Hydrostatics & stability

Nomenclature
Talking with Naval Architects

Coordinates

Stern

Bow

Keel(K)

Heel= static roll

Trim = static pitch

Nomenclature
The bow is pointing forward,
The stern is facing aft (backwards)
The starboard side is on your right as you
face forward,
The port side is on your left as you face
forward

Archimedes Principle
The buoyancy of an object is equal to the
weight of displaced fluid

Buoyancy Force
Static Pressure
B

P=gz

F = P*A = [gT]*BL = g*TBL = g*(Volume)

Tip: All fluid forces of importance for

offshore structures are pressure
forces!

Displacement
T
L

= LBT

= wLBT

= LBTC B = wLBTCB

L = Length
B = Beam (width)
T = Draft
CB = Block coefficient
= Displacement (Volume)
= Displacement (Buoyancy Force)
w = Density of fluid = g

100m

Example 1: Compute draft

(T) for prismatic barge, 100
m long, 30 m wide, weight
4000 t

30 m
4000 t

T?

w =1.025 t/m3
Seawater

= wLBT = 4000 t
T = 4000 t / [wLB] = 4000 t /
[1.025 t/m3 * 100 m * 30 m] =

1.3 m Draft

Hydrostatic Stiffness - Heave

W
W + W
T

T
K = W/T = wAwp
Awp = LB (Waterplane Area)

Hydrostatic Stiffness Roll/Pitch

Pontoon Cross Section

60 m typ

10 m
5m

10 m Dia typ

25 m

Example 2: Semi-Submersible Weighs

3000 t. How much payload can it carry?
What is its vertical stiffness? Seawater is
1.025 t/m3.

Three Rules of Floating

Platform Design

First Rule of Floaters: Buoyancy

must equal weight plus any
external vertical forces.
Weight includes:
1. Hull Steel Weight
2. Hull Outfitting
3. Topsides Payload (fixed and variable)
4. Topsides Structure
5. Ballast in Hull (fixed and variable)
External Vertical Forces Include
1. Component of Mooring Load
2. Component of Riser Load
3. Suspended weights (e.g. from crane)

2nd Rule of Floaters: The weight shall be

positioned such that the hull will not tip over!

Typhoon TLP
after
Hurricane Rita

3rd Rule of Floaters: There

should be enough Reserve
Buoyancy to maintain
balance and stability even
with tanks flooded!

Thunderhorse Semi after

Hurricane Dennis Reserve
Buoyancy in Deck saved it
from sinking!

P-36 After Explosion in

Column Not Enough
Reserve Buoyancy

Transverse Stability
Stability = Tendency to return to
a previous condition when
perturbed!

W
W

Case 1: Positively stable

Case 2: Negatively stable or unstable

The metacenter is the point of

intersection between the action of the
buoyant force and the centerline of
the vessel.
W

W1

Lost
Buoyancy

L1
G
B
K

z
B1

Gained
Buoyancy

Metacentric Height is the distance

from the center of gravity to the
metacenter.
GM is the
W
metacentric
height
and must be
positive!

W1

L1
G
B
K

K
G
B
M
GM
KB KG-

z
B1

keel point
point of action of weight, i.e. center of gravity
point of action of buoyancy, i.e. center of buoyancy; The position of B
shifts with the amount of heel (B to B1)
Point of intersection of line of buoyancy and centerline, i.e. Metacenter
Distance between G and M, i.e. metacentric height.
Distance from Keel Point to B
Distance from Keel Point to G

Metacentric Height, GM
W

BM
M
W1

L1

KB
G
B

z
B1

KG

GM = KB + BM KG

BM is a function of the
waterplane inertia
(moment of square of the
distance from the axis)

I xx LB 3 / 12 B 2
BM =
=
=

LBT
12T

Different B

Metacentric Height (GM) and

Restoring Moment
= GZ*B ~ GM*B* sin() (small angles)

GZ is the righting arm

W

W1

L1
G
B
K

z
B1

Example Restoring Moment Curve

 Plot GZ (righting arm) vs. angle of heel

Ships G does not change as angle changes (not
true if tanks are partially full)
Ships B always at center of underwater portion of
hull
Ships underwater portion of hull changes as heel
angle changes
GZ changes as angle changes

Example: Maximum KG
as function of total weight
for the 100 x 30 m barge.

GM = KB + BM KG

T
B

GM=T/2 + B2/12T - KG

Stable if GM > 0
KG<T/2 +B2/12T

Substitute T = W/(wLB)

w B3L
W
+
KG
2 w LB 12W

Draft (T), KGmax - m

70
60

L=100 m
B = 30 m

50
40

30

Kgmax

20
10
0
0

5000

10000
Weight, t

15000

20000

Max KG for Payload is

required in operating
manual for vessels.

