Module : Ship Stability

Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2025

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SIMPSON'S RULE

1 Uses of Simpson's Rule

1.1 Use for finding areas and volumes of irregular figures. The rules are based on
assumption that the boundaries of such figures are curves which follow definite mathematical
law.

1.2 Application to ships

Can provide a good approximation of areas and volumes

1.3 Accuracy

This will depend on the spacing of the ordinates and upon how closely the curves
follow the mathematical law.

2 Simpson's 1st Rule

2.1 The area under the curve is equal to the sum of the end ordinates + four times the
middle ordinates, all multiplied by 1/3 of the common interval.

i.e area = h/3 (a + 4b + c)

b c
a

h h

The rule can be used to find the areas and volumes when there are an ODD number of
ordinates. An ordinate may have a value of zero.

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JBS/Jan 03/ CL12SR SMA
Module : Ship Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2025
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2.2 Simpson's multiplier

1.4.2.4.2.4.................1.

a b c d e

h h h h

(abc): Area = h/3 (a + 4b + c)

(cde) Area = h/3 (c + 4d + e)
Total Area = h/3 (a + 4b +2c +4d + e), i.e
1 4 2 4 1

3 Simpson's 2nd Rule

3.1 The area under the curve is equal to the sum of the end ordinates + 3 times the sum of
the two intermediate ordinates multiplied by 3 x common interval(h)
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i.e Area = 3h (a + 3b + 3c + d)
8

c
a b d

h h h

This rule is used to find areas and volumes where the number of ordinates are such
that if one is subtracted from the total number, the remainder is divisible by 3.

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JBS/Jan 03/ CL12SR SMA
Module : Ship Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2025
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3.2 Simpson's multiplier

1.3.3.2.3.3...............1.

a b c d e f g

h h h h h h

(abcd) Area = 3h (1a + 3b + 3c + 1d)

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(defg) Area = 3h (1d + 3e + 3f + 1g)
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Total Area = 3h (1a + 3b + 3c + 2d + 3e + 3f + 1g)
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1 3 3 2 3 3 1

4 1st Rule versus 2nd Rule

If the number of ordinates is such that the problem can be solved by either the 1st or
2nd Rule, the 1st Rule should be used in preference to the 2nd Rule.

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JBS/Jan 03/ CL12SR SMA
Module : Ship Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2025
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5 Simpson's 3rd Rule

Also known as the 5-8 Rule.

5.1 The Rule states that the area between two consecutive ordinates is equal to 5 times the
1st ordinate plus 8 times the middle ordinate minus the last ordinate, all multiplied by
1 of the common interval (h).
12

i.e Area (A) = h (5a + 8b - c)

12

A B c
a b

h h

This Rule is used to find the area between two consecutive ordinates when three
ordinates are known.

Ex: 1 A ship 120m in length at the waterline has equidistantly spaced semi-ordinates
commencing from forward as follows:

0, 3.7, 7.6, 7.6, 7.5, 4.6, and 0.1 m. Find the waterplane area at this draft.

Using the 1st Rule:

semi-ords SM Product for Area

0.00 1.00 0.00
3.70 4.00 14.80
7.60 2.00 15.20
7.60 4.00 30.40
7.50 2.00 15.00
4.60 4.00 18.40
0.10 1.00 0.10
Total PFA 93.90

h = 120/6 = 20 m

Area = 2 x 20 x 93.9 = 1,252 m2

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JBS/Jan 03/ CL12SR SMA
Module : Ship Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2025
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Using the 2nd Rule:

semi-ords SM Product for Area

0.00 1.00 0.00
3.70 3.00 11.10
7.60 3.00 22.80
7.60 2.00 15.20
7.50 3.00 22.50
4.60 3.00 13.80
0.10 1.00 0.10
Total PFA 85.50

Area = 2 x 3 x 20 x 85.5 = 1,282.5 m2

8

NB: There is a different in the answers when using the 1st and 2nd Rules. Remember that
Simpson's Rule is only an approximation.

