Department of Fisheries Studies

2.6 Buoyancy, floatation and stability

Lecture 6

FIS 419/607 – Fluid Mechanics and Methods

Fishing Technology
19/10/2020 1
Content

• Buoyancy
• Floatation
• Stability

19/10/2020 2
 Learning Outcome
By the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
a) Explain the concepts of Buoyancy floatation and
stability
b) Define Buoyant force, and floatation
c) Solve the buoyancy related problems
d) Describe stability and floatation concepts of equilibrium
e) Explain the Archimedes principle in relation to stability,
buoyancy and floatation

19/10/2020 3
 1. Buoyancy
• When a body is submerged or floating in a static fluid, the
resultant force exerted on it by the fluid is called the
buoyancy fluid and is denoted by FB .
• It is common experience that an object feels lighter and
weighs less in a liquid than it does in air. This can be
demonstrated easily by weighing a heavy object in water
by a waterproof spring scale. Also objects made of wood
or other light materials float on water.
• The buoyant force is caused by the increase of pressure in
a fluid with depth

19/10/2020 4
 1. Buoyancy
• Buoyancy Force
Equal to the weight of fluid displaced by the body and this
force will act vertically upward through the centroid of the
volume of fluid displaced and is known as the center of
buoyancy
• Archimedes’ principle
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”.
𝐅𝐛 = 𝝆𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅 × 𝒈 × 𝐕𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 (𝒖𝒑𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 ↑)
Forces of Gravity: G = 𝐦𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒈 = 𝐖𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Forces of Buoyancy: B = 𝝆𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝐕𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅
Weight of Ship: 𝝆𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝐕𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅

19/10/2020 5
 Archimedes
• Archimedes (287 – 212 BC) was born and lived in the
Greek city state of Syracuse on what is now the island of
Sicily. He was an engineer and Mathematician.
• He calculate an accurate value for pi and approximated
areas and volumes of various bodies by summing
elemental shapes. He also developed Levers, catapults,
odometer, formula for surface area, and its volume, and
a screw pump.
• First to write large numbers as powers of 10 avoiding
roman numerals.
• Deduced the principles of buoyancy (realized it when he
was sitting in a bath tub)
19/10/2020 6
Archimedes' inventions…

Catapults

19/10/2020 7
 Archimedes
Example
A body its weight in air is 8.7 N, and when submerged in
water its weight is 5.6 N. Calculate the density of a body?
Solution
W𝑎𝑖𝑟
Given: 𝜌relative =
Fb
,
W𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 8.7 N, W𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 =5.6 N 8.7 N
𝜌relative = =
2.81 N
Fb ? Density? 3.1 N
𝜌 = 𝜌𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 × 1000N. kg/𝑚3
Fb = W𝑎𝑖𝑟 − W𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝜌 = 2.81 N × 1000N. kg/𝑚3
𝜌 = 2810 kg/𝑚3
= 8.7 N – 5.6N
Fb = 3.1 N

19/10/2020 8
1. Buoyancy – body partly submerge
• Floating bodies are a special case; only a portion of the
body is submerged, with the remainder poking up out of
the free surface.
• FB = 𝛾 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

19/10/2020 9
 1. Buoyancy
• A body immersed in a fluid;
1. remains at rest at any point
in the fluid when its density
is equal to the density of the
fluid
2. Sinks to the bottom when its
density is greater than the
density of the fluid
3. Rises to the surface of the
fluid and floats when the
density of the body is less
than the density of the fluid

19/10/2020 10
1. Buoyancy
Example 1
A 1 m diameter cylindrical mass, M, is connected to a 2 m
wide rectangular gate as shown in the figure below.
Determine the required value for M if h = 2.5 m

19/10/2020 11
1. Buoyancy
Solution
First draw a free-body diagram and then calculate the tension in
the cable.
FR =Volume of triangle
= Fc A
= 𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ∆ℎ𝐴
FR = 12 9800 × 2.5 2.5 2 = 61250 N
ℎ
σ M@hinge = 0, FR −T H =0
3

