Hydrostatic Experiment

Stability Calculations & Free Surface

Effects
Professor: A. Ducoin
Rodrigo dos Santos Corra - Tin Yadanar Tun Jorge Duarte Benther
Selcuk Sahin

ABSTRACT
In order to make the report on the hydrostatic experiment to include the
description of the inclining test, procedures, methods of calculations
leading to finding the center of gravity of the ship and free surface effect.

Hydrostatic Experiment

Introduction
The objectives of this report are as followed:

In order to identify appropriate naval architectural principles and methods.

In order to apply these methods to a stability assessment and technical

characterization of a marine craft

Analyze and evaluate a simple stability related problem

An inclining test is a test performed on a ship to determine its stability, lightship

weight and the coordinates of its center of gravity. The test is applied to newly
constructed ships greater than 24m in length, and to ships altered in ways that could
affect stability.
The weight of a vessel can be readily determined by reading draughts and comparing
with the known hydrostatic properties. The metacentric height (GM), which
dominates stability, can be estimated from the design, but an accurate value must be
determined by an inclining test.
The inclining test is usually done inshore in calm weather, in still water, and free of
mooring restraints to achieve accuracy. The GM position is determined by moving
weights transversely to produce a known overturning moment in the range of 1-4
degrees if possible. Knowing the restoring properties (buoyancy) of the vessel from
its dimensions and floating position and measuring the equilibrium angle of the
weighted vessel, the GM can be calculated.
Inclining test procedures are specified by the International Maritime Organization and
other international associations.
I.
II.
III.

The displacement is checked by verifying the draft and then comparing it with
the hydrostatic table that was given by the professor.
The Stability is assessed in order to calculate the moments of inertia.
The Stability is tested with the addition of free surface effect.

Oil Tanker Model Scale

The ship used in this hydrostatic experimental have been modeled using the software
Maxsurf. Based on hull surface of the ship, this program allow the hydrostatic table
calculation.

Hydrostatic Experiment

Model Experimental Data

Length Over All
Loa
Length Between Perpendiculars
Lpp
Length of the Cylindrical Part
Lc
Fore end Part: Entrance Length
Le
Aft end Part: Run Length
Lr
Beam Over All
BOA
Max. Draft
Tmax
Shifting Weight Mass
p
Length of Pendulum (above ruler)
l

3.000
3.000
2.200
0.300
0.500
0.400
0.150
1.238
1.165

[m]
[m]
[m]
[m]
[m]
[m]
[m]
[kg]
[m]

In that oil tanker model there are 8 holes in order to change the load. The
experimental was done with lightship and full load ship.

Experiment
a)
b)
c)
d)

Study of the light ship hydrostatic features, including stability

Study of the loaded ship stability (possible comparison)
Study of the loaded ship stability with free surface effects: use of water tanks
Study of the loaded ship stability with free surface effects: use of different
water tanks

1) Lightship
a) Drafts (

In this experimental, the draft is measured in different location from the classical
definition. It means that its necessary correct the measured draft
and .
T aft [cm]
Sbd
port
7.80
7.60

T fore [cm]
Sbd
port
8.10
8.00

;
Where:

Hydrostatic Experiment

It means that the mean draft of the model in lightship condition is given by:

Finding the displacement and the

Draft
0.0790
0.07859
0.0780

Displ. [kg]
82.900
82.449
81.800

b) Longitudinal Center of Gravity (

Draft
0.0790
0.07859
0.0780

LCF [m]
0.058 fwd
0.058 fwd
0.058 fwd

When a ship is launched, the location of the center of gravity is known from the
evaluation of onboard weights. The hydrostatic table can be used to determine the
ship displacement, longitudinal center of gravity, longitudinal center of buoyancy,
longitudinal center of flotation, metacentric height and all hydrostatic parameters.
The hydrostatic table is calculated with trim equals to zero and from it the
) and the longitudinal metacentric height
longitudinal center of buoyance (
(
) can be calculated. Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.

