Name: Samseth Ephraim F.

Villanea
Subject: Sea-4

Course: BSMT-2
Instructor: Capt. Dumaguin

In physics, a free surface is the surface of a fluid that is subject to zero parallel shear stress,[1] such as
the boundary between two homogeneousfluids,[2] for example liquid water and the air in the Earth's
atmosphere. Unlike liquids, gases cannot form a free surface on their own.[3]Fluidized/liquified solids,
including slurries, granular materials, and powders may form a free surface.

A liquid in a gravitational field will form a free surface if unconfined from above. [3] Under mechanical
equilibrium this free surface must be perpendicular to the forces acting on the liquid; if not there would be
a force along the surface, and the liquid would flow in that direction. [4] Thus, on the surface of the Earth,
all free surfaces of liquids are horizontal unless disturbed (except near solids dipping into them,
where surface tension distorts the surface in a region called the meniscus).[4]

In a free liquid that is not affected by outside forces such as a gravitational field, internal attractive forces
only play a role (e.g. Van der Waals forces,hydrogen bonds). Its free surface will assume the shape with
the least surface area for its volume: a perfect sphere. Such behaviour can be expressed in terms
of surface tension. It can be demonstrated experimentally by observing a large globule of oil placed below
the surface of a mixture of water and alcohol having the same density so the oil has neutral buoyancy.[5][6]

Concept of Free Surface Effect

When a tank on the ships centreline is not completely full of liquid, and the ship heels, the liquid in the
tank moves across the tank in the same direction as the direction of heel. Because of this effect, the centre
of gravity of the ship moves away from the centreline, which reduces the righting lever GZ & the height
of the metacentre, which further increases the angle of heel. This effect is known as the free surface
effect.

You might be interested in reading: Terminology used in Ship Construction

Let us consider a tank partly full of water in a ship of displacement , and inclined to some angle .
The ships centre of gravity will move from G to G1, as the wedge of liquid moves across the tank.
As per our knowledge, see the diagram.

Moment of shift of ships buoyancy = moment due to shift of buoyancy wedge.

x GG1 = m x gg1
m x gg1
GG1 = ..

v x x gg1
GG1 = ..= which is shift of C.G. ..(1)
x 1

Meaning of terms:
v = Volume of wedge, = Density of wedge, 1 = Density of sea water
= Volume of displacement. m = Mass of wedge
Now as the wedge of liquid is triangular and it is assumed to be divided in to thin strips of length x.
Volume of strip of wedge = x y x ytan x x

= y2 tan x x

Mass of strip of wedge

= x y2 tan x x

Moment of transfer of

strip of wedge
= (4/3y) x x y2 tan x x
= tan x 2/3 y3 x
Moment of transfer of total wedge
=
tan x (2/3 y3 x) .. (2)
Also, moment of transfer of total wedge will be
= v x x gg1 .. (3)

We will get from equations (2) AND (3)

v x x gg1 = tan x (2/3 y3 x) ..

(4) Now as the wedge of liquid is triangular and it is assumed to be divided in to thin strips of length x.
Volume of strip of wedge = x y x ytan x x
=
y2 tan x x
Mass of strip of wedge = x y2 tan x x
Moment of transfer of strip of wedge
= (4/3y) x x y2 tan x x
= tan x 2/3 y3 x

Moment of transfer of total wedge

= tan

x (2/3 y3 x) .. (2)
Also, moment of transfer of total wedge
= v x x gg1 .. (3)

We will get from equations 2 and 3

v x x gg1
= tan x (2/3 y3 x) ..(4)
But as we know that,
(2/3 y3 x) = 2nd moment of area of free surface about the centerline of the tank
= Ixx = (1/12 x l x b) ..
(5)
(5),

We will get from equations (3) and

v x x gg1 = tan x Ixx .. (6)
from (1) and (6)
tan x Ixx

GG1
= ..= shift of C.G. .. (7)
x 1
As a result of this movement (shift) of the ships centre of gravity from g to G1, the righting lever GZ is
reduced to G1Z

Reduction in righting lever due to free surface effect will be = G1Z = G2Z = G2M sin
Now from triangle GG1G2
GG1

= tan
GG2
GG2 = which is reduction in metacentric height
GG1
= 8)
tan

Therefore from (7) and (8)

tan x Ixx

GG2
= x
x 1

tan

And there will be reduction in gm due to this free surface effect

x Ixx

=
GG2 =

(9)