Ex:2 Three consecutive ordinates in a waterplane, spaced 3 m apart are 7, 7.5, and 7.75 m
respectively. Find the area between the 1st and 2nd ordinates.

Area = 3 x (5 x 7 + 8 x 7.5 - 7.75) = 22.31 m2

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6 Simpson's Rules and Volumes of Shipshape

Volume of displacement of a ship to any particular draft can be found by calculating:

a. area of waterplane or
b. transverse areas

at equidistant intervals and then using these areas as ordinates to find the volume by
Simpson's Rule.

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JBS/Jan 03/ CL12SR SMA
Module : Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2002
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Ex: 3 The WPAs of a ship commencing from the load draft of 9 m and taken at equidistant
intervals are as follows:

2000, 1959, 1802, 1400, 800, 400, and 100 sq metres respectively. If the last area is
that of the outer bottom of the ship, calculate the displacement in SW.

WPA SM Product for Vol

2000.00 1.00 2000.00
1950.00 4.00 7800.00
1802.00 2.00 3604.00
1400.00 4.00 5600.00
800.00 2.00 1600.00
400.00 4.00 1600.00
100.00 1.00 100.00
Total PFV 22304.00

h = 9/6 = 1.5 m

Vol of displacement = 1.5 x 22,304 = 11,152 cu. m

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Displacement = 11,152 x 1.025 = 11,430.8 tonnes.

Ex: 4 The areas of vertical transverse sections of a forward hold, spaced equidistantly
between bulkheads are as follows:

800, 960, 1100 and 1200 sq m. respectively. The length of the hold is 20 metres.
find how much coal (SF 4 m3/t) it will hold.

T.Areas SM Product for Vol

800.00 1.00 800.00
960.00 3.00 2880.00
1100.00 3.00 3300.00
1200.00 1.00 1200.00
Total PFV 8180.00

h = 20/3 = 6.67 m

Vol = 3 x 6.67 x 8180 = 20,460.225 m3

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Qty of coal it will hold = 20460.225/4 = 5,115.056 tonnes.

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JBS/August 99 CL12SR SMA
Module : Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2002
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6.1 Given TPCs for equidistant draft, calculate the displacement.

If TPCs are given instead of WPAs or transverse areas, the volume and hence the
displacement can still be calculated.

TPC = 1.025 x WPA

100

WPA = TPC x 100

1.025

Therefore, WPA will vary as the TPC, and 100 is a constant which may be
1.025
substituted for 'X', where WPA = TPC x X.

Ex: 5 A coastal ship at a draft of 1.2 m has a displacement of 980 tonnes. The TPCs for the
draft are as follows:

Draft: 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.8

TPC : 10 11.2 11.2 12.4

Calculate the displacement.

draft TPC SM PFV

1.20 10.00 1.00 10.00
2.40 11.20 3.00 33.60
3.60 11.20 3.00 33.60
4.80 12.40 1.00 12.40
Total PFV 89.60

Vol = 3 x 1.2 x 89.6 x 100 = 3,933.659 cu. m

8 1.025

Weight = 3,933.659 x 1.025 = 4,032 tonnes

+ 980
Displacement = 5,012 tonnes

7 Appendages

Areas and volumes calculated by the use of Simpson's Rules depend for their
accuracy on the curvature of the sides following a definite mathematical law. It is seldom
that shipsides follow one such curve.

Consider the figure below. The sides from ‘YY to 'XX' form one curve, but from this
point to the remainder are parts of another curve. To obtain an answer which is reasonably
accurate, the area between ‘YY’ and 'XX' is calculated by the use of Simpson's Rule and the

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JBS/August 99 CL12SR SMA
Module : Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2002
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remainder of the areas may be found by a second and third calculations.

The remaining areas are refered to as APPENDAGES.

Y
X

X
Y
appendage
appendage

X Y

Similarly, in the above figure, the sides from WL to 'XY’ forms one set of curve and
from 'XY' onwards the curve is of different form.