Where:

Note:
) is given by the difference between the
The longitudinal metacentric radius (
) and the vertical position of the center of
longitudinal metacentric height (
buoyance.
Draft
0.0790
0.07859
0.0780

KML [m]
7.980
8.017
8.071

Draft
0.0790
0.07859
0.0780

Determine the Location of LCG

LCG = LCB = 0.096 m fwd.

KB [m]
0.040
0.040
0.039

Hydrostatic Experiment

c) Vertical Center of Gravity (

Hydrostatic Table also gives the vertical center of buoyance ( ) and the transverse
). Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.
metacentric height(
The inclining experimental test was used to determine the vertical center of gravity of
the model.
Description of the Inclining Test:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Run
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10

Shifting the weight mass (1.238 kg) and note the position (y)
Read the Ruler (x) in [cm]
Calculate GMt [m] (by formulation)
Draw the corresponding curve

Ruler
x [cm]
-3.50
4.80
-2.90
4.40
-2.50
3.90
-2.00
3.50
-1.50
3.00

tan = x/l
-0.0300
0.0412
-0.0249
0.0378
-0.0215
0.0335
-0.0172
0.0300
-0.0129
0.0258

Location
y [cm]
-20.0
20.0
-18.0
18.0
-16.0
16.0
-14.0
14.0
-12.0
12.0

Formulation
GMt [m]
0.0999
0.0729
0.1086
0.0716
0.1119
0.0718
0.1225
0.0699
0.1399
0.0699

KMt [m]
0,202
0,202
0,202
0,202
0,202
0,202
0,202
0,202
0,202
0,202

KG [m]
0.1020
0.1291
0.0934
0.1304
0.0900
0.1302
0.0796
0.1320
0.0621
0.1320

KB [m]
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396
0.0396

Hydrostatic Experiment

25

y [cm]

20

y = 578.81x - 3.5772
R = 0.99894

15
10
5
-0.040

-0.030

-0.020

0
-0.010 0.000
-5

tan = x/l
0.010

0.020

0.030

-10
-15
-20
-25

)
( )
(
(

And therefore:

The second order moment of the water plane Ixx is given by:

Where:

0.040

0.050

Hydrostatic Experiment

2) Loaded Ship

Parameter
AXG
KZG
Mass (kg)
Beam (m)
Length
(m)

Put the weights in their compartments following the sketch below:

Load 1
0.630
0.115
8.300
0.227

Load 2
0.880
0.115
8.300
0.227

Load 3
1.130
0.115
11.300
0.307

Load 4
1.375
0.115
8.300
0.227

Load 5
1.625
0.115
8.300
0.227

Load 6
1.875
0.115
11.300
0.307

Load 7
2.120
0.115
8.300
0.227

Load 8
2.370
0.115
8.300
0.227

0.232

0.232

0.232

0.232

0.232

0.232

0.232

0.232

Determine the new displacement and vertical position of center of gravity.

Weight
LightShip
Load 1
Load 2
Load 3
Load 4
Load 5
Load 6
Load 7
Load 8

Mass [kg]
82.449
8.300
8.300
11.300
8.300
8.300
11.300
8.300
8.300
154.849

KZG [m]
0.115
0.115
0.115
0.115
0.115
0.115
0.115
0.115
0.115

Moment [kg.m]
9.489
0.955
0.955
1.300
0.955
0.955
1.300
0.955
0.955
17.815

Hydrostatic Experiment

Similarly to first part, recomputed

a) Drafts (

with the draft marks

In this experimental, the draft is measured in different location from the classical
definition. It means that its necessary correct the measured draft
and .
T aft [cm]
Sbd
port
15.10
15.00

T fore [cm]
Sbd
port
14.10
13.90

;
Where:

It means that the mean draft of the model in lightship condition is given by:

Finding the displacement and the

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

Displ. [kg]
156.000
155.700
155.000

b) Longitudinal Center of Gravity (

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

LCF [m]
0.020 fwd
0.020 fwd
0.020 fwd

When a ship is launched, the location of the center of gravity is known from the
evaluation of onboard weights. The hydrostatic table can be used to determine the
ship displacement, longitudinal center of gravity, longitudinal center of buoyancy,
longitudinal center of flotation, metacentric height and all hydrostatic parameters.
The hydrostatic table is calculated with trim equals to zero and from it the
) and the longitudinal metacentric height
longitudinal center of buoyance (
(
) can be calculated. Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.

