Code & Experiment MMB 005: THE STABILITY OF A FLOATING BODY

Course/ Subject Code BFC 20601

Section 5

Experiment date 7 MAY 2024

Group Name 6

Group Members 1. AMEEN SAEED ELTAYEB (AF230098)

2. PRIYADARSHINI A/P SARAVANAN (AF230082)

3. HUVIN RAJA A/L LOGESWARAN (CF230102)

4. NUR AFIQAH BINTI ROZMAN (DF230008)

5. MOHD SYAHIR ZAHIN BIN GALTANI (CF230211)

Lecturer/ Instructor/ Dr Wan Afnizan Bin Wan Mohamed

Tutor name

Submission Date 17 MAY 2024

CLO 1: Report/Presentation/ 25%

Team work
Marks
CLO 2: Report/ Presentation/ 37.5%
Team work

CLO 2: Report/ Presentation/ 37.5%

Team work

Received Stamp TOTAL

Examiner Comments
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Table of contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION 8
1.1OBJECTIVES 9
1.2THEORY 9
2.0 METHODOLOGY 11
2.1APPARATUS 11
2.2PROCEDURES 11
3.0 RESULT AND ANLYSIS 13
3.1DATA 13
3.2DATA CALCULATION 14
4.0 DISCUSSION 16
5.0 CONCLUSION 16
6.0 REFERRENCE 17

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 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 OBJECTIVES
● Determine the forces acting on the floating body.
● Calculate the metacenter's position and use it to analyze the stability of the floating body.
● Analyze the rotational motion of the floating body in response to the forces acting on it,
with a focus on the pontoon's weight distribution.

1.2 THEORY
It is crucial for the safe design and operation of ships and other floating structures to determine their
stability in advance. In this experiment, we will investigate the key principles of buoyancy,
center of gravity, and metacenter to understand how they govern a floating body's equilibrium.

Figure 1.2 : Derivation of condition for stability

Buoyancy, Equilibrium, and the Metacenter

● A floating body is in equilibrium when the upward buoyant force (acting through the
center of buoyancy, B) is equal and opposite to the downward force of gravity (acting

○ Buoyant Force (𝐹𝑏): 𝐹𝑏 = ρ𝑉𝑔 (where ρ is the fluid density, V is the

through the center of gravity, G).

displaced volume, and g is acceleration due to gravity)

● The metacenter (M) is a theoretical point that determines stability. If M is above G, the
floating body has stable equilibrium and will tend to return to an upright position after
being tilted. If M is below G, the equilibrium is unstable.

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 Determining Metacentric Height (GM)

● In this experiment, we will determine the metacentric height (GM), the distance between
G and M. This will be done by:
○ Tilting the floating body (a pontoon) by shifting a weight jockey.
○ Measuring the resulting angle of tilt (θ).
○ Calculating the change in the center of gravity's position.
○ Using the following relationships to find GM:
■ BM = I/V (where I is the second moment of area of the waterline and V is
the displaced volume)
■ GM = BM - BG (where BG is the distance between the center of buoyancy
and center of gravity)

Determination of BM
The distance between the center of buoyancy (B) and the metacenter (M), known as BM, plays a
crucial role in determining the stability of a floating body. Here's how to find BM:

1. Moment of Buoyancy Force: When a floating body tilts, the center of buoyancy shifts
due to the change in the shape of the submerged volume. This creates a moment of
buoyancy force around the initial center of buoyancy (B).
2. Calculating the Moment: Consider a small change in the displaced volume. An element
of width x, at a distance x from B, gains an additional depth of xθ due to the tilt (where θ

a. The volume of this element is: 𝑑𝑉 = θ𝑥𝐿𝑑𝑥

is the angle of tilt) .

b. The additional buoyancy force on the element is: 𝑑𝐹 = 𝑤𝑑𝑉 = 𝑤θ𝐿𝑥𝑑𝑥

c. The moment of this force around B is: 𝑑𝑀 = 𝑑𝐹𝑥 = 𝑤θ𝐿𝑥²𝑑𝑥

(where w is the specific weight of water)

3. Total Moment: Integrate over the entire plan area of the body to find the total moment of

𝑀 = 𝑤θ ∫ 𝐿𝑥²𝑑𝑥 = 𝑤θ𝐼
B:

(Where I is the second moment of area of the waterline)

4. Equating Moments: This moment is also equal to the movement of the total upthrust (wV)

𝑤𝑉𝐵𝐵₁ = 𝑤θ𝐼
multiplied by the distance BB₁.

