THE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY – GAZA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Hydraulics Lab
(ECIV 3122)

Report No. (4)

Metacentric Height of Floating Bodies

Submitted By: Supervised By:

Mohammed W. Hasaniyah Eng. Mohammed Mousa

120133022

Class No.109

Group No.3

Submission Date:

Thursday: 24-Mar-2016
 HYDRAULICS LAB

 Introduction:
The metacentric height is a measurement of the static stability of a floating body. It is
calculated as the distance between the center of gravity of a ship and its metacenter (GM). A
larger metacentric height implies greater stability against overturning. Metacentric height also
has implication on the natural period of rolling of a hull, with very large metacentric heights
being associated with shorter periods of roll which are uncomfortable for passengers. Hence, a
sufficiently high but not excessively high metacentric height is considered ideal for passenger
ships.

Metacenter is defined as the point about which a body starts oscillating when the body is tilted
by a small angle. The metacenter may also be defined as 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 a small
angular displacement .It is denoted by M. The distance between the metacenter (M) of a
floating body and the center of gravity (G) of the body is called metacentric height (GM).

For a body to be in equilibrium on the liquid surface the two forces gravity force (w) and
buoyant force (Fb) must lie in the same vertical line. If the point M is above G, the floating body
will be in stable equilibrium. If slight angular displacement is given to the floating body in
clockwise direction, the center of buoyancy shifts from B to B1 such that the line of action of Fb
through B1 cuts the axis at M, which is called the metacenter and the distance GM is called the
metacentric height. The buoyant force Fb through B1 and weight W through G constitute a
couple acting in anti- clockwise direction and thus bringing the floating body in the original
position.
 HYDRAULICS LAB

 Purpose:
 To study force balances in a static system.
 To determine the meta-centric height and position of the meta-centric height.

 Apparatus:
 Flat bottomed pontoon. (Figure 1)
 Hydraulic bench. (Figure 2)
 Weights. (Figure 3)

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure3
 HYDRAULICS LAB

 Procedures:
Determination of floatation characteristic for unloaded and for loaded pontoon

 Assemble the pontoon by positioning the bridge piece and mast.

 Weigh the pontoon and determine the height of its center of gravity up the line of the mast.
 Fill the hydraulic bench measuring tank with water and float the pontoon in it, then ensure that the
plumb line on the zero mark.
 Apply a weight of 50 g on the bridge piece loading pin then measure and record the angle of tilting
and the value of applied weight.
 Repeat step 4 for different weights; 100, 150, & 200 g, and take the corresponding angle of tilting.
 Repeat the above procedure with increasing the bottom loading by 2 Kg and 4Kg.
 Calculate GM practically.
 Draw a relationship between θ (x-axis) and GM (y-axis), then obtain GM when θ equals zero.
 Calculate GM theoretically

Determination of floatation characteristic when changing the center of

gravity of the pontoon.

 Replace the bilge weights by 4x 50 gm weights.

 Apply a weight of 300gm on a height of 190 mm from the pontoon surface.
 Apply weights of 40, 80 &120 gms on the bridge piece loading pin, then record the tilting angle.
 Move 50 gm bilge weight to the mast ahead, then repeat step 3.
 Repeat step 3 moving 100, 150 & 200 gm bilge weight to the mast.
 Calculate GM practically.
 Determine the height of the center of gravity for each loading condition.
 Calculate GM theoretically.
 HYDRAULICS LAB

 Calculations

P(123)
GM 
W sin 

Wvm (OGvm )  Wb (OGb ) Wvm (OGvm )  Wb ( x1)

OG  
Wvm  Wb Wvm  Wb

Part A
OG(1)
W1 (g) 3000 x1 (mm) 0 125 H (mm) 170
(mm)
OG(2)
W2 (g) 5000 x1 (mm) 30 87 L (mm) 380
(mm)
OG(3)
W3 (g) 7000 x1 (mm) 37.5 75 D (mm) 250
(mm)

Bilge Mean GM at θ
Off balance Exp. GM Theo. GM
Weight Wb Def. θ = 0 from BM (mm) OB (mm)
weight P (g) (mm) (mm)
(g) (degree) graph

50 3 39.17
100 4.8 48.9974
0 38.371 164.93056 15.7895 55.72003
150 7 50.4639
200 9.5 49.6826
50 2.5 28.1985
100 5 28.2253
2000 26.539 98.958333 26.3158 38.27412
150 6.5 32.5962
200 9 31.4509
100 3.9 25.8345
150 6 25.2153
4000 24.086 70.684524 36.8421 32.52663
200 7 28.8365
250 9.2 27.4758
 HYDRAULICS LAB

P(123)
GM 
3500 sin 
L
Wvm(125)  Wb(35)  Wb1(190)  Wm(790  )
OG  2
W

Part B
W (g) 3500 V (cm3) 3500 OB (mm) 18.421053

GM at θ M above
Off balance Mean Def. θ Exp. GM Theo.
= 0 from BM (mm) OG (mm) water
wt. P (g) (degree) (mm) GM (mm)
graph level (mm)

Mast weight = 0.00 g 0 0

40 2.50 32.23
80 5.00 32.26 32.182 141.37 125.42857 34.36 122.95
120 7.50 32.31

Mast weight = 50.00 g 50 10

40 3.20 25.18
80 6.70 24.10 25.674 141.37 136.28571 23.51 122.95
120 10.20 23.81

Mast weight = 100.00 g 100 20

20 4.00 10.08
40 6.00 13.45 7.8011 141.37 147.28571 12.51 122.95
80 10.50 15.43

Mast weight = 150.00 g 150 30

10 3.00 6.71
20 6.00 6.72 5.2039 141.37 158.42857 1.36 122.95
40 9.00 8.99

Mast weight = 200.00 gm 200 40

Unstable
 HYDRAULICS LAB

 Results

60
y = 1.4333x + 38.371
50
EXP. GM (MM(

40
y = 0.6224x + 26.539

30

20
y = 0.4222x + 24.086

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

MEAN DEF. Θ )DEGREE(

35.00

30.00 y = 1.4333x + 38.371

y = 0.6224x + 26.539
25.00
EXP. GM (MM(

20.00

15.00

10.00 y = 0.4222x + 24.086

5.00

0.00
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00

MEAN DEF. Θ )DEGREE(

 HYDRAULICS LAB

 Conclusions & Comments:

 In part A, the difference between G.M Exp & G.M Theo is acceptable.
 In part B, when mast weight is increased the value of OG increases and the value of GM decreases.

 SOURCES OF ERROR:
 The error in the measurement of angle because of the setup could not be brought to rest
completely.
 Error in noting down the exact angle.
 Force balancing of a system floating in water was studied and the position of the meta-centric height
was determined for different values of load.

 References:
 The hydraulics laboratory manual : http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/mymousa/hydraulics-lab/

 Google images.

 https://www.scribd.com/doc/75983974/Metacentric-Height