The point of application of the force of buoyancy on the body is
known as the center of buoyancy. It is always the center of gravity of the volume of fluid
displaced.
Types of equilibrium of Floating Bodies
1. Stable Equilibrium: If a body returns back to its original position due to internal
forces from small angular displacement, by some external force, then it is said to be in
stable equilibrium.
2. Unstable Equilibrium: If the body does not return back to its original position from
the slightly displaced angular displacement and heels farther away, then it is said to be
in unstable equilibrium.
3. Neutral Equilibrium: If a body, when given a small angular displacement, occupies
new position and remains at rest in this new position, it is said to be in neutral
equilibrium.
Metacenter and Metacentric Height
𝑰
𝑩=
𝑽
𝑳𝒃𝟑
𝑰𝒘𝒔 =
𝟏𝟐
The change in the moment of the buoyancy Force, 𝐹𝐵 is
𝑭𝑩 = 𝑭𝑩 𝑩𝑩′ = 𝜸𝑽(𝑩𝑴𝜽)
For equilibrium, the moment due to movement of wedge=change in moment of buoyancy
force
𝜸𝜽𝑰𝒘𝒔 = 𝜸𝑽(𝑩𝑴𝜽)
𝑰𝒘𝒔
𝑩𝑴 =
𝑽
𝑮𝑴 = 𝑩𝑴 ± 𝑩𝑮
Note:
(-) In this case G is above point B
(+) In this case G is below point B
𝜃 must be in radian
Center of Buoyancy (B) The point of application of the force of buoyancy on the body is
known as the center of buoyancy.
Metacenter (M): The point about which a body in stable equilibrium start to oscillate when
given a small angular displacement is called metacenter.
It may also be defined as point of intersection of the axis of body passing through center of
gravity (CG or G) and original center of buoyancy (B) and a vertical line passing through
the center of buoyancy (B’) of tilted position of body.
Metacentric height (GM): The distance between the center of gravity (G) of floating body
and the metacenter (M) is called metacentric height. (i.e., distance GM shown in fig)
Condition of Stability
For Stable Equilibrium
- Position of metacenter (M) is above than center of gravity (G)
For Unstable Equilibrium
- Position of metacenter (M) is below than center of gravity (G)
For Neutral Equilibrium
- Position of metacenter (M) coincides center of gravity (G)
METACENTRIC HEIGHT APPARATUS
DETERMINATION OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE PONTOON
To determine the vertical position of the overall center of gravity 𝑌̅ from the
set position of the sliding weight, we use the equation below. The vertical position is
referenced to the underside of the pontoon:
𝐴𝑌1 + (𝑊 − 𝐴)𝑌̅𝑔
𝑌̅ =
𝑊
Where:
𝐴 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑊 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑛, 𝑘𝑔
OPERATION AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
Experimental Procedure:
1. Put enough water on the hydraulic bench.
2. Initial Set-up.
When placing the in the hydraulic bench, ensure that the position of the jockey weight
for horizontal adjustments is in the middle of the pontoon and the pontoon is level in
the water. The pontoon should be in a vertical position and have no angle of tilt. (The
angle of tilt is zero degrees) as shown on scale mounted on the pontoon. If not, adjust
the balancing weight until the angle of tilt is “0”.
3. The jockey weight can change the position of the pontoon in the water and in order to
take some experimental readings, move the jockey weight in steps from its central
position horizontally and record the tilt angle of the pontoon from the scale on the
pontoon in degrees.
4. Each time you move the jockey weight from its central position, you must record on
the data sheets supplied the distance measured from its central position and the angle
of tilt.
5. Change the adjustable vertical weight height on the mast and record its measurement
along with the jockey weight distance from its central position, the angle of tilt at
different values and record all the data on the sheets provided.
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 a several times to obtain a satisfactory conclusion.
DATA SHEET
METACENTRIC HEIGHT APPARATUS
Tested By: _______________________ Date:__________
1. _________________________
2. _________________________
3. _________________________
4. _________________________
5. _________________________
6. _________________________
7. _________________________
8. _________________________
9. _________________________
10. _________________________
11. _________________________
12. _________________________
13. _________________________
14. _________________________
15. _________________________
Pontoon total weight:_________kg
(Position 10=middle position of pontoon)
Position of jockey weight in a horizontal position (cm.)
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Distance x of the jockey weight measured from the
center of the pontoon (mm.)
80 60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80
Height of weight on Tilt Angle 𝜃
the mast 𝑌1 (mm) (degree)
________________ 𝑥/𝜃
give: height of the (mm./rad.)
center of gravity (mm) Metacentric
________________ Height (mm)
Height of weight on Tilt Angle 𝜃
the mast 𝑌1 (mm) (degree)
________________ 𝑥/𝜃
give: height of the (mm./rad.)
center of gravity (mm) Metacentric
________________ Height (mm)
Height of weight on Tilt Angle 𝜃
the mast 𝑌1 (mm) (degree)
________________ 𝑥/𝜃
give: height of the (mm./rad.)
center of gravity (mm) Metacentric
________________ Height (mm)
Height of weight on Tilt Angle 𝜃
the mast 𝑌1 (mm) (degree)
________________ 𝑥/𝜃
give: height of the (mm./rad.)
center of gravity (mm) Metacentric
________________ Height (mm)
Attested by:
Mr. Jonas Clem P. Junio
Laboratory Technicia
SAMPLE DATA
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
APPENDICES:
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