Hydrostatic Experiment

Where:

Note:
) is given by the difference between the
The longitudinal metacentric radius (
) and the vertical position of the center of
longitudinal metacentric height (
buoyance.
Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

KML
4.663
4.671
4.691

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

KB
0.074
0.074
0.073

Hydrostatic Table also gives the vertical center of buoyance ( ) and the transverse
). Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.
metacentric height(
The inclining experimental test was used to determine the vertical center of gravity of
the model.
Description of the Inclining Test:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Shifting the weight mass (1.238 kg) and note the position (y)
Read the Ruler (x) in [cm]
Calculate GMt [m] (by formulation)
Draw the corresponding curve

Run
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10

Ruler
x [cm]
-3.70
4.60
-3.20
4.10
-2.60
3.70
-2.30
3.20
-1.70
2.70

tan = x/l
-0.032
0.039
-0.027
0.035
-0.022
0.032
-0.020
0.027
-0.015
0.023

Location
y [cm]
-20
20
-18
18
-16
16
-14
14
-12
12

Formulation
GMt [m]
0.050
0.040
0.052
0.041
0.057
0.040
0.056
0.041
0.065
0.041
9

Hydrostatic Experiment

25

y [cm]

20

y = 581.64x - 2.3965
R = 0.99852

15
10
5
-0.040

-0.030

-0.020

0
0.000
-5

-0.010

tan = x/l
0.010

0.020

0.030

0.040

0.050

-10
-15
-20
-25

)
( )
(
(

Deduce the KG and compare to the calculated one

The metacentric height (

) was calculated based on the inclination test.

(

And therefore:

As the model has faced small angle, the curve obtained by the inclination test shows a
). So, the
linear relation between the heel angle and the metacentric height (
vertical center of gravity can be calculated by this method of calculation.
The calculation of the vertical center of gravity in both methodologies reached the
same value
.

10

Hydrostatic Experiment

Deduce

using Boulguer formula

The second order moment of the water plane Ixx is given by:

Where:

3) Free Surface Effect

When the solid weight is replaced by the water tanks, the center of gravity and the
center of buoyance dont change. However the stability is affected by the Free
Surface Effect.

Perform another inclining experiment with this new configuration and

evaluate the new metacentric height.

a) Drafts (

) Free Surface / Full Tank

In this experimental, the draft is measured in different location from the classical
definition. It means that its necessary correct the measured draft
and .

T aft [cm]
Sbd
port
15.10
14.90

T fore [cm]
Sbd
port
14.20
13.90

;
Where:

11

Hydrostatic Experiment

It means that the mean draft of the model in lightship condition is given by:

Finding the displacement and the

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

Displ. [kg]
156.000
155.700
155.000

b) Longitudinal Center of Gravity (

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

LCF [m]
0.020 fwd
0.020 fwd
0.020 fwd

) Free Surface / Full Tank

When a ship is launched, the location of the center of gravity is known from the
evaluation of onboard weights. The hydrostatic table can be used to determine the
ship displacement, longitudinal center of gravity, longitudinal center of buoyancy,
longitudinal center of flotation, metacentric height and all hydrostatic parameters.
The hydrostatic table is calculated with trim equals to zero and from it the
) and the longitudinal metacentric height
longitudinal center of buoyance (
(
) can be calculated. Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.

