CHAPTER

HYDROSTATICS AND STABILITY

Design Criteria

7.1 In the case of submarines, the laws of equilibrium (of forces as well as moments) must
be satisfied both in the surfaced as well as submerged conditions. There is a requirement of
increased accuracy of calculations as well as increased margin throughout the design
process due to the absence of freeboard and water plane area in the submerged condition
and the absence of wall-sidedness of the watertight envelope in the surfaced condition.

7.2 Two sets of hydrostatic calculations need to be carried out for submarines, and the
same is used to calculate various stability aspects such as:
(a) Outer hull hydrostatics
(b) Watertight envelope hydrostatics

Tank Hydrostatics

7.3 The criteria to be satisfied can be listed as follows:

a) Part of the pressure hull should be above the waterline at which the boat floats. Just
sufficient freeboard is required to avoid accidental flooding of open pressure hull
hatches, and also to achieve sufficiently shallow draft in harbours.
b) The heel stability requirement should be satisfied by having positive GM in all
conditions.
c) The volume of MBTs and their vertical distribution should be adjusted such that the
volume of MBTs must be equal to the pressure-proof volume. The corresponding
value of Reserve of Buoyancy (ROB) should be suitable. {ROB is the ratio of the
effective volume of the MBTs to the surfaced volume of displacement: ROB = (SUBD-
NSC)/(NSC)}
d) Longitudinal disposition of MBTs should be such that their centre of the volume is
close to the LCB (submerged) of the submarine. Only then will a submarine that is on
even keel while submerged, be able to achieve the same on surface also.

7.4 The outer hull and watertight envelope (Pressure hull plus MBTs) geometry needs to be
varied until all these criteria are satisfied. The presence of free-flooding spaces distributed
unevenly along the length and depth of the submarine give rise to certain special features of
watertight envelope hydrostatics. Tank hydrostatics are an additional aspect of submarine
hydrostatics and both of these are required for analysing stability while diving and surfacing,
as well as surface unsinkability.

Hydrostatics

7.5 Hydrostatic particulars were calculated using PARAMARINETM software and manually
as well. The hull envelope is defined as sets of buoyant bodies and free flood bodies in the
stability module of the software. The programme then integrates the hull numerically to get
the hydrostatic particulars in tabular form which were plotted against the draught.
7.6 In a similar manner the hydrostatic particulars were calculated using a manual method
by integrating the submarine offsets to get Bonjean Areas and Moments and further
integrating them using the numerical methods. Simpson’s method was used for the
purpose.
7.7 Numerous iterations were required before a somewhat satisfactory fulfillment of all the
criteria was achieved. The outer hull geometry was left unchanged, as also the pressure
hull geometry. Dozens of variations of MBT dispositions were tested for suitability. MBT
lengths and locations, as well as forward and aft boundaries, were varied. The Hydrostatic
Curves and their values are placed at Appendix V. The hydrostatic curves for the submarine
are also shown in figure 1.1 below with the Scales of units given in table 1.1 :-

Figure 7.1: Hydrostatic plot for buoyant volume

Table 7.1 : Scale of units for hydrostatic plot

SCALE OF UNITS
Particular One Unit Equivalent
LCF (m) 1
(m³) 400
Δ (t) 400
BM L (m) 1
BM T (m) 1
KB (m) 1
TPC (t) 1
LCB (m) 1
MCTC (t-m) 10
CW 0.1
CB 0.1
CM 0.1
CP 0.1

Cross curves and Stability

7.8 Cross curves of stability were computed using PARAMARINETM software by giving input
of displacement range and degree range. Cross curves generated by PARAMARINETM is
shown in figure 1.2.
 Figure 7.2 : Cross curves of stability