A. A rectangular barge is 80 m long by 20 m wide. It weighs 5000 tonnes

with its cargo. What is its draft if the density of water is 1.025 t/m3?
B. What is the maximum value of KG for this barge for positive stability, i.e.
GM>0?
C. Man is in rowboat on lake. There is an anchor in the boat. He throws the
anchor overboard. Does the level of the lake:
Raise
Go down
Stay the same?
D. A glass of water has an ice cube. When the ice melts is the level of
water.
Higher
Lower
The Same?
Hint: The density of water is greater than the density of ice.
E. A glass of Scotch has an ice cube. When the ice melts, is the level
Higher
Lower
The Same?
Hint: The density of Scotch is less than the density of ice.

Vboat = (Wboat + Wanchor)/w

Vw

W
h = (Vboat + Vw)/(WL) = 1/(WL)*(Wboat/ w+Wanchor/w+Vw)

Vboat = Wboat /w

Vw

Vanchor = Wanchor/a

W
h2 = (Vboat + Vanchor +Vw)/(WL) = 1/(WL)*(Wboat/ w+Wanchor/a+Wanchor/w+Vw)
h1 = (Vboat + Vw)/(WL) = 1/(WL)*(Wboat/ w+Wanchor/w+Vw)
Since

a>w

h2 < h1. The level goes down!

Vice = Wice /w

Vw

Ice cube in
water

Vicewater = Wice /w

Vw

The ice cube and the melted ice

cube weigh the same!.... H is the
same

Vice = Wice /ice

Vw

h1

Since ice < w

Vice > Vicewater
h1 > h2

Vicewater = Wice /w

Vw

h2

Ice cube in
scotch

Class Rules for Stability

Overturning Moment
Wind
Force

6m

Reaction force from:

a) Centroid of Drag or
b) Moorings (use worst)

Wind Load Calculations

Wind Force
Select different
block areas
based on
elevation,
shape

z4
6m

3.6 m

Tip: For wind calcluations

use the waterline as z=0 ..
Convert to the keel
reference for stability!!!

z5

2
1

z2
z1

z3

Zc_wind

Force in normalized
by Ur2

Centroid based on
1st moment of forces

Wind Force Coefficient

Cw = Wind Force Divided by Velocity (at
10 m) Squared
Units:
tonne/(m/sec)2
Kips/(ft/sec)2
kN/(m/sec)2

Overturning Moment
Wind Force = 898*Ur2 (N)

2.4 + 16.5 = 18.9

Moment Arm
6m

2.4 m
draft

Reaction force from:

Moorings at keel (assume worst)

 Watertight Integrity
Compartments and fittings designed for
hydrostatic head (minimum 20 ft) of
surrounding structure.

Weathertight Integrity
Under design sea conditions water will not
enter the structure (e.g. typically limited by
vent openings)

18000

Min extent of weathertight

integrity (assumed when
deck imerses!)

16000

14000

Moment (t-m)

12000

10000
Righting Moment KG=5
Overturning Moment

8000

6000

1st Intercept

4000

2nd Intercept

2000

0
0

10

20

30

40
Theta (deg)

50

60

70

80

Intact Stability Example

KG = 5
GM = 9.9

KG
Area A
Area B
Area C
A+B
B+C
Ratio (A+B)/(B+C)
Min Reqd

5
88500
72750
10500
161250
83250
1.94
1.4
OK

Even with positive GM

the barge does not meet
Class Rules for Stabiltiy:
Reduce KG or Reduce
Weight.. Or? Add
fixed ballast..
KG = 10
GM = 4.9

Increases Weight but

lowers KG

10
20000
67500
22500
87500
90000
0.97
1.4
NO!!

9000

8000

7000

Moment (t-m)

6000

5000
Righting Moment KG=10
Overturning Moment
4000

C
3000

2000

1000

0
0

10

15

20
Theta (deg)

25

30

35

40

Intact Stability Rules for Offshore

Floating Platforms
Must have a positive GM for all conditions
Survive overturning moment from 100 kt wind
(51.5 m/sec)
Waves not considered in class rules
Reaction from drag (free floating) or mooring,
whichever is worse

Inclining test is required for first unit of series

Righting moment curves and overturning
moment curves are required for all operating
drafts

Damage Stability Rules

Consider accidental floating of any
compartment with external connections to
the sea, or adjacent to the sea
Mean heeling angle plus overturning due
to 50 kt wind should not exceed limits of
weathertight integrity.

Wind Tunnel Testing

Photos from
Force Technology
(www.force.dk)