Where:

Note:
) is given by the difference between the
The longitudinal metacentric radius (
) and the vertical position of the center of
longitudinal metacentric height (
buoyance.
Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

KML
4.663
4.671
4.691

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

KB
0.074
0.074
0.073

Hydrostatic Table also gives the vertical center of buoyance ( ) and the transverse
). Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.
metacentric height(

12

Hydrostatic Experiment

The inclining experimental test was used to determine the vertical center of gravity of
the model.
Description of the Inclining Test:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Shifting the weight mass (1.238 kg) and note the position (y)
Read the Ruler (x) in [cm]
Calculate GMt [m] (by formulation)
Draw the corresponding curve
Ruler
x [cm]
-6.00
7.30
-5.80
7.10
-4.90
6.50
-4.00
5.90
-3.20
5.00

Run
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10

tan = x/l
-0.052
0.063
-0.050
0.061
-0.042
0.056
-0.034
0.051
-0.027
0.043
25

Location
y [cm]
-20
20
-18
18
-16
16
-14
14
-12
12

Formulation
GMt [m]
0.058310
0.047926
0.054288
0.044348
0.057120
0.043059
0.061225
0.041509
0.065598
0.041983

y [cm]

y = 334.68x - 2.2695
R = 0.99852

20
15
10
5
-0.060

-0.040

-0.020

tan = x/l

0
0.000
-5

0.020

0.040

0.060

0.080

-10
-15
-20
-25

)
( )
(

)
(

)
13

Hydrostatic Experiment

The metacentric height with water tank is shorter than the metacentric height
regarding the solid weight because the free surface increase the heel movement due to
the liquid motion inside the tank. It can be seen in the previous results table where the
values read by the ruler is bigger than the values reached with solid weights.

Finding the new second order moment

The intact second order moment of the water plane

formula:

can be calculated by Bugler

Where:

Note that this is not the final second order moment of the water plane , once the
free surface causes a lost of inertia that will be calculated in the next topic.

The free surface effect on stability induces a theoretical loss of inertia. To

compare experiment results with theory.

The theoretical loss of inertia can be calculated by the follow equation, for each tank:

Load
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8

L [m]
B [m]
0,232
0,227
0,232
0,227
0,232
0,307
0,232
0,227
0,232
0,227
0,232
0,307
0,232
0,227
0,232
0,227
Total Lost of Inertia

It means that the new second order moment is given by:

(

)
(

14

(
)

IFS [m4]
0,000226
0,000226
0,000559
0,000226
0,000226
0,000559
0,000226
0,000226
0,00247566

Hydrostatic Experiment

Now its possible to calculate the new metacentric radius and the new metacentric
height:

Where:

When the solid weight is replaced by the water tanks, the center of gravity and the
center of buoyance dont change.

And therefore,
(

Experimental Result

Theory

)
|(

(4) Conduct the Experiment with Half Water Tanks (Free Surface)

Perform another inclining experiment with this new configuration and

evaluate the new metacentric height.

a) Drafts (

) Free Surface / Full Tank

In this experimental, the draft is measured in different location from the classical
definition. It means that its necessary correct the measured draft
and .
T aft [cm]
Sbd
port
15.10
15.00

T fore [cm]
Sbd
port
14.10
13.90

15

Hydrostatic Experiment

Where:

It means that the mean draft of the model in lightship condition is given by:

Finding the displacement and the

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

Displ. [kg]
156.000
155.700
155.000

b) Longitudinal Center of Gravity (

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

LCF [m]
0.020 fwd
0.020 fwd
0.020 fwd

) Free Surface / Full Tank

When a ship is launched, the location of the center of gravity is known from the
evaluation of onboard weights. The hydrostatic table can be used to determine the
ship displacement, longitudinal center of gravity, longitudinal center of buoyancy,
longitudinal center of flotation, metacentric height and all hydrostatic parameters.
The hydrostatic table is calculated with trim equals to zero and from it the
) and the longitudinal metacentric height
longitudinal center of buoyance (
(
) can be calculated. Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.

Where:

Note:
) is given by the difference between the
The longitudinal metacentric radius (
) and the vertical position of the center of
longitudinal metacentric height (
buoyance.

16

Hydrostatic Experiment

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

KML
4.663
4.671
4.691

Draft
0.1460
0.1457
0.1450

KB
0.074
0.074
0.073

Hydrostatic Table also gives the vertical center of buoyance ( ) and the transverse
). Note that for small trim angles these values dont change.
metacentric height(
The inclining experimental test was used to determine the vertical center of gravity of
the model.
Description of the Inclining Test:
5.
6.
7.
8.

