Example 4.4 An FFG-7 class ship displacing 4092 LT has KG=18.9 ft and KM=22.49 ft.

There
is a tank filled with fuel oil with a density of 1.5924 lb-s2/ft4 creating a free
surface 30 ft wide and 60 ft long. The ship is floating in salt water with a density
of 1.9905 lb-s2/ft4. What is the effective metacentric height?

Solution:
∆ s = ρg∇ s
∆s 4092 LT ⋅ 2240lb / LT
∇s = = = 143,143 ft 3
ρg 1.9905lb − s / ft ⋅ 32.17 ft / s
2 4 2

l ⋅ b 3 60 ft ⋅ (30 ft ) 3
it = = = 135,000 ft 4
12 12

ρ t it
FSC =
ρ s∇ s
1.5924lb − s 2 / ft 4 ⋅ 135,000 ft 4
FSC = = 0.75 ft
1.9905lb − s 2 / ft 4 ⋅ 143,143 ft 3

GM eff = KM − KG − FSC
GM eff = 22.49 ft − 18.9 ft − 0.75 ft
GM eff = 2.84 ft

4.8.5 Effect of a Free Surface on GZ and Angle of List

As discussed earlier in this section, and shown in Figure 4.9, a free surface causes a reduction in
the ship’s righting arm, range of stability, and dynamic stability. With a free surface, the ship
now behaves as if the center of gravity were located at the virtual center of gravity. To calculate
the effective righting arm of a ship with a free surface, the original righting arm must be
corrected for the virtual rise in G caused by the free surface. Fortunately, you already have the
tool with which to make this correction ... the sine correction. Using Figure 4.9 as a guide, the
effective righting arm of a ship may be given as:
G1 Z 1 = GZ − GGv sin φ or
Z1 GZ − FSC sin ϕ
G1=

The worst case for a free surface is when the ship’s transverse center of gravity is located off of
the centerline. Section 4.6 demonstrated that a transverse shift in G resulted in a reduction in the
righting arm and overall stability. A free surface coupled with G being off the centerline is an
especially bad case. Not only has the overall stability been reduced by the transverse location of
G, but the effective rise in G due to the free surface further reduces righting arms, range of
stability, and dynamic stability. To correct the righting arm curve for a free surface and a
transverse change in G, one must first correct GZ for the virtual rise in G caused by the free

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