2.5
FR −T 4 =0
3
2.5
61250 − T 4 = 0 (rearrange )
3

⇒ 𝐓 = 𝟏𝟐𝟕𝟔𝟎. 𝟒 𝐍
19/10/2020 12
 1. Buoyancy
Solution – cont’d
• Now take the free body diagram for the cylindrical mass.
• The force Fb (buoyant force)
• Fb = 𝜌𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑔V𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦
• V𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝜋
• V𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 = 12 2.5 − 1 = 1.1781 m3
4

• σ F𝑦 = 0
• T − W + 𝑉𝛾 = 0
• 12760.4 𝑁 − 𝑊 + 𝑉 9800N. m3 = 0
𝜋 2
• But V = 1𝑚 1.5𝑚 = 1.1781m3
4
3 N3
• 12760.4 𝑁 − M𝑔 + (1.1781m )(9800 ) =0
𝑚
• M= 2478kg 13
19/10/2020
 1. Buoyancy
Practice example
A piece of wood 305 mm wide and 3 m
long, weighing 6288.46 N/m3 is
submerged vertically in a body of
water, its upper end being flush with
the water surface. What vertical force is
required to hold it in position?

19/10/2020 14
 1. Buoyancy
Solution

V𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 0.3052 𝑚 3𝑚 = 0.279.75𝑚3

𝑊 = 𝛾𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 6288.46 0.279.75
W = 1754.95 N
Buoyant force:
𝐵𝐹 = 𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑉𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 = 9810 0.279075 = 2737.72 𝑁
෍ 𝐹𝑣 = 0

Force + Weight = BF
F+1754.95=2737.72 N
F = 982.77 N
Therefore 982.77 N is the vertical force required to hold the piece of
wood in position
19/10/2020 15
 2. Floatation
• Floating bodies have a special case: only a portion of the
body is submerged with the remainder poking up out of the
free surface
• For floating bodies to be in equilibrium, 3 conditions must
be satisfied:
1. The buoyant force Fb must equal the weight of the floating
body (w) then the object will float.
2. If the weight of the object is greater than the up thrust, (force of
fluid) then the object will sink in the fluid
3. Buoyant force Fb and body W must act in the same straight line
So for equilibrium Fb = Wobjec𝑡

19/10/2020 16……………
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies

• Three conditions of static equilibrium of a body may be:

a) Stable
b) Unstable
c) Neutral (could be considered stable)
• Stability of a submerged bodies
1. Stable equilibrium => if when displaced, it returns to
its original equilibrium position
2. Neutral Equilibrium => when rotated, it will come rest
in any position
3. Unstable equilibrium => if when displaced, it returns to
its new equilibrium position
19/10/2020 17
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies

• Note;
• In this case (body fully immersed in water) when the
body tilted, the shape of the displaced fluid doesn’t
change, so the center of buoyancy remains unchanged
relative to the body
• The weight of the body is located at the center of gravity
of the body (G) and the buoyant force located at the
center of buoyancy (B)

19/10/2020 18
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies
Stable equilibrium
A small angular displacement V from the equilibrium
position will generate a moment equals: (W × BG × v). The
immersed body is considered Stable if G is below B, this
will generate righting moment and the body will tend to
return to its original equilibrium position

19/10/2020 19
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies
Unstable Equilibrium
The immersed body is considered Unstable if G is above B,
this will generate an overturning moment and the body
will tend to be in new equilibrium position

19/10/2020 20
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies
Neutral Equilibrium
• G and B coincide. The body will always assume the same
position in which it is placed. A body having a small
displacement and then released, neither returns to the
original position nor increases its displacement, it will
simply adapt to the new position

19/10/2020 21
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies
• A submerged body will be in stable, or neutral equilibrium if
the center of Gravity (G) is below B, or coincident with the
center of Buoyancy (B) and it will be unstable if center of
gravity (G) is above B.

19/10/2020 22
 3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies
• An important application of the buoyancy concept is the
assessment of the stability of immersed and floating bodies with
no external attachments.
• For floating bodies the stability problem is more complicated,
since as the body rotates the location of the center of buoyancy
(which passes through the centroid of the displaced volume) may
change.

