Analysis Of Buoy

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3.2.1 Model: Buoyancy

A buoyant force (FB) is the upward force, exerted on a body, by a fluid (Cengel & Cimbala, 2013: 98). The calculation of the buoyancy would be vital as the total weight of the mechanism cannot exceed the buoyancy force. This would result in the mechanism sinking.

Figure 3.1 illustrates a free body diagram of the buoy with the forces acting on it. The buoy is spherical and has a diameter of 110 mm.

Figure 3.1: Free-body diagram of buoy

Because the buoy will be placed in the ocean, the density of water (ρw) can be assumed to be 1000 kg/m3. Due to the density of the HDPE being less than that of water, namely 970 kg/m3, the heave-plate would also experience a buoyancy force.

F_B=W= ρ_s.g.V

FB = Buoyancy …show more content…

When the buoy is heaved up by the wave, the heave plate would resist the upward movement of the buoy, resisting the pull. The buoy would then be pulled down under its own weight when the buoy falls in the crest part of the wave.

The heave-plate was to be made of HDPE as it is a non-corrosive material in saltwater and relatively light when compared to other materials such as galvanised steel, stainless steel or aluminium.

The depth of the heave-plate was important to calculate as the lower the heave-plate was placed, the greater volume of water acting on the plate. If the heave-plate was placed too close to the surface of the ocean, the plate would oscillate up and down with the buoy. The heave-plate would then not serve its purpose. The pressure force exerted on the heave plate had to be greater than the force exerted by the wave on the buoy (the upward pull). This would allow the buoy to be heaved by the wave, while the heave-plate would remain unmoved.

The calculation below was done to determine the minimum depth the heave-plate has to be in order to serve its purpose as a damping

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