7.9 Stability of a submarine is one of the most critical issues. Although with the limited beam
and freeboard available in the surfaced condition, it is not possible to get the same
standards of stability as surface ships but somewhat relaxed criteria are used for the
submarines. PARAMARINETM and manual calculation were used in order to predict the
stability of the boat in various conditions and were checked for the criteria Def Stan 08/02
(shape and wind) for submarine stability. Also manual GZ plots were checked for NES109
criteria. Following are the various conditions for which the stability was checked:-

Surface Stability

7.10 For a surfaced submarine, the stability will depend on the Metacentric Height (GM) and
the righting lever (GZ) of the submarine. The center of gravity (KG) was calculated from the
General Arrangement Plan of the boat. The variation in GZ depends upon the outer hull
geometry, draught and angle of heel (θ) as GZ = GM sinθ, where GM = KM – KG. KM can
be obtained by calculating the cross curves for various draughts and heel angles. A plot of
GZ against the Angle of Heel gives the Statical Stability Curve as shown in the figure below.
The values obtained from the software were then compared against the criteria given in the
Def Stan in order to check for the required surfaced stability.

Figure 1.3 : Statical stability curve

 Table 7.2: Manual calculation check against NES 109

ACTUAL LIMITING PASS/FAIL

CRITERIA
VALUE VALUE
area under curve0-30 0.0832 more than 0.080 m rad PASS
area under curve30- 0.0554 more than 0.048 m rad PASS
40
area under curve 0- 0.1386 more than 0.133 m rad PASS
40
max GZ 0.387 more than 0.3 m PASS
max GZ at 70 deg more than 30 deg PASS
Initial GM 0.5 more than 0.3 PASS

Figure 7.4 : Statical stability curve (Paramarine)

Table 7.3 : Statical stability check against Def Stan 08/102 (paramarine)

Submerged Stability

7.11 In the submerged condition, the Metacenter (M) of the submarine coincides with
submarine’s Centre of Buoyancy (B). The Metacentric height GM is thus the same as BG,
and for submerged stability, the condition is, therefore, that VCG should be below the VCB.
At large angles, the GZ curve of the submerged submarine is close to a sine curve, so that
GZ = BG Sinθ, which represents a good range of stability (nearly 180 degrees), with
maximum righting lever at 90 degrees heel. For the submerged submarine, only intact
stability needs to be considered, since in this condition the reserve buoyancy is nil. Burcher
and Rydill suggest a value of BG between 3 to 4 % of the hull diameter. Jackson suggests a
value of 1 to 1.25 feet (0.30 to 0.38 m). UCL Notes contain curves of minimum and
maximum values of BG and minimum values of GM as a function of the submerged
displacement. As per DEFSTAN 08/102 (UK MoD Navy) the min value of BG is 0.3 m. The
value of Submerged BG for the submarine was calculated to be 0.317 m.

Dynamic Stability

7.12 The word Dynamic Stability refers to the effective stability of the submarine in various
conditions like heel due to Wind, High speed turning, etc. However in submarines, due to
smaller profile, the effects of wind are very less. Def Stan 08/102 suggests a check of
effective GZ in 100 knots of wind speed and a full speed turn. In order to do so the Heeling
Moment curves for these conditions are superimposed on the GZ curves and various values
are checked. The Stability curve with Wind Heeling and manual calculation for heeling at
high speed turn is shown in figure below.

Figure 7.5: Dynamic stability check

Table 4.4: Stability check for high speed heeling

STABILITY DUE TO HIGH SPEED HEELING
SNO CRITERIA ACTUAL VALUE LIMITING VALUE COMMENT
1) steady angle of heel 2.384 less than 20 deg PASS
2) GZ at c 0.034 less than 0.2322 PASS
3) area A 0.240 more than 0.10688 PASS
 Figure 7.6 : Dynamic stability check

Table 7.5 : Stability check for Heeling due to Wind

Longitudinal Stability

7.13 The trim of the submarine depends on the distribution of various tanks and their
loading condition. A trim polygon is obtained in which the moments due to various tanks are
plotted against the weight. The polygon is lozenge shaped and gives the trim in various
conditions. This shows that the trim produced due to some loading condition should be
correctable using the internal tanks on the boat. This curve can also be made for particular
tanks which will give the moment generated by that tank and how it can be used to balance
the trim. The trim polygon for the submarine is shown in figure below. The trim polygon The
polygon should satisfy all the operational conditions possible as shown in table 1.6 below.