Since 𝐵𝐵₁ = θ𝐵𝑀, we can substitute and solve for BM

5. Formula for BM:
BM = I/V

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2.0 METHODOLOGY
2.1 APPARATUS
1. Plastic wall
2. Pontoon
3. Jockey Weight

Figure 2.1: Pontoon

2.2 PROCEDURES
1. The weight and dimension of pontoon is measured.
2. The pontoon is suspended from a hole that at one side of soil.
3. The jockey’s weight is placed on the symmetry line and cause the pontoon to hang with
its base roughly vertical. A plumb line is hung from suspension point. All the suspended
assembly at the height of center gravity, G and lies on the intersection point of plumb line
and symmetry of pontoon.
4. G was being measured from OG.
5. Step 2 to step 4 has been repeated for different soil.
6. Small magnetic weight is used to trim the assembly to even keel when the jockey weight
on the symmetri line, indicated a zero reading on angular scale.
7. The jockey is moved in step across the width of ponton, the corresponding angkle of tilt
being recorded.
8. All of this procedure being repeated for the jockey traversed at different height.

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Figure 2.2: Procedure Stability of the Floating Body

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3.0 RESULT AND ANLYSIS
3.1 Recorded the data when experiment.

Weight of pontoon (excluding jockey weight), Wp = 22.48 Nm

Weight of jockey, Wj = 3.82 Nm
Total weight of floating assembly, W = Wp + Wj = 26.3 Nm

𝑉 =
Pontoon displacement,
= 0.85 m3
𝑊
�
Breadth of Pontoon, D � = 200m
Length of Pontoon, L = 360m

× 6
3
Area of pontoon in plane of water surface, A = L D = 72000 m2
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I= 𝐿𝐷
Second Moment of area,
10
2 = 240
Depth of immersion, OC=V/A = 3.88 x = 38.8
mm
Height of centre of buoyancy B above O , OB = BC = OC/2 = 19.4 mm
Table 1

Yj (mm) 326.0 270.0 215.0 159.0 109.0

OG(mm) 102.0 93.7 76.4 77.1 59.7

Table 2

Jockey Jockey Displacement from Centre. Xj(mm)

Height,
yj -45 -30 -15 0 15 30 45

326.0 - - -6.0 0 6.0 - -

270.0 - -10.0 -5.0 0 5.0 10.0 -
215.0 -9.5 -6.5 -3.5 0 3.5 6.5 9.5
159.0 -9.0 -6.0 -3.0 0 3.0 6.0 9.0
109.0 -8.5 -5.5 -2.5 0 2.5 5.5 8.5

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 Jockey OG (mm) Xj/θ (𝑚𝑚) Metacentric BM
Height Height, GM (mm) (mm)
(mm) 15 30 45

326.0 102.0 2.73 - 22.69 106.25

270.0 93.7 3.75 3.75 31.21 106.47
215.0 76.4 5.00 5.00 5.00 41.61 99.57
159.0 77.1 6.00 5.45 5.63 46.57 105.23
109.0 59.7 7.50 6.67 6.43 54.53 95.79

3.2 DATA CALCULATION

Calculation of GM
Calculation of GM experimentally for each jockey height:

𝐺𝑀 = = 𝑊𝑞
𝑋𝑔 𝑊𝑖𝑋𝑖
θ

When JockeyHeight, yj = 326.0,

𝐺𝑀 = 3.82
(2. 7273 × 180
26.302 π
)=22.69mm

When Jockey Height, yj = 270.0,

𝐺𝑀 = 3.82
(3. 75 × 180
) = 31. 21𝑚𝑚
26.302 π

When Jockey Height, yj =215.0,

𝐺𝑀 = 3.82
(5. 0 × 180
) = 41. 61𝑚𝑚
26.302 π

When Jockey Height,yj =109.0,

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 𝐺𝑀 = 3.82
(6. 55 × 180
) = 41. 61𝑚𝑚
26.302 π

3.3.2 Calculation of BM
Calculation of BM experimentally for jockey height 326mm,
For the value of BG, it was obtained by:

𝐵𝐺 = 𝑂𝐺 − 𝑂𝐵 = 102.0 − 18.44 = 83.56𝑚𝑚

Thus, the value of BM was obtained by:

𝐵𝑀 = 𝐺𝑀 + 𝐵𝐺 = 22.69 + 83.56 = 106.25𝑚𝑚

Calculation of BM experimentally for jockey height 270mm,

For the value of BG, it was obtained by:

𝐵𝐺 = 𝑂𝐺 − 𝑂𝐵 = 93.7 − 18.44 = 75.26𝑚𝑚

Thus, the value of BM was obtained by:

