1/6 Scale Seastead Model — Displacement & Froude-Scaled Full Size
Given (Scale Model)
- Main deck triangle side length: 10 ft (above water; assumed to contribute no displacement)
- Number of legs/columns: 3
- Each leg: 5 in diameter, 6 ft long, angled 45° out-and-down
- Submergence: 60% of each leg length underwater (assumed along-leg submerged length)
- Water density assumed: seawater ≈ 64 lb/ft³ (≈ 1025 kg/m³)
Key Assumptions
- Only the submerged portions of the 3 cylindrical legs displace water.
- The 45° angle does not change displaced volume if “60% underwater” refers to submerged length along the cylinder.
- Static target weight equals buoyant force (i.e., equals displaced water weight) for the stated floating condition.
Calculations (Scale Model)
- Leg diameter: 5 in = 0.4167 ft; radius r = 0.2083 ft
- Cross-sectional area per leg: A = πr² = π(0.2083)² = 0.1364 ft²
- Submerged length per leg: 0.60 × 6 ft = 3.6 ft
- Displaced volume per leg: Vleg = A × L = 0.1364 × 3.6 = 0.491 ft³
- Total displaced volume (3 legs): V = 3 × 0.491 = 1.474 ft³
- Displaced water weight / buoyant force: W = 64 × 1.474 = 94.3 lb
- Displaced water mass (seawater): 1.474 ft³ = 0.0417 m³ → m ≈ 1025 × 0.0417 = 42.7 kg
Froude (Geometric) Scaling to Full Scale
Scale ratio (full/model) is λ = 6.
Under Froude scaling with the same fluid density:
lengths scale as λ and displacement/weight scales as λ³.
Full-Scale Dimensions (Feet)
- Main deck triangle side length: 10 ft × 6 = 60 ft
- Leg length: 6 ft × 6 = 36 ft
- Leg diameter: 5 in × 6 = 30 in = 2.5 ft
- Submerged leg length (60%): 0.60 × 36 = 21.6 ft
Full-Scale Displacement & Target Weight
- Total displaced volume scales by λ³ = 216:
Vfull = 1.474 × 216 = 318.4 ft³
- Buoyant force / supported weight:
Wfull = 94.3 × 216 = 20,377 lb
(≈ 10.19 short tons)
- Displaced water mass (seawater):
318.4 ft³ = 9.015 m³ → m ≈ 1025 × 9.015 = 9,240 kg
Summary Table
| Item |
Scale Model (1/6) |
Full Scale (1/1) |
| Triangle side length |
10 ft |
60 ft |
| Leg diameter |
5 in (0.4167 ft) |
30 in (2.5 ft) |
| Leg length |
6 ft |
36 ft |
| Submerged leg length (60%) |
3.6 ft |
21.6 ft |
| Total displaced volume (3 legs) |
1.474 ft³ |
318.4 ft³ |
| Displaced water weight / buoyant force (seawater @ 64 lb/ft³) |
94.3 lb |
20,377 lb |
| Total target weight to float at stated submergence |
94.3 lb |
20,377 lb |
If you want, I can redo the numbers for freshwater (62.4 lb/ft³) or if “60% underwater”
means 60% of the leg’s vertical projection rather than 60% of its length.
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