TRIM POLYGON
BALANCING WEIGHT (t)

500
450
400
trim poly
350
300 N1
250 H1
200 L1
150 FH1
100
AH1
50
0
-4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000

MOMENT ABOUT MIDSHIP (t-m)

Figure 7.7 : Trim Polygon and various condition
 Table 7.6 : Various condition for submarine operations
%
% %
Label State Density Weapon
Stores Diesel
s
t/m3
Norm
N1 1.03 80 80 100
al
Heav
H1 1.03 100 100 100
y
L1 Light 1.03 0 10 10
Fwd.
FH1 Heav 1.03 100 100 10
y
Aft.
AH1 Heav 1.03 0 10 100
y

Surface Unsinkability
7.14 Surface unsinkability refers to the ability of a submarine to remain afloat with a suitable
trim for survival even if one of the compartment is flooded. The surface unsinkability curves
give the ready information to the crew about the resulting trim, draught and metacenter as
soon as the submarine is damaged. These curves are accompanied with a table consisting
of various actions required in order to correct the trim. These curves and table for the
submarine are shown below
.

Figure 7.8 : Surface Unsinkablity curve above Lwl

 Figure 7.9 : Surface Unsinkablity curve above 6m draft

Table 7.7 : Various condition for submarine operations

TRIM DEG
Weight RoB
S. AFTER
Compt Flooded Correction transferred/ LEFT
No. TRANSFER
Added (t) (t)
(deg)
Transfer Water from Aft
14.344
to Fwd Trim Tank
Transfer water from
comp tank 1 to Fwd 17.9
Trim Tank
MOTOR COMP+
1 Fill MBT 1 297.25 425.12 0.80
MBT7
Fill MBT 2 219.35
Fill MBT 3 176.3
Transfer water from
comp tank 1 to COMP 7
TNK 2
Transfer Water from Aft
14.344
to Fwd Trim Tank
Transfer water from
TURBINE COMP+ comp tank 1 to Fwd 17.9
2 266.02 0.30
MBT 6 Trim Tank
Fill MBT 1 297.25
Fill MBT 2 219.35
Fill MBT 3 176.3
Transfer Water from Aft
14.344
REACTOR to Fwd Trim Tank
3 904.47 -0.05
COMP+MBT 5 Transfer water from
4.24
comp tank 1 to Fwd
 Trim Tank
Fill MBT 1 225.5
AUX COMP+MBT
4 NO CHANGE 0 860.024 0.08
4
Transfer Water from Aft
14
to Fwd Trim Tank
ACCOMODATION+ Transfer water from
5 952.724 0.05
MBT 3 comp tank 2 to Fwd 18
Trim Tank
FILL MBT 7 100
Transfer Water from
14
Fwd to Aft Trim Tank
Transfer water from
6 CIC+MBT 2 comp tank 2 to Fwd 18 542.024 -0.06
Trim Tank
FILL MBT 7 307.5
FILL MBT 6 102.5
Transfer Water from
14.344
Fwd to Aft Trim Tank
Transfer water from
TORPEDO COMP+ comp tank 2 to Aft Trim 17.9
7 203.62 0.70
MBT 1 Tank
FILL MBT 7 307.5
FILL MBT 6 215.25
FILL MBT 5 217.3

Conclusion
7.15 The hydrostatic curves enable the crew to use it as a ready-reckoner during the
service life. The initial stability criteria were verified with DEF STAN 08 108 (UK MOD Navy)
standards and found to be satisfactory in all the necessary operational conditions. The
criteria for dynamic stability were found to be fulfilled in various diving and surfacing
conditions.