Sclupture - Flotation Device

[whitts_r1]

Hello all,

Upon stumbling the forum during research I noticed some very helpful posts, and joined.

This is my first post, to introduce myself I am an Manufacturing Engineering student with a large project on my hands and looking for sources of information.

I have been given the task of designing a device that will allow a sculpture to float in a pond of 5m depth. The sculpture has to maintain a 5-10mm distance from water level at all times leaving only the sculpture visible and the device fully submerged! (4-5" WATER LEVEL DEVIATION THROUGHOUT YEAR) meaning sculpture will be moving up&down.

The sculpture is of 485kg. The idea is to place the sculpture on framework incl. floats which will keep the sculpture afloat, by "counteracting" the weight of the structure against the upward force created by the floats (buoyancy).

where am I going with this? Well... I hope that with your knowledge of flotation/buoyancy calculations etc. I could be pointed in the right direction of information that would help me find out how I can make this work! :DMany thanks in advance,
Paul.

Just some pics to maybe make more sense of this post!

(wood sculpture, grey = framework/structure, Yellow = floats, concrete base to sit on pond floor)

 

[OldEngr63]

You will need to determine the volume of your entire assembly so that you can determine the amount of water it will displace. This is a necessary first step.

 

[whitts_r1]

In knowing the total volume figure, thus the amount of water displacement, how would you go about calculating the buoyancy needed?
next step?

thankyou for reply

 

[OldEngr63]

Do you know Archimede's principle? If not, look it up.

 

[alphy]

Hello Paul,

It's great to hear that you are working on a project involving sculpture and engineering. I can definitely provide some insight and suggestions for your project.

First of all, it's important to understand the principles of flotation and buoyancy. Buoyancy is the upward force that is exerted by a fluid on an object that is partially or fully submerged in it. This force is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces. In your case, the sculpture will displace a volume of water equal to its weight, and this will create an upward force that will keep it afloat.

To ensure that the sculpture maintains a 5-10mm distance from the water level at all times, you will need to carefully calculate the buoyancy force and ensure that it is greater than the weight of the sculpture. This can be achieved by using a combination of floats and a framework to distribute the weight of the sculpture and create an overall upward force. You can also consider using materials with low densities, such as foam, to increase the overall buoyancy.

Another important factor to consider is the stability of the sculpture. As it will be moving up and down with changes in water level, it's important to design a stable framework and placement of floats to prevent any tipping or instability.

I would recommend consulting with a hydrodynamics expert or a marine engineer for more detailed calculations and design suggestions. They will be able to provide you with specific information on the size and placement of floats, as well as the materials to use for the framework and base.

I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Good luck with your project!

Best,