Apparent Discrepancies in ABS Rules

Discussion in 'Class Societies' started by Willallison, Jun 15, 2010.

  1. Willallison
    Joined: Oct 2001
    Posts: 3,590
    Likes: 130, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 2369
    Location: Australia

    Willallison Senior Member

    I was looking at the ABS rules - in this case for Motor Pleasure Craft - and there seems to be a consistent discrepancy between the values for SI (metric) and Imperial calculations.

    By way of a simple example:
    Design Pressures: 8.1 c.
    Pd = 9.8(D + 1.22) kN/m^2
    or
    Pd = 0.44(D + 4) psi

    if we assume a simple case where the moulded draft (D) = 1m, or 3.281 ft

    Pd = 9.8(1 + 1.22) kN/m^2
    = 21.756 kN/m^2
    or
    Pd = 0.44(3.281 + 4) psi
    = 3.204 psi

    Now, 1 psi = 6.895 kN/m^2

    3.204 x 6.895 = 22.09... not 22.756.....

    Every other formula that I've looked is similar.... the formulae given for imperial & metric don't give the same results....

    It's hard to imagine that nobody's come across this before.....???:confused:

    Edit: In this particular instance, the difference is probably not significant... other calcs showed a far greater difference, however...
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2010
  2. conceptia
    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posts: 203
    Likes: 7, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 97
    Location: Houston

    conceptia Naval Architect

    well, all i gotta say is the Americans screwed up with the unit conversions.. :)
     
  3. jehardiman
    Joined: Aug 2004
    Posts: 3,773
    Likes: 1,167, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 2040
    Location: Port Orchard, Washington, USA

    jehardiman Senior Member

    It was intentional to give metric designers a ~1.534% advantage in strength as the limit of draft (D) goes to infinity as everyone knows that it is harder to work with such screwed up units as kiloPascals (Kg force? per meter squared... how screwed up is that?).......;)

    Really now, remember your significant figure rules from the days of slide rules. The equations have a minimim of 2 significant figures so the answer can have at most 2.

    So 9.8(1+1.22)= 22 (21.7 rounds up) and 0.44(3.28084+4)*6.894757= 22 (22.08 rounds down)
     
  4. MikeJohns
    Joined: Aug 2004
    Posts: 3,192
    Likes: 208, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 2054
    Location: Australia

    MikeJohns Senior Member

    Its all apples really, if you had 4 1/2 apples to a pound then each apple produces 1 Newton force in earths gravity. Even imperialists can understand that :)
    Then material strength is just apples per square millimeter

    Anyone in my workplace uttering the words kilogram force was immediately guillotined. Messy, but necessary.
     
  5. conceptia
    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posts: 203
    Likes: 7, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 97
    Location: Houston

    conceptia Naval Architect

    okay so jehardim explained it well.. Newton and Pascal are still alien to Americans that seems. I remember an American school joke - a child claiming the first human being on earth is George Washington.. i thought that was a joke.... :p
     

  6. jehardiman
    Joined: Aug 2004
    Posts: 3,773
    Likes: 1,167, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 2040
    Location: Port Orchard, Washington, USA

    jehardiman Senior Member

    Yeah, everyone in India knows that it was Gandhi....:D
     
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.