STABILITY OF FLOATIBG BODIES Then dV = x tan 𝛼 dA in volume 1 and dV = -x tan 𝛼 dA in volume 2,

where dA = l dx, l being the constant length of the body.The equation

The notion of stability can be demonstrated by considering the above becomes
vertical stability of a floating object. If the object is raised a small distance,
the buoyant force decreases and the object’s weight returns the object to 𝑥̅ 𝑉 = tan 𝛼 ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴 + tan 𝛼 ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴
its original position. Conversely, if a floating object is lowered slightly, the 𝐴1 𝐴2

buoyant force increases and the larger buoyant force returns the object to 𝑥̅ 𝑉 = tan 𝛼 ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴
its original position. Thus a floating object has vertical stability, since a 𝐴
small departure from equilibrium results in a restoring force. 𝑥̅ 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑜 𝑡an 𝛼
Consider now the rotational stability of a submerged body, where I is the second moment (moment of inertia) of the waterline area
O

shown in Fig. 1. In part (a) the center of gravity G of the body is above the
centroid C (also referred to as the center of buoyancy) of the displaced
volume, and a small angular rotation results in a moment that will continue
to increase the rotation; hence the body is unstable and overturning would
result. If the center of gravity is below the centroid, as in part (c), a small
angular rotation provides a restoring moment and the body is stable. Part
(b) shows neutral stability for a body in which the center of gravity and the
centroid coincide, a situation that is encountered whenever the density is
constant throughout the submerged body.
about an axis passing through the origin O. The waterline area would be
FIGURE 2 the length 𝐴𝐸̅̅̅̅ times the length l of the body if l were of constant length.
To determine a quantitative relationship for the distance GM refer to the Using 𝑥̅ = 𝐶𝑀̅̅̅̅̅ tan 𝛼, we can write:
sketch of Fig. 3, which shows a uniform cross section. Let us find an ̅̅̅̅̅ 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑜
𝐶𝑀
expression for 𝑥̅ , the x-coordinate of the centroid of the displaced liquid or, with 𝐶𝐺̅̅̅̅ + ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐺𝑀 = 𝐶𝑀̅̅̅̅̅, we have
volume. It can be found by considering the volume to be the original 𝐼𝑜
volume plus the added wedge with cross-sectional area DOE minus the ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐺𝑀 = − ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐶𝐺
𝑉
subtracted wedge with cross-sectional area AOB; to locate the centroid of For a given body orientation, if ̅̅̅̅̅ 𝐺𝑀 is positive, the body is stable. Even
a composite volume, we take moments as follows: though this relationship is derived for a floating body with uniform cross
𝑥̅ 𝑉 = 𝑥̅𝑜 𝑉𝑜 + 𝑥̅1 𝑉1 − 𝑥̅2 𝑉2 section, it is applicable for floating bodies in general.
where 𝑉𝑜 is the original volume below the water line, 𝑉1 is the area DOE
times the length 𝑥̅1 , and 𝑉2 is the area AOB times the length 𝑥̅2 ; the cross ALL PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ARE FROM:
section is assumed to be uniform so that the length l is constant for the POTTER, M.C., D. WIGGERTand B. RAMADAN, 2012, Mechanics of Fluids, 4th
body. The quantity 𝑥̅𝑜 , the x- coordinate of point C, is zero. The remaining ed. Cengage Learning, USA.
two terms can best be represented by integrals so that

𝑥̅ 𝑉 = ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑉 − ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑉
𝑣1 𝑣2

FIGURE 1
Next, consider the rotational stability of a floating body. If the center of
gravity is below the centroid, the body is always stable, as with the
submerged body of Fig. 1c.The body may be stable, though, even if the
center of gravity is above the centroid, as sketched in Fig. 2a.When the
body rotates the centroid of the volume of displaced liquid moves to the
new location C ‘, shown in part (b). If the centroid C ’ moves sufficiently
far, a restoring moment develops and the body is stable, as shown. This FIGURE 3
is determined by the metacentric height ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐺𝑀 defined as the distance from
G to the point of intersection of the buoyant force before rotation with the
buoyant force after rotation. If ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐺𝑀 is positive, as shown, the body is
stable; if ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐺𝑀 is negative (M lies below G), the body is unstable.
 UNSTABLE CONFIGURATION AFTER TILTING For rectangular bodies:
STABILITY OF FLOATING BODIES 𝐵2 tan2 𝜃
INITIAL POSITION: 𝑀𝐵𝑜 = (1 + )
12𝐷 2
For RM and OM:
𝑅𝑀 𝑜𝑟 𝑂𝑀 = 𝑊𝑀𝐺𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃)

EXAMPLES:
1. A 0.25-m-diameter cylinder is 0.25 m long and composed of
material with specific weight 8000 N/m3.Will it float in water with
the ends horizontal?
D 2. A plastic cube of side L and S = 0.82 is placed vertically in water.
Is the cube stable?
3. A block of wood (S = 0.64) is in the shape of a rectangular
parallelepiped having a 10-cm square base. If the block floats
in sea water with its square base horizontal, what is its
B NOMENCLATURE: maximum height for stable equilibrium in the upright position?
STABLE CONFIGURATION AFTER TILTING 4. A rectangular scow 9m wide, 12m long and 3.6m high weighs
W = weight of the body 3304KN.
BF = buoyant force (always equal to W for floating bodies) a. What is the draft in the seawater with unit weight of 10.2
G = Center of gravity of the body KN/m3
Bo = center of buoyancy in the upright position (centroid of the displaced b. What is the metacentric height if its center of gravity is 2.7m
liquid) above the bottom
Bo’ = center of buoyancy in the tilted position c. If the scow tilts until one side is just at the point of
VD = volume displaced submergence, determine the righting couple.
M = metacenter, the point of intersection between the line of action of
the bouiyant force and the axis of the body PRACTICE PROBLEMS:
c = center of gravity of the wedges 9immersion and emersion) 1. The center of gravity of a ship in the upright position is 9m
s = horizontal distance between the cg’s of the wedges above the center of gravity of the portion below water, the
v = volume of the wedge of immersion displacement being 12MN. The ship tilts 30º causing the
θ = angle of tilting center of buoyancy shift sidewise 8m.
MBo = distance from M to Bo a. What type of moment is produce by the weight and
GBo = distance from G to Bo buoyant force?
MG = metacentric height, distance from M to G b. What is the magnitude of moment in item a
2. The barge shown in Figure is loaded such that the center of
COMMONLY USED FORMULA: gravity of the barge and the load is at the waterline. Is the
Exact: barge stable?
𝑣𝑠
𝑀𝐵𝑜 =
𝑉𝐷 sin 𝜃
Estimated/Upright Position/ θ approaches to 0
𝐼
𝑀𝐵𝑜 =
𝑉𝐷