19/10/2020 23
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies
• A floating body can be stable even though the center of
gravity lies above the center of buoyancy.
• This is true since as the body rotates the buoyant force,
shifts to pass through the centroid of the newly formed
displaced volume and, combines with the weight, to form
a couple which will cause the body to return to its original
equilibrium position.
• However, for the relatively tall, slender body shown in
Fig. below, a small rotational displacement can cause the
buoyant force and the weight to form an overturning
couple

19/10/2020 24
3. Stability of Immersed and floating bodies

19/10/2020 25
3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Metacenter (M)
• The point at which the line of action of the buoyant force (Fb)
cuts the original vertical line through G: W x GM x v. (GM =>
metacentric height). It is defined as the point about which body
starts oscillating when the body is tilted by a small angle
• It is the point at which the line of action of the force of buoyancy
will meet the normal axis of the body when the body is given
small angular displacement

19/10/2020 26
3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Meta – centric Height
• It is the distance between the meta-center of floating body
and center of gravity (G)
• Methods used;
1. Analytical Method
𝐼
GM = − BG,
∀
where I = M.O.i and ∀ = volume of submerged body
2. Experimental method for meta-centric Height
𝑊1 𝑑
𝐺𝑀 =
𝑤 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃
Where W=weight of vessel
G= center of gravity of vessel
B= center of buoyancy
𝑊1 = movable weight
d = distance between movable weight
19/10/2020 27
 3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Neutral
If M coincides with G, the body is in neutral equilibrium
Determination of the position of meta-center Relative to
Center of Buoyancy
𝐈
𝐁𝐌 =
𝐕𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝
I = the smallest moment of inertia of the waterline plane

19/10/2020 28
 3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Procedure for Evaluating the stability of Floating Bodies
1. Determine the position of the floating body (draft) using the
principles of buoyancy (total Weights = Buoyant Force)
2. Locate the center of buoyance B and compute the distance from
some datum to point B (YB). The bottom of the object is usually
taken as datum
3. Locate the center of gravity G and compute (YG) measured from
the same datum
4. Determine the shape of the area at the fluid surface (plane view)
and compute I for that shape
5. Compute the displace volume (𝐕𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩 )
6. Compute BM distance (BM=I/𝐕𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩 )
7. Compute (YM =YM+BM)
8. If (YM>YG)>> the body is stable. (GM=+VE)
9. If (YM<YG)>> the body is unstable. (GM=-VE)
29
19/10/2020
 3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Important Note
If YM = YG (GM=0), this case is called neutral and
the object could be considered stable.

19/10/2020 30
 3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Example
A barge 6 m wide and 20 m long is loaded with rocks. Assume that the
center of gravity of the rocks and barge is located along the centerline
at the top surface of the barge. If the rocks and the barge weigh
200,000 kg, would the barge be stable?

19/10/2020 31
 3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Solution
Known:
Width: 6m
Length: 20 m
Weight: 200,000kg
𝛾 =9.81

• Firstly we calculate the draft from the principles of buoyancy:

Fb = total weight
Fb = 𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 . V𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 = 20,000 × 9.81 × V = 0
(𝑤𝑔) 200,000𝑘𝑔×9.81
V𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 = = = 200m3
𝛾 9810
V𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝 200m3 1.667
yB = = = = 0.833 YG = 2.4m (as given)
𝐿𝑤 6×20 2

19/10/2020 32
 3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Solution – cont’d
I
• Calculate BM: BM = V , I = moments of inertia for the
dis

• water line (smallest I for top view)

20×6³ 360
I= = 360m4 , BM = = 1.8m
12 200
→ Ym = YB + BM
→ Ym = 0.833 + 1.8 = 2.633 m
GM = Ym − YG = 2.633 − 2.4 = 0.233(+VE) → Stable√
• Ym = 2.633
• YG = 2.4 Therefore: Ym >YG = (+𝐕𝐄) →Stable
• Remember: The immersed body is considered Stable if G is below B
19/10/2020 33
3. Stability of a submerged bodies
Practice Question
For the shown figure below, a cube of wood of side length (L) is
floating in water. If the specific gravity of the wood is 0.88, determine if
this cube is stable or not

19/10/2020 34