Volume from WL to 'XY' can be found by Simpson's Rule and the volume below 'XY'
is found by a second calculation.

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JBS/August 99 CL12SR SMA
Module : Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA 2002
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Ex: 6 A ship's breadth at 9 m intervals commencing from forward are as follows:

0, 7.6, 8.7, 9.2, 9.5, 9.4, and 8.5 metres respectively. Abaft the last ordinate is an
appendage of 50 sq m. Find the total area.

Ords SM PFA
0.00 1.00 0.00
7.60 4.00 30.40
8.70 2.00 17.40
9.20 4.00 36.80
9.50 2.00 19.00
9.40 4.00 37.60
8.50 1.00 8.50
Total PFA 149.70

h=9m

Area = 9 x 149.7 = 449.1 sq m

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Total area = 449.1 + 50 = 499.1 sq m.

Ex: 7 The WPAs commencing from the load draft and spaced equidistantly down to the
inner bottom are:

2500, 2000, 1850, 1550, 1250, 900 and 800 sq m respectively. Below the inner
bottom is an appendage 1 m deep which has a mean wpa of 650 sq m. The load draft is 7 m.
Find the load displacement.

WPAs SM PFV
2500.00 1.00 2500.00
2000.00 4.00 8000.00
1850.00 2.00 3700.00
1550.00 4.00 6200.00
1250.00 2.00 2500.00
900.00 4.00 3600.00
800.00 1.00 800.00
Total PFA 27300.00

h = 6/6 = 1 m

Vol = 1 x 27,300 = 9100 cu m

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JBS/August 99 CL12SR SMA
Module : Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA2002
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Vol of appendage = 650 x 1 = 650 cu m

Total vol = 9100 + 650 = 9750 cu m

Displacement = 9750 x 1.025 = 9993.75 tonnes

8 Intermediate Ordinates

At the ends of ships, where the curvature of WP or transverse sections where the
curvature of the section near the keel may be considerable, it is necessary to reduce the
spacing of the ordinates to ensure a reasonable result.

Intermediate ordinates are introduced to reduce the spacing to 'half' or 'quarter' of the
normal spacings. While it is possible to calculate the area of such waterplane or transverse
section by dividing it into two separate sections, this method is not recommended.

The following method may be used:

b c d e f g
a

h/2 h/2 h h h/2 h/2

Area A = 1 x h (a + 4b + c)
3 2
= 1 x h ( 1a + 2b + 1c)
3 2 2

Area B = 1 x h (c + 4d + e)
3

Area C = 1 x h (e + 4f + g)
3 2

= 1 x h ( 1e + 2f + 1g )
3 2 2

Total Area = 1 x h ( 1a + 2b + 3 c + 4d + 3e +2f + 1g )

3 2 2 2 2

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JBS/August 99 CL12SR SMA
Module : Stability
Topic : Simpson Rules Syllabus No. MA2002
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Ex: 8 The half-ordinates of a WP 180 m long are as follows:

Section: AP 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 91/2 FP

1/2 Ord: 0 0.5 8 10.5 12.5 13.5 13.5 12.5 11 7.5 3 1 0

Calculate the WPA.

STNS 1/2 ORDS SM PFA

AP 0 0.5 0
1/2 0.5 2 1
1 8.0 1.5 12
2 10.5 4 42
3 12.5 2 25
4 13.5 4 54
5 13.5 2 27
6 12.5 4 50
7 11 2 22
8 7.5 4 30
9 3 1.5 4.5
91/2 1 2 2
FP 0 0.5 0
Total: 269.50

h = 180/10 = 18 m

Area of WP = 2 x 18 x 269.5 = 3234 sq m

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9 Areas and volumes having an awkward number of ordinates

When the number of ordinates is such that the area or volume cannot be found
directly by either the first or second rule, the area or volume should be divided into
two parts, the value of each part being calculated separately and the total area found
by adding the values of the two parts together.

e.g: figures with 6,8 etc ordinates.

b c d e f
a

Area A Area B

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JBS/August 99 CL12SR SMA