Ee Surface Effect
Ee Surface Effect
Ee Surface Effect
5.2 Free surface effect and the loss of transverse statical stability
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HR0L 35 5. Free Surface Effect (MAR Rev. 27-04-2022)
5.1 Introduction
Many cases of instability are the result of free surface effect; the loss of transverse
stability caused by the movement of liquids within the ship. This occurs when tanks
are partially full, or slack. When the ship heels, liquid in a partially filled tank will
move to the low side; this adversely affects the transverse stability and will be
cumulative as more numbers of tanks are slack. The effect of slack tanks on the
transverse stability of a ship must be clearly understood; for reasons which will
become evident, the number of slack tanks at any one time should be kept to a
minimum.
Fig. 5.1 – Ship heeled with ‘frozen’ liquid cargo in the tank.
In the heeled condition GZ is the righting lever. Because the liquid is frozen it acts
as a static weight and does not move.
Consider what happens if the liquid in the tank melts and is free to move as the ship
heels. Figure 5.2 shows the ship heeled to the same small angle where a wedge of
the liquid is transferred to the low side of the ship (gg1).
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Fig. 5.2 - Loss of effective righting lever GZ due to free surface effect.
Since weight has shifted, G moves parallel and in the same direction as the shift of
the weight (GG1).
The righting lever G1Z1, is the same as the GZ that would have existed had G been
raised to GV.
GGV represents the virtual rise of G that results from the free surface effect of the
slack tank.
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Note
G does not actually rise, but the movement of the liquid in the tank has the same
effect on GZ values as if G had actually been caused to rise - hence the term ‘virtual
rise of G’!
Thus:
When calculating the GM of a ship, it is important that the effects of free surfaces
in all slack tanks are accounted for. The loss of GZ will increase as the number of
slack tanks increase, i.e., the cumulative effect of all slack tanks must be accounted
for.
When the ship returns to the upright condition the centre of gravity (G1) will move
back to its original position at G as the liquid in the tank finds its own level.
GGV = lb3 dt
12V ds
Since:
DISPLACEMENT = VOLUME OF DISPLACEMENT × DENSITY
i.e. W = V ds
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it follows that: GGV = lb3 dt
12W
GGV is often referred to as being the Free Surface Correction (FSC) to be applied
to the ‘solid’ KG or ‘solid’ GM where it will compensate for the slack tank or
tanks within the ship.
Example 1
A ship has initial displacement of 10500 t and KG 7.60 m. A rectangular cargo oil
tank of length 30 m and breadth 20 m is partially filled with 9600 t of oil (RD 0.86).
If the Kg of the oil is 8.00 m, calculate the effective GM if the KM for the final
displacement is 8.80 m.
Solution
Taking moments about the keel, calculate the new solid KG.
Calculate the solid GM and then apply the free surface correction to obtain the fluid
GM.
KM 8.800
SOLID KG 7.791
SOLID GM 1.009
FSE (GGv) 0.856
FLUID GM 0.153
I = lb3 (m4)
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Moments of inertia (I) were introduced in the previous section.
If the value of I is multiplied by the liquid density, then a value of Free Surface
Moments (FSMs) (t.m) is obtained.
GGV = lb3 dt
12W
it is evident from the above that the greater the value of the free surface moments;
the greater the value of the effective KG and the greater the loss of GM (GGV).
In calculating the effective KG, it is usual to make allowances for free surfaces by
incorporating the FSMs into the KG table where they must always be ADDED.
Example 2
A ship has an initial displacement of 10500 t and KG 7.60 m. A rectangular cargo oil
tank of length 30 m and breadth 20 m is partially filled with 9600 t of oil (RD 0.86).
If the Kg of the oil is 8.00 m, calculate the effective GM if the KM for the final
displacement is 8.80 m.
Solution
Calculate the FSMs using:
Taking moments about the keel, also adding the FSMs in the ‘moments’ column,
calculate the fluid KG.
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Weight (t) KG (m) Moments (t.m)
Initial displ. 10500 7.60 79800
Cargo oil 9600 8.00 76800
FSMs 17200
FINAL 20100 8.647 173800
Apply the fluid KG value to the final KM to obtain the final fluid GM.
KM 8.800
FLUID KG 8.647
FLUID GM 0.153
The table is for a cargo oil tank in a tanker - No. 2 Cargo Oil Tank Starboard.
Free Surface Moments (FSMs) in tonnes-metres are tabulated for an assumed liquid
density of 0.740 t/m3.
Weight of liquid in the tank is tabulated for an assumed liquid density of 0.740 t/m3.
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VCG (Vertical Centre of Gravity or Kg) indicates the vertical position of the oil within
the ship in terms of metres above the keel for the appropriate sounding. TCG
(Transverse Centre of Gravity) indicates the centroid of the oil as being so many
metres to port or starboard of the centreline.
