HO CHI MINH UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

🙞···☼···🙜

LAB 1 REPORT
FLUID MECHANICS (TR1006)
META CENTER

Instructor: Dr. Lê Đình Tuân

Group 2
Students ID
Võ Minh Cường 2352153
Nguyễn Xuân Hiếu 2352332
Nguyễn Hoàng Gia Triệu 2313569
Trần Thái Dương 2352218
Lê Trần Công Danh 2352155
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 3
1.1 System description................................................................................................ 3
1.2 Basic Measurement .............................................................................................. 4
1.3 Theory of Meta center ......................................................................................... 6
2. PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Equipment setup................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Processing results ................................................................................................. 8
 1. INTRODUCTION
Fluid mechanics is developed from the basic laws of statics, dynamics and
thermodynamics... in the analysis, the fluid is often considered as a continuous medium. The
above laws are considered as the conversion of energy from kinetic energy, thereby giving the
behavior of the fluid on the object. The model is easily seen as a ship floating on water, when
the water is still, the ship almost does not swing horizontally, but when there are waves, the
ship will sway on the waves without capsizing.
With a small horizontal tilt angle, the swaying process occurs regularly and periodically,
it can be compared at this time to the ship being like a pendulum, swinging around a center.
For ease of understanding, the Meta-Center can be considered as the center of rotation. Once
this center is determined, we can calculate the period of the swing…
In this experiment, we use a model consisting of 2 parts:
1. A small lake - filled with water to create a floating environment for the pontoon
2. A model of a floating object called a pontoon on which are attached devices and measuring
devices
During the experiment, the pontoon is floated in the lake, we move the counterweights to make
the pontoon tilt horizontally, measure this horizontal tilt angle and from there determine the
meta-center (M).
1.1 System description

Figure 1: Meta center height apparatus

 Figure 2: Pontoon and experiment device
The apparatus consists of a rectangular pontoon, with a vertical mast. The vertical mast
carries a sliding mass, which can be adjusted to vary the position of the center of gravity
of the pontoon. A plumb line, attached to the top of the mast, is used to measure the
angle of the heel of the pontoon in conjunction with a degree scale. This heel is
controlled by a traversely adjustable mass, whose position is indicated on a linear scale.
The apparatus may be used on the hydraulics bench by filling the volumetric tank, using
the flexible bench supply pipe connected to the bench outlet.
1.2 Basic Measurement
Basic dimension of pontoon:
Dimension Value Units Status
Length L m checked
Width b m checked
Height h m checked
Total weight Kg checked
Mass item:
Name Value Units Status
Slding mass m1 kg checked
Adjusted mass m2 kg checked
 1.3 Theory of Meta center

Figure 3: Static equilibrium of pontoon

When the pontoon floats vertically on still water, corresponding to the total weight W
it will float with a depth of immersion d in the water.
- The total weight of the pontoon W will have a center of gravity of G, the height of the center
of gravity is KG = Y with K being the lowest point through the bottom of the pontoon.
- The volume of the pontoon displacing in the water V =W/ with = 1 (t/ ). This volume
of water displacing will have a center of buoyancy of B. The height of B is determined by the
height KB = d/2.
- When the pontoon tilts horizontally, the center of buoyancy B will move horizontally to a
new position B', at this time the buoyancy force will pass through B' perpendicular to the water
surface and intersect with the longitudinal line at M, M is called the meta-center.
- We cannot measure the position M directly but must calculate from the immersion d or the
angle of inclination and then determine the position M, usually the position M is determined
as KM or GM. According to the theory of ships, we have the following formulas to calculate
GM for floating objects in the form of a box (pontoon):
- Determine GM through the submerged direction d:
𝑏3 𝑑
𝐺𝑀 = − (𝑦 − ( ))
12𝑑 2
Where:
Y - center of gravity elevation
b - pontoon width

l - pontoon length
Determine GM through horizontal tilt angle : when the pontoon floats vertically, we
move an object with weight P horizontally by a distance x, so that causing the pontoon to tilt
horizontally at an angle , at this time the height M is determined:

Where:
– horizontal angle of inclination
P – weight of P displaced horizontally
x – horizontal displacement of P
W – total weight of pontoon

