Islamic University of Gaza Faculty

of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

Report number: 1

Metacentric height of floating bodies

Prepared by: Waleed Kh. Abualtayef

120131025

Submitted to: Eng. Mohammed Mousa

Class No. : 103
Group No. : 2
Date: 9th-March-2015

2014-2015

Introduction:
The Stability of any vessel which is to float on water, such as a pontoon or ship, is of
paramount importance. The theory behind the ability of this vessel to remain upright must
be clearly understood at the design stage. Archimedes principle states that the buoyant
force has a magnitude equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body and is directed
vertically upward. Buoyant force is a force that results from a floating or submerged body
in a fluid which results from different pressures on the top and bottom of the object and
acts through the centroid of the displaced volume.

Objectives:
Determine the floatation characteristics for unloaded and for loaded pontoon.
And to determine the effect on floatation characteristics of altering the center of gravity of
the pontoon, with given total loading.

Apparatus:
1. Flat bottomed pontoon
2. Hydraulic bench.

Procedures:
PART (1): Determination of floatation characteristic for unloaded and for loaded
pontoon.
1. Assemble the pontoon by positioning the bridge piece and mast i.e. locate the mast in the
hole provided in the base of the vessel and clamp the bridge piece fixing screws into the
locating holes in the sides of the vessel.
The 'plumb-bob' is attached to the mounting dowel located on the mast and is allowed to
swing clear of and below the scale provided
2. Weigh the pontoon and determine the height of its center of gravity up the line of the
mast by balancing the mast on a suitable knife edge support and measuring the distance
from knife edge to outside base of pontoon.
3. Fill the hydraulic bench measuring tank, or other suitable vessel, with water and float the
pontoon in it. Trim the balance of the pontoon by applying one of the small weights
provided to the bridge piece at the required position so that the vessel floats without any
list, this condition being indicated by the plumb-bob resting on the zero mark.
4. Apply a weight of 50g on the bridge piece loading pin then measure and record the angle
of list and value of applied weight.
5. Take readings of list angle and applied weights (100, 150 & 200g). Repeat the procedure
for lists in the opposite direction i.e. apply the weights to the opposite side of the bridge
piece.
6. Calculate GM practically. Draw a relationship between (x-axis) and GM (y-axis), then
obtain GM when equals zero.
7. Calculate GM theoretically.
8. Repeat the above procedures for increasing ballast loading conditions i.e. 2000 and
4000g.

PART (2): Determination of floatation characteristic when changing the center of

gravity of the pontoon.
1. Replace the large bilge weights by 4 50g weights.
2. Apply a weight of 300gm on a height of 190 mm from the pontoon surface.
3. Using the method of exercise A, determine the metacentric height (using applied
weights 40, 80 &120g).
4. Move one 50g bilge weight to the mast head and once again determine .
5. Repeat 100, 150 and 200g moved from the bilge weight to the mast head. Measure the
position of the center of gravity from the base of the pontoon for each loading condition.
6. Determine the theoretical for each condition and also a height of a metacenter above
water level.

Calculation:
GM

Px
(1)
W

in radian

* The metacentric height can be calculated as followed:

MG = BM + OB OG.......... (2)
Where:
I
- BM

- BM is the metacentric radius,

V

- I

LD3 - I : Moment of inertia of pontoon

- V: Total volume of displaced liquid.

V
- OB = 0.5 (

) LxD

OG Wvm(OGvm) Wb(OGb) Wvm(OGvm) Wb(x1)

Wvm Wb

Wvm Wb

OGvm = 125 mm, OGb= x1: from table "1".

Tables of results:

Table "1": Part(1)

Exp GM

BM(mm) OB (mm)

3000

50

2.5

164.930
6

15.7894
7

3000

100

3000

150

3000

200

10

46.9974
5
47.0422
2
50.4638
8
47.2219
2

5000

50

98.9583
3

26.3157
9

87

38.2741
2

82.43

5000

100

5000

150

6.5

5000

200

35.2440
6
28.2253
3
32.5962
5
31.4508
7

7000

100

3.5

70.6845
2

36.8421
1

75

32.5266
3

43.2

7000

150

5.5

7000
7000

200
250

7
9

28.7827
2
27.4995
4
28.8365
28.0811
3
60

OG
(mm)
125

GM Th
55.7200
3

y = 0.954x + 38.94

Exp. GM (mm)

50
40
y y= =-0.4178x
-0.057x ++ 34.229
28.656

30
20
10
0
0

10
Angle()

15

GM @
zero
38.94

Table "2": Part(2)

Mast Weight
=0.00

(degree)

Exp GM

Exp
BM
GMfrom
graph

OB

OG

Theo
GM

M above
water
level

40
80
120

2.5 32.22682
5 32.25753
7.5 32.30879

32.1 141.369

18.421

125.43 34.36005

122.948

Mast Weight =
50
40
80
120

3.8 21.21068
7.3 22.12598
11.3 21.52195

21.34 141.369

18.421

136.36

23.43

122.948

Mast Weight=
100
20
40
80

2.5 16.11341
6.5 12.41762
12.5 12.98944

1584 141.369

18.421

147.43

12.36

122.948

Mast Weight =
150
10
20
40

3 6.714859
7.5 5.384798
9 8.985963

5.579 141.369

18.421

158.64

1.15

122.948

Mast Weight =
200

Unstable

35
y = 0.0164x + 32.182
30

Exp. GM(mm)

25

Wm=0
y = 0.0369x + 21.344

Wm=50

20

Wm=100
Wm=150

15

Wm=50)(

y = -0.2802x + 15.848

Wm=100)(

10

(Wm=150(

y = 0.223x + 5.5793

(Wm=150(

5
0
0

6
8
(degree)

10

Comments:
When we increased ,the value of GM is decreased.

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