Hydrostatics 21

Example 1.6: Pontoon Stability

During serious river flooding, one span of a road bridge collapses. Government engineers
decide to install a temporary pontoon bridge while repairs are in progress (Figure 1.14).
The river is 80 m wide and 7 m deep, and is not tidal. An outline specification of the
temporary scheme is

Clearance between pontoon base and river bed = 5.5 m

Pontoon freeboard (i.e., distance from water line to deck) = 1.50 m
Maximum pontoon self weight = 220 t
Width of highway = 10 m
Maximum side tilt due to 40 t vehicle load = 4

Assume that the centre of gravity (c.g.) of the vehicle is 3 m above the bridge deck and
2m off-centre. Assume that the pontoon centre of gravity lies at the geometrical centre
of the pontoon.
Estimate the principal pontoon dimensions.

Solution

Pontoon draft ( i.e., depth of immersion) = 7 5.5 = 1.5 m

Total height of pontoon = draft + freeboard = 1.5 + 1.5 = 3 m

Total weight due to pontoon + vehicle = 220 + 40 = 260 t

2m

c.g. of vehicle

3m

Freeboard

Draft W

Figure 1.14 Pontoon bridge (Example 1.6).

22 Principles and Basic Applications

Therefore, the volume of water displaced is 260 m3, since 1 m3 of water has a mass of
1 t. So,

volume displaced 260

pontoon length = = = 17.333 m
width draft 10 1.5

This is not a whole submultiple of the river width, so say that the pontoon length is 20 m,
with a corresponding draft of 1.3 m.
Check that the pontoon stability is within specified limits:

I (20 103 )/12

MB = = = 6.41 m
V 260

(from (1.5)). The pontoon centre of gravity is at its geometrical centre, 1.5 m above the
base. The centre of gravity of the vehicle is 3 m above the deck, and therefore 6 m above
the base of the pontoon. Taking moments about the pontoon base, the combined centre
of gravity (c.g.) position is found:

(220 1.5) + ( 40 6)
Height of combined c.g. above the base = = 2.192 m
260

The centre of buoyancy, B, is at the centre of gravity of the displaced fluid. This lies at
the geometrical centre of the immersed section of the pontoon, and is therefore 0.65 m
above base.
Therefore, the distance MG between the metacentre and the centre of gravity is

MG = 6.41 + 0.65 2.192 = 4.868 m

Overturning moment due to the vehicle = 40 2 = 80 tm

Righting moment = 260 4.868 c

For equilibrium, righting moment = overturning moment, so

80
c = = 0.062 rad = 3.55
260 4.868

which is within specification.