Example 3
A ship displaces 5400 t and has a KG of 7.860 m. No. 2 Cargo Oil Tank Stbd. is filled
to a sounding of 150 cm with cargo oil RD 0.740.
Calculate the final effective KG and GM if the KM for the final condition is 8.000 m.
Solution
Obtain cargo data from table with sounding 150 cm.
Calculate the final effective KG and hence the final effective GM.
KM 8.000
FLUID KG 7.819
FLUID GM 0.181
The previous example was straightforward, whereby the tank was loaded with liquid
of the same tabulated density.
However, if liquid of a different density to that assumed by the tables had been in
the tank, the tabulated values of both weight and FSMs would be in error!
Both mass (weight) and the value of the FSMs are directly proportional to density.
Consider the previous example again. This time salt water ballast (RD 1.025) is in
the tank at the same level as before.
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Example 4
A ship displaces 5400 t and has a KG of 7.860 m. No. 2 Cargo Oil Tank Stbd. is filled
to a sounding of 150 cm with salt water ballast RD 1.025.
Calculate the final effective KG and GM if the KM for the final condition is 8.000 m.
Solution
Obtain cargo data from table with sounding 150 cm.
Actual FSMs for the salt water ballast loaded is found by:
Calculate the final effective KG and hence the final effective GM exactly as before.
KM 8.000
FLUID KG 7.804
FLUID GM 0.196
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5.4.2 Method 2 - Moments of inertia (m4) are tabulated
Consider the alternative extract from a tank sounding table for the same tank shown.
Tank: 2CO.Stbd
Sounding Volume LCG TCG VCG I
(cm) (cu. m) (m foap) (m) (m) (m4)
0 0.00 78.145 0.063s 1.503 0.0
25 17.57 78.29 2.963s 1.656 364.3
50 41.66 78.345 3.242s 1.785 405.8
75 66.64 78.366 3.365s 1.914 450.4
100 92.49 78.379 3.457s 2.044 497.6
125 118.81 78.389 3.525s 2.174 501.2
150 145.22 78.398 3.569s 2.302 505.0
175 171.69 78.406 3.602s 2.430 508.8
200 198.24 78.414 3.628s 2.557 512.6
225 224.88 78.421 3.648s 2.684 516.4
Table 5.2 – Tank sounding data with liquid volume and I value tabulated.
To obtain the weight (mass) of the liquid and the Free Surface Moments which are
to be incorporated into the KG moments table, both volume and I values as
tabulated must be multiplied by the density of the liquid in the tank.
Example 5
A ship displaces 5400 t and has a KG of 7.860 m. No. 2 Cargo Oil Tank Stbd. is filled
to a sounding of 150 cm with cargo oil RD 0.740.
Calculate the final effective KG and GM if the KM for the final condition is 8.000 m.
Solution
Obtain cargo data from table with sounding 150 cm.
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FSMs = I × Density; FSMs = 505.0 × 0.740 = 373.7 t.m
Calculate the final effective KG and hence the final effective GM as before.
KM 8.000
FLUID KG 7.819
FLUID GM 0.181
5.4.3 Summary
You will not have a choice as to which of the two methods to use, it simply depends
on the format of the tank sounding data that is provided for the ship.
Consider the significant errors in the calculation of GM that will occur if:
• Tabulated FSMs for an assumed liquid density are not corrected for the actual
density of the liquid in the tank!
• Tabulated I value not being multiplied by the density of the liquid in the
tank!
ALWAYS CHECK!
By way of example tank sounding data is shown in table 5.3; a salt water ballast tank
on the 57000DWT bulk carrier that we refer to.
The following abbreviations are used with respect to the liquid in the tank at a
particular level:
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L.C.V. (m) = Longitudinal centre of volume of the tank from the AP (+ being
forward of AP; - being aft of AP) (LCG or lcg foap).
T.C.V. (m) = Transverse centre of volume of the tank from ship’s centreline
(+ being to port; - being to starboard) (TCG or tcg).
V.C.V. (m) = Height of the centre of volume of the tank above base line (KG
or kg).
IMOM (m4) = Transverse moment of inertia of the free liquid surface. This
must be multiplied by the density of the liquid in the tank to
obtain the free surface moments (tonnes-metres) (I).
Abbreviations in blue are those used for stability calculations in this text.
Table 5.3 – Tank data for No.2 Port Salt Water Ballast Tank (57000DWT Bulk Carrier); note that the
constantly changing values of I indicate that the tank is NOT rectangular in shape.
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5.5 Factors influencing free surface effect
For rectangular tanks consider the free surface formula for loss of GM (GGv):
It is clear that the breadth of the tank is the most influential factor.
