1

FLUIDS MECHANICS LAB: METACENTRIC HEIGHT

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TALLAGHT

Student Name: Son Hoang

Student Number: X00067077
GROUP MEMBERS: Joe stynes, Danielle warner, noel,
Benjamin Varo

Lecturers: c. Costello, K. Maloney

COURSE CODE: TA_EMECH_D

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this lab is

1)To determine the metacentric height for a floating
pontoon, and compare the theory with the
recorded figures.
2)To test Archimedes principle for a body immersed /
floating in a fluid, stating that If the weight of an
object is heavier than the water displaced it will sink
otherwise it will float.

BACKGROUND THEORY

Archimedes principle for a body immersed / floating in a fluid:

There is an upward buoyancy force equal to the weight of the fluid

displaced and acting through the centroid of the displaced fluid. (The
floating body displaces its own weight of the liquid in which it floats.

1.
2.

3.

4.

The idea is that the floating body should not tip over when the
floating barge tips slightly to one side.
the overall volume of the displaced fluid does not change
The shape of the displaced fluid does change as the body dips in
deeper on one side and lifts out of the fluid on the other side. This
means that the position B, of the buoyancy force moves to one side.
The point where the centreline and the vertical force meet M is
called the METACENTER. The distance between M and G (GM) is
called the METACENTRIC HEIGHT.
When the body tips through an angle, the restoring moment is;

sin
M restoring=W ( horizontal distance between W FB )=W ( GM )

(http://accessscience.com/loadBinary.aspx?
alD=3672&filename=330900FG0040.gif)

The Centre of buoyancy (COB) is a force that acts through the

centre of gravity (COG) of a displaced fluid. It has three states of
equilibrium as follows.
1. Stable: if a force is applied and released to a body, the body
moves back to the original position. (COG is below COB)
2. Unstable: if a force is applied to a body, the body moves away
from the original position. (COG is above COB)

3. Neutral: if a force is applied to a body, the body moves

accordingly to the magnitude of the force and DOES NOT return
to the original position/ continues to move further away.

BACKGROUND THEORY
THEORETICAL formulas.
The following theoretical formulas for the metacentric height (GM) are as
follows:
GM =( BM BG )

Where

( di2 )

BG = y

I
V

Where

BM =

Where

L( b )
I=
12

second moment of area at surface

Immeresed volume

and

V =b ( L ) di

di = immersed depth of the floating rig

B = centroid of the displaced volume
G = centre of gravity of the rig. This is dependent on how the
load is distributed.
BM = metacentric radius, measure of restoring moment when the
rig tilts. Dependant on the shape of the rig. A wide rig gives
better stability.
GM = metacentric height, the measurement of stability.
Dependant on the distance of BM and BG.

BACKGROUND THEORY

EXPERIMENTAL Formulas
Overturning Moemnt=restoring moments
P ( x )={GMW( tan ) }

Where

Using algebra to manipulate the above formula, we get

( WP )( tanx )

GM =

=angle measured

x=distance of the weights

W =weight of the entire rig

P=weight of the mast

PROCEDURE
Equipment
1) sliding mass

2) Traversing Mass

3) Linear scale

4) Floating pontoon / rig

Procedure:

Equipment
5) Tub of water

(http://www.reptiles1.com/images/emp
ty_tub.jpg)
6) Plumb line

7) Digital weighing scale

(http://www.satwikscales.com/images/products/big/weighing_scale_I
Q_100/weighing_scale_IQ_100.jpg)

8)

Ruler

(http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/554/30/55430-1012-1-3ww-l.jpg)

Procedure
Steps
1) Weigh the traversing mass (P)
2) Assemble the pontoon rig with the traversing mass in the mid
position and weigh the entire assembly (W)
3) Position the sliding mass at a point low down on the mast.
Measure the distance from the base of the tank to the centre of
gravity (y).
4) Fill the sink with water and float he pontoon, ensuring that the
traversing mass is in its central position.
5) Check zero datum between plumb line and scale.
6) Record any data needed for calculating the THEORETICAL
metacentric height
7) Move the traversing mass to the right of centre in 20mm
increments to the end of the scale, noting the angular
displacement of the plumb line for each position. Repeat for the
movement of the traversing mass to the left of the centre.
8) Move the sliding mass higher up the mast and again measure the
inclination for different positions if the traversing mass.