𝐵𝑀 = 𝐺𝑀 + 𝐵𝐺 = 31.21 + 75.26 = 106.47𝑚𝑚

Calculation of BM experimentally for jockey height 215mm,

For the value of BG, it was obtained by:

𝐵𝐺 = 𝑂𝐺 − 𝑂𝐵 = 76.4 − 18.44 = 57.96𝑚𝑚

𝐵𝑀 = 𝐺𝑀 + 𝐵𝐺 = 41.61 + 57.96 = 99.57𝑚𝑚

Thus, the value of BM was obtained by:

Calculation of BM experimentally for jockey height 159mm,

For the value of BG, it was obtained by:

𝐵𝐺 = 𝑂𝐺 − 𝑂𝐵 = 77.1 − 18.44 = 58.66𝑚𝑚

Thus, the value of BM was obtained by:

𝐵𝑀 = 𝐺𝑀 + 𝐵𝐺 = 46.57 + 58.66 = 105.23𝑚𝑚

Calculation of BM experimentally for jockey height 109mm,
For the value of BG, it was obtained by:

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 𝐵𝐺 = 𝑂𝐺 − 𝑂𝐵 = 59.7 − 18.44 = 41.26𝑚𝑚

Thus, the value of BM was obtained by:

𝐵𝑀 = 𝐺𝑀 + 𝐵𝐺 = 54.53 + 41.26 = 95.79𝑚𝑚

Calculation of BM Theoretically: 𝐵𝑀 = 𝐼/ 𝑉 = 2.466×10 1000𝑚𝑚

1𝑚
−3
× = 92.01𝑚m
2.68×10

4.0 DISCUSSION

The experiment indicates how moderating a floating body's centre of gravity height could impact
its stability and how the metacentric height can be determined experimentally by relocating the
centre of gravity sideways across the body. The result shows that (BM) is greater than (BG),
which means that our submerged body will be stable and will not sink. However, some errors
might occur during the experiment that causes the data obtained is not too accurate. For instance,
measurement tool is not sensitive to take the data during the experiment, accuracy of distance
from pontoon stabilizer to the depth of pontoon base is not high and there is the possibility of the
pontoon pole is not connected to lightly to the pontoon. There are some precautions that are
needed to be highlighted which are make sure the fan and window are closed, the eyes of the
observer must parallel to the measuring apparatus, avoid zero error of the ruler and ensure that
the angle of tilt at zero before the horizontal weight is shifted to left or right.

5.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion the purpose of this test is to determine the stability of an submerged body, to know
what's buoyancy, and how we can calculate the center of buoyancy and volume displacement.
Finally we will get and determine the center of buoyancy and stability of submerged body, to
know our body will float or sink down. This experiment can use to determine the center of
gravity at defferent level at floating body. The experiment demonstrates how the stability of a
floating body is affected by changing the height of its centre of gravity, and how the metacentric
height may be established experimentally by moving the centre of gravity sideways across the

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body. The value established in this way agrees satisfactorily with that given by the analytical
result BM = I/V.
A plumb line from the top of the mast and a scale at the base indicate the tilt angle. The
metacentric height of the floating body is obtained from the weight positions and the tilt angle
observations. The results of this experiment can be improved by improving the devices used and
the conditions of the environment that the experiment was performed in, like using different
shapes of the pontoon, or using more accurate one with perfect weight distribution, and using
more accurate tilt needle. Some of the environmental conditions which could affect the results
are vibrations and the slope in the lab floor. Another source of errors are blunder errors, like not
placing the jockey weight in the right position or taking wrong reading of the height of the
balancing weight, and taking the reading of the angle while not looking perpendicularly at the
angle meter.

6.0 REFERRENCE

Roberson, J.A. and Crowe, C.T. (1993). Engineering Fluid Mechanics, 5th edition,
Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA

W W G G G B B B B' B' F B F B F B, W. (n.d.). STABILITY OF FLOATING BODIES (White pp

92-95).
https://www.eng.uwo.ca/people/esavory/STABILITY%20OF%20FLOATING%20BODI
ES.pdf

H2 Stability of a Floating Body. (n.d.).

http://cste.sut.ac.th/miscste/company/manual/H2.pdf

Douglas, J. F., Gasiorek, J. M., Swaffield, J. A., & Jack, L. B. (2005). Fluid Mechanics. Pearson.
Wikipedia contributors. (2021, March 07). Buoyancy. Retrieved from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buoyancy&oldid=1009861441

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