Example 6
A ship has a displacement of 12000 t and initial KG of 7.84 m.
If the KM for the final condition is 8.00 m, calculate the final effective GM.
Solution
Calculate the mass and Kg of the ballast water.
Since it is a double bottom tank the Kg of the ballast water will be half the
sounding:
Taking moments about the keel calculate the final KG and hence the final KM:
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KM 8.000
FLUID KG 7.964
FLUID GM 0.036
To satisfy the intact stability requirements the minimum GM requirement for a ship
is 0.15 m.
Consider the same example, but this time the tank is equally subdivided into two
tanks.
Example 7
A ship has a displacement of 12000 t and initial KG of 7.84 m.
A rectangular double bottom tank is equally subdivided and has the following
dimensions; length 20 m and breadth 15 m and is filled with salt water ballast (RD
1.025) to a sounding of 2.00 m.
If the KM for the final condition is 8.00 m calculate the final effective GM.
Solution
Calculate the mass and Kg of the ballast water.
Alternatively:
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Total mass = 307.5 × 2 tanks = 615.0 t
Since it is a double bottom tank the Kg of the ballast water will be half the
sounding:
Calculate the FSMs for both tanks for the rectangular free liquid surfaces:
Taking moments about the keel, calculate the final KG and hence the final GM:
KM 8.000
FLUID KG 7.621
FLUID GM 0.379
Subdividing the tank has resulted in the final GM being much improved.
For the undivided tank the total FSMs where 5765.6 t.m.
For the subdivided tank the total FSMs where 1441.4 t.m.
FREE SURFACE MOMENTS HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER OF THEIR ORIGINAL
VALUE!
Consider the same example, but this time the tank is equally subdivided into three
tanks.
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Example 8
A ship has a displacement of 12000 t and initial KG of 7.84 m.
If the KM for the final condition is 8.00 m, calculate the final effective GM.
See figure 5.4; there are now three tanks each having a breadth of 5.0 m.
Solution
Calculate the mass and Kg of the ballast water.
Alternatively:
Calculate the FSMs for the three tanks for the rectangular free liquid surfaces:
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Taking moments about the keel calculate the final KG and hence the final KM:
KM 8.000
FLUID KG 7.557
FLUID GM 0.443
As a result of subdividing the tank into three it is evident that the final GM is further
improved.
For the undivided tank the total FSMs where 5765.6 t.m.
For the tank equally subdivided into three compartments the total FSMs where
640.6 t.m.
FREE SURFACE MOMENTS HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO ONE NINTH OF THEIR ORIGINAL
VALUE!
It follows that the original free surface moments (and loss of GM) will reduce by the
factor of:
1
n2
where n is the number of equal sized compartments into which the tank is
subdivided.
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Fig. 5.5 - For rectangular tanks, free surface moments reduce by a factor of 1/n2, where n is the number
of compartments that the tank has been equally subdivided into.
It is usual to subdivide tanks into three compartments at most. The benefit of any
further subdivision, which would improve effective GM by a decreasing amount each
time would be greatly offset by the additional steel weight and piping arrangements
required. An exception might be in the case of a product or chemical carrier where
such ships are designed to carry a wide range of cargoes at any one time in relatively
smaller quantities.
5.5.3 Density
Free surface moments and the loss of GM are directly proportional to the density of
the liquid in the tank, the greater the density of the liquid in the tank, the greater
the FSMs and subsequent loss of GM.
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5.6 Important points to note regarding free surface
moments
These are summarised below and in figures 5.6-5.9:
(2) A wash plate is fitted to prevent damage to internal tank plating that may be
caused by wave action within the tank.
Fig. 5.6 – A tank fitted with a wash plate (as often found in the fore peak) is NOT a subdivided tank.
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Fig. 5.7 – A tank fitted with watertight subdividing bulkhead.
(3) If a rectangular tank is filled to different levels, the free surface moments
will be the same in each case; consider the formula for FSMs if you are unsure!
Fig. 5.8 - The FSMs for a rectangular tank will be the same at different levels.
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Table 5.4 – Data for No. 3 Hold (57000DWT Bulk Carrier).
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Fig. 5.9 – Range of constant I value for No. 3 Hold (57000DWT Bulk Carrier) – see Table 5.4.
(4) If a tank is empty or pressed-up, free surface moments will not exist in that
tank, however; BE WARY OF LIQUIDS IN A TANK THAT CANNOT BE FULLY
PUMPED OUT AND/OR ARE SHOWING AS BEING EMPTY WHEN THEY ARE NOT
e.g., if ship is trimmed by the head.
(5) When calculating the effective KG or GM, the free surface moments of all
slack tanks must be incorporated into the KG moments table; loss of GM due
to free surface will be that which results from the cumulative effects of all
the slack tanks on board.
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