Author(s): Steven F. Daly; Kathleen D. Axelson

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Abstract: The rotational stability of floating and submerged rectangular blocks is described. The limit of stability is reached when the underturning moment acting on the block is equal to the maximum hydrostatic righting moment. The hydrostatic righting moment is derived and a convenient expression for its maximum is presented in nondimensional form. A moment coefficient is defined that relates the underturning moment at the limit of stability to the moment produced by the product of the dynamic pressure of the flow and the plan area of the block. An exponential function of the ratio of block thickness to flow depth is postulated as a general expression for the moment coefficient. The parameters of this function are related to the block geometry by analyzing the existing experimental data. The limit of rotational stability for rectangular blocks can then be described in terms of a densimetric Froude number based on block thickness.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221689009499023

Year: 1990