An investigation into a method for determining the stability of small craft without reference to hydrostatic data

Murphy, A.J. and Birmingham, R.W. (2009) An investigation into a method for determining the stability of small craft without reference to hydrostatic data. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects Part B: International Journal of Small Craft Technology, 151 (1), 23-36.

Abstract

The assessment of the stability of small craft can be difficult in the absence of hydrostatic data when it is not possible to use the normal inclining experiment. This paper provides a thorough numerical and experimental investigation in to a stability assessment method, previously proposed as a possible alternative to the inclining experiment (Birmingham, 1995; 2000). The method uses the relationship between changes in the natural roll period of vessels given changes in roll mass moment of inertia. The numerical investigation indicates that the method will be sensitive to small experimental errors although not necessarily impossible. However, the conclusions of the experimental implementation of the proposed method were that it does not ultimately provide a sufficiently accurate stability assessment as to be practically viable. Nevertheless, the work provides a comprehensive follow-up to the earlier published proposition and provides further insight in the dynamics of a rolling vessel under experimental conditions with fastidious attention to experimental accuracy.

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