Future Naval Surface Ship Design and Hydrodynamic Performance Assessment

Abstract

The role of ship model tank testing in DoD ship construction programs has changed due to DoD policy and the advances made in hydronumeric modeling and simulation (M & S) computer codes. Performance improvements associated with innovative solutions need to be characterized in technical, schedule and cost areas in order to justify consideration. Computer simulations of system solutions performed early in the design cycle enable a wider range design space to be evaluated. Elements of steady flow and ship motions behavior have been successfully characterized with computer models. The validated range over which the performance of design concepts can be evaluated by computer models, however, is limited. The hydrodynamic performance risk associated with advanced hull forms developed for two surface ship programs has been handled using state of the art physical and computer modeling techniques. Hydronumeric computer codes using potential flow theory were used to develop the design concepts. The performance of the resulting concepts and the ability of the computer code to predict hydrodynamic behavior has been validated by physical model testing in this project. Water surface topological definition for the steady flow condition was obtained for ship models operating over a range of ship speeds. This data was obtained from towing tank experiments of candidate future surface-ship-hull forms conducted at the US Naval Academy and David Taylor Model Basin. These experiments included measurements of hull resistance, sinkage and trim, stern wave topology, and longitudinal and transverse wave cuts. The approach and results of the design process, the hydronumeric predictions used to develop the hydrodynamic designs, and ship model tests used to verify performance and increase the validated range of code predictions are presented. Details of the experimental procedures and data are provided. The test configuration, tank definition, model condition and other test conditions provide the code developers with an understanding of how the data was produced. Wave cut, free surface topology, model geometry, and test condition data will be provided on the DTMB Model 5415 web site when cleared for release.