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Calculations

L
b
B
p
w
y1
di
Y2
di2
I
V

0.35
0.2
0.1
307
1.52
91
25

M
M
M
0.307 kg
kg
0.091 M
0.025 M
0.103 m
M

50
0.000233333
0.00175

BM
BG
bg2

0.1333333
33
0.0785
0.0905

Theoretical calculations LOW MASS

di
0.025 M
BG = y
0.091 M
1)
,
2
2

( )

2)

I =second moment of area surface =

0.35 M ( 0.2 M 3 )
12

3)

V =immersed volume

4)

I
BM =
V

= 0.0785M

I=

L (b3)
12

0.000233333 M 4

V ={b ( L ) di }

{( 0.2 M )( 0.35 M ) ( 0.025 M ) }

0.00175 M 3

0.00023333 M 4
3
=
0.00175 M

0.133333333 M

11

GM =( BM BG )

5)

(0.133333333 M 0.0785 M )

0.054833333 M

Calculations
Experimental calculations Low Mass:

( WP )( tanx ) }

GM ={

tan was converted into radians

angles on the left side denoted with a symbol and multiplied by

-1 to negate the minus

Right side (+):

X= 0.02M,

GM =

kg
0.02 M
(
=0.092577917 M
({ 0.307
)
1.52 kg
0.043633231 )}

X= 0.04M,

GM =

kg
0.04 M
(
=0.096435331 M
({ 0.307
)
1.52 kg
0.083775804 )}

X= 0.06M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.06 M

=0.096435331 M
1.52 kg
0.125663706

X= 0.08M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.08 M

=0.097450439 M
1.52 kg
0.165806279

GM =

kg
0.02 M
(
=0.092577917 M
({ 0.307
)
1.52 kg
0.043633231 )}

)(
)(

)}

)}

Left side (-):

X= 0.02M,

12

X= 0.04M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.04 M

=0.096435331 M
1.52 kg
0.083775804

X= 0.06M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.04 M

=0.099190626 M
1.52 kg
0.122173048

X= 0.08M,

GM =

kg
0.08 M
(
=0.099546148 M
({ 0.307
)
1.52 kg
0.16231562 )}

)(
)(

)}

)}

13

Calculations

Data recorded.
L
b
B
p
w
y1
di
Y2
di2
I
V

0.35
0.2
0.1
307
1.52
91
25

M
M
M
0.307 kg
kg
0.091 M
0.025 M
0.103 m
M

50
0.000233333
0.00175

0.1333333
33
0.0785
0.0905

BM
BG
bg2

Theoretical calculations MID mass

( di2 )

( 0.0252 M )

1)

BG = y

2)

I =second moment of area surface =

0.35 M ( 0.2 M 3 )
12
3)

0.103 M

0.000233333 M

V =immersed volume
=

0.00175 M

= 0.0905M

L (b3)
I=
12

V ={b ( L ) di }

{( 0.2 M )( 0.35 M ) ( 0.025 M ) }

14

I
V

0.00023333 M 4
=
0.00175 M 3

4)

BM =

5)

GM =( BM BG )

0.133333333 M

(0.133333333 M 0.0905 M )

0.042833333 M

Experimental calculations MID mass

( WP )( tanx ) }

GM ={

tan was converted into radians

angles on the left side denoted with a symbol and multiplied by
-1 to negate the minus

Right side (+):

X= 0.02M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.02 M

=0.068071998 M
1.52 kg
0.059341195

X= 0.04M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.04 M

=0.067085447 M
1.52 kg
0.120427718

X= 0.06M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.06 M

=0.068071998 M
1.52 kg
0.178023584

X= 0.08M,

GM =

kg
0.08 M
(
=0.077148265 M
({ 0.307
)
1.52 kg
0.20943951 )}

GM =

{(

)(
)(
)(

)}

)}

)}

Left side (-):

X= 0.02M,

)}

0.307 kg
0.02 M

=0.066127084 M
1.52 kg
0.061086524

)(

15

X= 0.04M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.04 M

=0.071213783 M
1.52 kg
0.113446401

X= 0.06M,

GM =

{(

0.307 kg
0.04 M

=0.077148265 M
1.52 kg
0.157079633

X= 0.08M,

GM =

kg
0.08 M
(
=0.077148265 M
({ 0.307
)
1.52 kg
0.209951 )}

)(
)(

)}

)}

Percentage Differences
GM difference=

number
({ Big numbersmall
)100 }
Big number

LOW MASS height =

MID MASS height =

GM =

GM =

( 100 ) =43.059
({ 0.09630.05483333
}
1.52 kg 0.0963 )