2. PROCEDURE
2.1 Equipment setup
Weigh the traversable mass ( P, kg), used for traversing across the pontoon width.
Assemble the pontoon, mast and both masses and determine the total weight (W).
Position the sliding mass on the mast to give the location of the center of gravity (G) for
the whole assembly at the level of the top of the pontoon. The position of G can be
determined by:
• Use of a knife-edge,
Tying a light string tightly around the mast and carefully allowing the whole assembly
to be suspended from it, adjusting the position of the suspension point until the mast
direction becomes horizontal.
 Figure 4: Determine the center G
Measure the distance of G from the base of the pontoon and record this distance
Y
Fill the hydraulic bench volumetric tank with water, then remove the filling tube
from the tank (to prevent back-siphoning through to the main tank).
Float the pontoon in the tank and measure the immersed depth, di, for comparison
with the calculated value (see Theory).
Move the traversing mass to the central position in the pontoon; then adjust the
tilt of the mast mounting (by slackening securing screws that pass through slotted holes)
to give = 0. Traverse the mass to the right in 10 mm increments to the end of the scale
and note the angular displacement of the plumb line for each position. Repeat this
procedure traversing the mass to the left of the centre.
Change the position of the pontoon's center of gravity by moving the sliding mass
up the mast. Suggested positions are at the maximum height and then a location midway
between maximum height and the position used in the first test. For each new position
of G, repeat the above test and determine the meta centric height, GM. Hence, locate
the position of the meta center M (= y + GM) from the base of the pontoon, using the
results from all three tests.
2.2 Processing results
All readings should be tabulated as follows:
𝑊+𝑃 1 1.228 + 0.289 1
𝑑𝑖 = ∗ = ∗ = 0.0217 (𝑚)
𝑙 ∗ 𝑏 1000 0.35 ∗ 0.2 1000

Center
Pontoon Pontoon Pontoon Total Traversing Depth of Metacentric Position Angle Metacentric
of
length l width b height d weight weight P immersion height GM of mass of tilt θ height GM
gravity
(m) (m) (m) W (kg) (kg) di (m) (m) x (m) (m) (m)
Y (m)
1 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.114 0.0217 0.0032 0.01 1.5 0.0899
2 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.114 0.0217 0.0032 0.02 3.5 0.0770
3 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.114 0.0217 0.0032 0.03 5 0.0807
4 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.1 0.0217 0.0027 0.01 1.5 0.0899
5 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.1 0.0217 0.0027 0.02 3 0.0898
6 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.1 0.0217 0.0027 0.03 4.5 0.0897
7 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.132 0.0217 0.0037 0.01 2.5 0.0539
8 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.132 0.0217 0.0037 0.02 4.5 0.0598
9 0.35 0.2 0.075 1.228 0.289 0.132 0.0217 0.0037 0.03 6.5 0.0620

COMMENTS:
Overall, there are differences between the results of GM from both equations due to:
• The smallest division of the degree scale is large, the rounding process is incorrect.
• Poor model stability.
• Due to errors in the process of measuring the depth.

QUESTIONS:
1. Comment on the effects of changing the position of G on the position of the
metacenter?
According to the equation:
𝑏3 𝑑
𝐺𝑀 = − (𝑦 − ( ))
12𝑑 2
We can observe that when changing the height of the center of gravity G (Y), the height
GM will change: increase when the height of G (Y) increases and decrease when the
height of center of gravity decreases.

2. Comment on why the values of GM at lowest levels of θ are likely to be less

accurate?
Because in the experimental model, the smallest division of the angle scale used to
measure the angle of inclination of the plumb is large. When reading the value of the
angle θ, it leads to a fairly large rounding error. On the other hand, the model is not
completely stationary on the water surface, causing the plumb to always fluctuate on
the values of the angle scale, making it easier to get incorrect data.

3. Explain how unstable equilibrium might be achieved?

Unstable equilibrium occurs when the center of gravity (G) is above the metacenter
(M). In this scenario, any slight disturbance causes the pontoon or vessel to tilt further
rather than returning to its original position. This can happen if the weight is not evenly
distributed or if additional loads elevate G above the critical point.