Ship hull optimization based on wave resistance using wavelet method

The ship hull surface optimization based on the wave resistance is an important issue in the ship engineering industry. The wavelet method may provide a convenient tool for the surface hull optimization. As a preliminary study, we use the wavelet method to optimize the hull surface based on the Michel wave resistance for a Wigley model in this paper. Firstly, we express the model＇s surface by the wavelet decomposition expressions and obtain a reconstructed surface and then validate its accuracy. Secondly, we rewrite the Michel wave resistance formula in the wavelet bases, resulting in a simple formula containing only the ship hull surface＇s wavelet coefficients. Thirdly, we take these wavelet coefficients as optimization variables, and analyze the main wave resistance distribution in terms of scales and locations, to reduce the number of optimization variables. Finally, we obtain the optimal hull surface of the Wigley model through genetic algorithms, reducing the wave resistance almost by a half. It is shown that the wavelet method may provide a new approach for the hull optimization.

Effect of Spray Rails on Takeoff Performance of Amphibian Aircraft

Amphibian aircraft have seen a rise in popularity in the recreational and utility sectors due to their ability to take off and land on both land and water, thus serving a myriad of purposes, such as aerobatics, surveillance, and firefighting. Such seaplanes must be aerodynamically and hydrodynamically efficient, particularly during the takeoff phase. Naval architects have long employed innovative techniques to optimize the performance of marine vessels, including incorporating spray rails on hulls. This research paper is dedicated to a comprehensive investigation into the potential utilization of spray rails to enhance the takeoff performance of amphibian aircraft. Several spray rail configurations obtained from naval research were simulated on a bare Seamax M22 amphibian hull to observe an approximate 10% - 25% decrease in water resistance at high speeds alongside a 3% reduction in the takeoff time. This study serves as a motivation to improve the design of the reference airplane hull and a platform for detailed investigations in the future to improve modern amphibian design.

An Innovative Hullform Design Technique for Low Carbon Shipping

Combining modem Computational Fluid Dynamics （CFD） evaluator with optimization method, a new approach of hullform design for low carbon shipping is presented. Using the approach, the designers may find the minimum of some user-defined objective functions under constrains. An example of the approach application for a surface combatant hull optimization is demonstrated. In the procedure, the Particle Swarm Optimization （PSO） algorithm is adopted for exploring the design space, and the Bezier patch method is chosen to automatically modify the geometry of bulb. The total resistance is assessed by RANS solvers. It＇s shown that the total resistance coefficient of the optimized design is reduced by about 6.6% comparing with the original design. The given combatant design optimization example demonstrates the practicability and superiority of the proposed approach for low carbon shipping.

Shapes of the fastest fish and optimal underwater and floating hulls

A streamlined shape of the best swimmers removes the boundary-layer separation and ensures a laminar flow pattern.The fastest fish have a very sharp convex nose(rostrum),the purpose of which remains unclear.The bodies of revolution similar to their shapes are analyzed in steady underwater and floating motion.The sources and sinks were located on the axis of symmetry and above the water surface to estimate the pressure on the body and the vertical velocities on the water surface.It was shown that the flow patterns on a special shaped body with concave nose has no stagnation points and ensure small values of the water surface elevation.These fact allow diminishing the maximum pressure on the surface and wave drag.Special shapes with the sharp concave nose and negative pressure gradients on their surface could be parts of the low drag underwater and floating hulls.

Minimum Resistance Ship Hull Uncertainty Optimization Design Based on Simulation-Based Design Method

In the ship hull optimization design based on simulation-based design(SBD) technology, low precision of the approximate model leads to an uncertainty form of optimization model. In order to enable the approximate model with finite precision to maximize the effectiveness, uncertainty optimization method is introduced here.Wave resistance coefficient approximation model, built by back propagation(BP) neural network, is represented as a form of interval. Afterwards, a minimum resistance optimization model is established with the design space constituted by principal dimensions and ship form coefficients. Double-level nested optimization architecture is proposed: for outer layer, improved particle swarm optimization(IPSO) algorithm with learning factor improvement strategy is used to generate design variables, and for inner layer, modified very fast simulated annealing(MVFSA) algorithm is used to solve the objective function interval with uncertainty region. Cases calculation proves the effectiveness and superiority of uncertainty optimization method for ship hull SBD optimization design,thus providing a good way for finding optimal designs.

Hull form optimization of a cargo ship for reduced drag

Hydrodynamic optimization of the hull forms can be realized through the implementation and integration of computational tools that consist of a hydrodynamic module, a hull surface representation and modification module, and an optimization module. In the present paper, a new bulbous bow generation and modification technique has been developed and integrated into the hull surface representation and modification module. A radial basis function based surrogate model is developed to approximate the objective functions and reduce the computing cost. A multi-objective artificial bee colony optimization algorithm is implemented and integra- ted into the optimization module. To illustrate the integrated hydrodynamic optimization tools, a cargo ship is optimized for reduced drag. The optimal hull forms obtained are then validated computationally and experimentally. Validation results show that the prese- nt tools can be used efficiently and effectively in the simulation based design of the hull forms for reduced drag.

An overview of simulation-based hydrodynamic design of ship hull forms

This review paper presents an overview of simulation-based hydrodynamic design optimization of ship hull forms. A computational tool that is aimed to accomplishing early-stage simulation-based design in terms of hydrodynamic performance is discussed in detail. The main components of this computational tool consist of a hydrodynamic module, a hull surface modeling module, and an optimization module. The hydrodynamic module includes both design-oriented simple CFD tools and high-fidelity CFD tools. These integrated CFD tools are used for evaluating hydrodynamic performances at different design stages. The hull sur- face modeling module includes various techniques for ship hull surface representation and modification. This module is used to automatically produce hull forms or modify existing hull forms in terms of hydrodynamic performance and design constraints. The optimization module includes various optimization algorithms and surrogate models, which are used to determine optimal designs in terms of given hydrodynamic performance. As an illustration of the computational tool, a Series 60 hull is optimized for reduced drag using three different modification strategies to outline the specific procedure for conducting simulation-based hydrodynamic design of ship hull forms using the present tool. Numerical results show that the present tool is well suited for the hull form design optimization at early design stage because it can produce effective optimal designs within a short period of time.

Evaluation of resistance increase and speed loss of a ship in wind and waves

Given the indication of the IMO’s intent to the application of the EEDI and EEOI,the complete and precise total resistance of a ship and induced speed loss in wind and wave is primarily required.This paper proposed a practicable method to evaluate the total resistance in seaway.Besides the still water resistance,the added resistance due to waves is computed using panel method and the wind resistance is obtained using CFD with the verification of an open wind test and statistical formula.The speed loss is acquired in consideration of the matching of the hull,engine and propeller.A hull optimization method is consequently presented based on the proper resistance evaluation approach.The approach is validated available and the total resistance of a ship could be reduced after hull optimization.©2016 Shanghai Jiaotong University.Published by Elsevier B.V.