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Free Surface Effect: Dcad Rocloyd Ligason
Free Surface Effect: Dcad Rocloyd Ligason
A
Free Surface Effect
• Is one of several mechanisms where a craft can become
unstable and roll-over (capsize).
B
“Liquid that only partially fills a compartment is
said to have a free surface that tends to
remain horizontal (parallel to the waterline).
When the ship is inclined, the liquid flows to
the lower side (in the direction of inclination),
increasing the inclining moment.”
Why does free surface always
remain horizontal, parallel to the
water line?
C
A liquid in a gravitational field will form a free surface if
unconfined from above.
Figure No. 3
Due to the horizontal shift of the center of gravity, the righting arm is now G2Z2. To
determine the effect on stability, a vertical line is projected upward through G2 (see
below). Where this line crosses the ship’s centerline is labeled G3.
The righting arm G3Z3 is the same length as the righting arm G2Z2.
Therefore, moving the ship’s center of gravity to position G2 or G3 yields the same
effect on stability. Movement from G0 to G3 is referred to as a Virtual Rise of the
center gravity.
Figure No. 4
We can calculate the virtual rise in the centre of
gravity due to the free surface effect by using
the formula;
Figure No. 5
Where:
D.1
Free surface effect becomes a problem in
a craft with large partially-full bulk
cargo compartments, fuel or water
tanks, especially if they are located
spanning its fore to aft centerline.
Figure no. 10
2. SURFACE PERMEABILITY
Impermeable objects (engines, pumps, piping systems, etc) inside
a flooded space project through and above the liquid surface.
These objects inhibit the moving water and the "shifting of the
wedge" may or may not be complete, thus reducing Free Surface
Effect. The impermeable objects also occupy volume, reducing the
amount of flooding water (movable weight) that can fill the space.
Figure no. 11
3. SWASH BULKHEADS (BAFFLE PLATES)
In addition to some structural support, these bulkheads are
designed to reduce Free Surface Effect. They are longitudinal
bulkheads that hinder, but do not prevent, the flow of liquid from
side to side as the ship rolls or heels. They are found in tanks,
Figure no. 12
voids, double bottoms, bilges, etc.
4. SLUICE VALVES
Sluice valves allow opposing tanks to be cross-connected. When large,
partially filled tanks are connected, Free Surface Effect increases, and the
vessel becomes less stable. Ships like oilers and tenders use these
valves to create long, slow roll periods during ammunition handling and
refueling.
Figure no. 13
• Free surface effect can affect any kind of
craft: ranging from watercraft (where it is
most common) to bulk cargo or liquid
tanker semi-trailers and trucks (causing
either jackknifing or roll-overs), or aircraft
(especially fire-fighting water-drop and
refueling tankers where baffles mitigate but
do not eliminate the effects).
surface effect are often a contributing cause voyage to Stockholm, the capital
of Sweden . She carried 989
of accidents, capsizes and casualties e.g. the people, 803 of whom were
passengers.
loss of
• TEV Wahine (Wellington, New Zealand, April 1968),
• the MS Herald of Free Enterprise (Zeebrugge, Belgium,
March 1987), and
• MS Estonia (Baltic Sea, September 1994).
What can
be done to
minimize
the
free surface
effect?
D.2
To mitigate the hazard of “free surface effect”, cargo vessels
use multiple smaller bulk compartments or liquid tanks,
instead of fewer larger ones, and possibly baffling within
bulk compartments or liquid tanks to minimize the free
surface effects on the craft as a whole. Keeping
individual bulk compartments or liquid tanks either
relatively empty or full is another way to minimize the
effect and its attendant problems.
E
• Tankers are fitted with compartments so that there
are several tanks instead of one big tank. Even though
the same quantity of oil is carried, the center of gravity
of individual oil tanks will also shift, but the
summation of all the centers of gravities, does not shift
the center of gravity of the ship that significantly as
before.
Figure no. 15
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F
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_surface_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_surface
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/swos/dca/stg4-03.html
http://www.free-marine.com/i8freesurface.htm
http://www.balticsworldwide.com/images/mseesti.jpg
http://www.marinefirefighting.com/Pages/Newsletters/Newsletter6.htm
http://www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSafety/TP/Tp10038/27-stab-free-surface-effect.htm
http://www.safety-at-sea.co.uk/mvestonia/
http://www.sspa.se
ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 15 :http://www.google.com
glossary:
Fluid Dynamics/ Hydronomics
a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics dealing with fluid flow: liquids and gases
in motions.
Baffling
partitions placed in tanks to reduce shifting of the water load and to give the
tank greater structural integrity.
Inertia
the tendency of a body to maintain its state of rest or uniform motion unless
acted upon by an external force
Jackknifing
means the accidental folding of an articulated vehicle (i.e. one towing a
trailer) such that it resembles the acute angle of a folding pocket knife.
Fluids
Continuous amorphous matter that tends
to flow and to conform to the outline of
its container:
a liquid or a gas