Shifting the weight mass (1.238 kg) and note the position (y)
Read the Ruler (x) in [cm]
Calculate GMt [m] (by formulation)
Draw the corresponding curve

Run
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10

Ruler
x [cm]
-4.50
4.90
-4.00
4.20
-3.60
3.80
-2.90
3.30
-2.40
2.60

tan = x/l
-0.039
0.042
-0.034
0.036
-0.031
0.033
-0.025
0.028
-0.021
0.022

Location
y [cm]
-20
20
-18
18
-16
16
-14
14
-12
12

Formulation
GMt [m]
0.041169
0.037809
0.041684
0.039699
0.041169
0.039003
0.044719
0.039298
0.046316
0.042753

17

Hydrostatic Experiment
y [cm]
25

y = 511.18x - 0.6143
R = 0.99857

20
15
10
5
-0.050 -0.040 -0.030

-0.020

0
-0.010 0.000
-5

tan = x/l
0.010

0.020

0.030

0.040

0.050

-10
-15
-20
-25

)
( )
(

The metacentric height with water tank is shorter than the metacentric height
regarding the solid weight because the free surface increase the heel movement due to
the liquid motion inside the tank. It can be seen in the table where the values read by
the ruler is bigger than the values reached with solid weights.

Finding the new second order moment

The intact second order moment of the water plane

formula:

can be calculated by Bugler

Where:

Note that this is not the final second order moment of the water plane , once the
free surface causes a lost of inertia that will be calculated in the next topic.

18

Hydrostatic Experiment

The free surface effect on stability induces a theoretical loss of inertia. To

compare experiment results with theory.

The theoretical loss of inertia can be calculated by the follow equation, for each tank:

In this analysis each tank was divided in two, in order to decrease the free surface
effects, it means decrease the loss of inertia.

It can be seen that the loss of moment of inertia decreases with the factor where n
means the number equal compartments created by the division of the tank.

Load
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8

L [m]
B [m]
0.232
0.227
0.232
0.227
0.232
0.227
0.232
0.227
0.232
0.227
0.232
0.227
0.232
0.227
0.232
0.227
Total Lost of Inertia
(
(

IFS [m4]
0,000057
0,000057
0,000140
0,000057
0,000057
0,000140
0,000057
0,000057
0,000618915
)

( )

( )

19

Hydrostatic Experiment

The new second order moment is given by:

(

)
(

Now its possible to calculate the new metacentric radius and the new metacentric
height:

Where:

When the solid weight is replaced by the water tanks, the center of gravity and the
center of buoyance dont change.

And therefore,
(
Experimental Result
(

20

|(

Theory

Hydrostatic Experiment

Conclusion
In this experimental lab work the transversal metacentric height at different loaded
condition has been calculated using principle of inclining experiment by shifting
weight and measuring the heel angle.

Parameter
GMt(m)
Ixx(m4)

Lightship
0.0869
0.0134

Solid Load
0.0462
0.0135

FSE
0.0303
0.0111

FSE (Half Tank)

0.0423
0.0129

) decreases from the lightship to the loaded

The transversal metacentric height (
case because as the draft increases, the vertical center of buoyancy and gravity
increases. Since the value of KMt is the same in both cases, there is the loss in the
transversal metacentric height (GMt).
The loss of stability due to the free surface effect, which can be reduced by the
division of the tank on the longitudinal direction. By replacing the two tanks instead
of one full tank, the loss of moment of inertia is reduced 4 times that is conservative
advantage to prevent the loss of stability due to free surface effect.

21

Hydrostatic Experiment

References
[1] Practical Work, Hydrostatic Experiment Stability Calculations & Free Surface
Effects, cole Centrale de Nantes EMShip, April 2015;
[2] Edited by Anthony F. Molland The Maritme Engineering Reference Book,
Elsevier 2008

22