{(

0.0715(0.042833333)
( 100 ) =40.0932
0.0715

Results

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METACENTRIC HEIGHT vs DISTANCE

0.12
0.1
f(x) = - 0.01x + 0.1

0.08

f(x) = - 0.03x + 0.07

GM (M)

0.06
0.04
0.02

-0.09

-0.07

-0.05

-0.03

0
-0.01

0.01

0.03

0.05

0.07

0.09

distance (M)
GM experiment LowPOINT

Linear (GM experiment LowPOINT)

GM experiment midPOINT

Linear (GM experiment midPOINT)

Angle deflection vs distance

12.5
7.5

angles ()
2.5
-0.1

-0.08

-0.06

-0.04

-0.02
0.01
-2.5

Distance (M)
low height

mid height

0.03

0.05

0.07

0.09

17

Discussion

Looking at the experimental metacentric height vs distance graph, the trendline is

very linear. The GM is higher on the left hand side (-) compared to the right hand
side because there was more weight on the left side in a nylon screw.
The theoretical GM values are positive for the low-mass and the Mid-mass. This
means that the pontoon is stable and would not shake violently and roll over. It also
means our rig would roll slowly and return to the original position slowly compared to
if the GM values were a minus/ zero figure.
Looking at the angles deflection, the further out our traversing mass was, the more
our rig would roll. In the results, at Low-mass, with the traversing mass out at 0.02M,
a 2.5 degree roll was achieved. When the sliding mass was raised to 0.237M midmass, and traversing mass at 0.02M out, an angle of 3.4 degrees was got.

18

Conclusion
When our rig was in water, it did not roll over and the experimental data
recorded had positive GM values for the sliding mass at the two different
points on the plumb line. From the theory calculations and graph plotted,
both the GM values for mass at low-point and mid-point were positive
figures, meaning in theory the pontoon would be stable enough to not roll
over when submerged in a body of liquid as expected.
Our angle deflection was more severe when the sliding mass was placed
at the middle of the plumb line (y=0.103M) compared to bottom
(y=0.093M). However there was greater angles on the left side of the
pontoon compared to the right when moving the traversing mass out
towards the left or right of the rig. This was due to more mass on the left
side as there was a nut and bolt on the left side. This also changed the
centre of gravity of the rig.
If I was to redo this experiment, I would sort out the imbalance with the
screw and nut making the rig weight biased to the left side.
GM is only an indicator for stability. It should not be relied upon whole
heartily in the real world as to have the highest stability when designing
boats, ships etc. Designers should conduct more tests that forces the
floating mass into severe angles that would be subjected to in ocean
storms.

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Supplemented questions

1. Check weather the results you got conform to Archimedes Principle.

Archimedes principle says that if the weight of the object is heavier than
the weight of the water it will sink, and that the mass of the water
dispersed when the object is immersed is the same as the mass of the
object itself.
the results I got proves this as the rig floated an did not sink. Thus proving
the rigs mass was not greater than the mass of the water.
2. If the weight is loaded higher on the barge, does this change the
Metacentric radius (BM)?
The BM does not change, but the BG does as the formula for
BG = y(

Di
)
2 . This then affects the GM, as GM = BM BG.

BM relies on the shape of our pontoon as it is a restoring moment. The

wider our pontoon, the more stability it has.

3. In which direction is the barge more stable (roll or pitch)? Calculate

the theoretical Metacentric height in the fore-aft pitch direction.
The barge is more stable in pitch as the length is longer than the width,
thus giving more stability (ships roll over to their sides, not to their front
or backs because the greater length front to back provides more stability).
By switching the dimensions, the GM became smaller. This means that
our pontoon will slowly roll, and return to it prior state slowly. The
movement is not violent, having more stability.

BG = 0.091 M

{(

( 0.0252 M )}=0.00785 M

)}

0.2 M ( 0.353 ) M
0.0007145 M
BM =
=
=0.408 M
0.00175 M
0.35 M ( 0.2 M ) 0.025 M

20

GM ={ ( 0.408 M )( 0.00785 M ) }=0.3297 M

21

Sources of reference

http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/tech-009.htm
Dr Ken maloney & Colm Costelloe
http://www.reptiles1.com/images/empty_tub.jpg)
http://www.satwikscales.com/images/products/big/weighing_scale_IQ
_100/weighing_scale_IQ_100.jpg)
http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/554/30/55430-1012-1-3ww-l.jpg)
http://accessscience.com/loadBinary.aspx?
alD=3672&filename=330900FG0040.gif)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacentric_height