Convergence of different wake alignment methods in a panel code for steady-state flows

Wake alignment models are always included in the modern panel codes for marine propeller analysis. The wake alignment algorithms influence directly the rate of convergence and the accuracy of calculations. In the present work, firstly, four different numerical methods to implement the wake alignment algorithms for the steady calculation are described. They perform quite differently in terms of convergence history and convergence rate. The comparison with the other methods shows that the direct application of the unsteady method leads to a much slower convergence rate. Secondly, high-order numerical methods including second-order and fourth-order Runge–Kutta methods are introduced into the wake alignment, which results in high-order wake alignment algorithms. The analysis of the results shows that the high-order methods generate a different wake geometry from the low-order method. The thrust coefficient and torque coefficient have also been compared.     

KG<Subscript>max</Subscript> curves associated with second generation intact stability criteria for different types of ships

Currently, second generation intact stability criteria are being developed and evaluated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In this paper, we briefly present levels 1 and 2 assessment methods for the criteria of pure loss of stability and parametric roll failure modes. Subsequently, we show the KG_max curves associated with these criteria. We compute these curves for five different types of ships and compare them with the curves embodied in the current regulations. The results show that the safety margin ensured by the first level-1 method of calculation for both pure loss of stability and parametric roll seems to be excessive in many cases. They also show that the KG_max given by the second level-1 method and by the level-2 method may be very similar. In some cases, the level-2 method can be more conservative than the second level-1 method, which is unanticipated by the future regulation. The KG_max curves associated with parametric roll confirm that the C11 container ship is vulnerable to this failure mode. The computation of the second check coefficient of parametric roll level 2 (C2) for all possible values of KG reveals the existence of both authorized and restricted areas on the surface formed by both the draft and KG, which may replace the classical KG_max curves. In consequence, it is not sufficient to check that C2 is lower than the maximum authorized value (R _PR0) for a fixed ship’s loading condition.     

Long term distribution of non-linear wave induced vertical bending moments

A method is proposed for the long-term formulation of wave induced vertical bending moments in ship structures. The non-linearity of the response is represented by an uncertain modelling factor that is calibrated by experimental values. Long term predictions are obtained for a tanker and a container ship hull showing that only in the latter case is the response clearly non-linear and reproduced in the long-term predictions.     

Underwater hydraulic shock shovel control system

The control system determines the effectiveness of an underwater hydraulic shock shovel. This paper begins by analyzing the working principles of these shovels and explains the importance of their control systems. A new type of control system’s mathematical model was built and analyzed according to those principles. Since the initial control system’s response time could not fulfill the design requirements, a PID controller was added to the control system. System response time was still slower than required, so a neural network was added to nonlinearly regulate the proportional element, integral element and derivative element coefficients of the PID controller. After these improvements to the control system, system parameters fulfilled the design requirements. The working performance of electrically-controlled parts such as the rapidly moving high speed switch valve is largely determined by the control system. Normal control methods generally can’t satisfy a shovel’s requirements, so advanced and normal control methods were combined to improve the control system, bringing good results.     

Assessment of port economic impacts on regional economy with a case study on the Port of Lisbon

This article presents a method of assessing the economic impacts of ports at both regional level and national level, through application of input–output analysis. To this end, a methodology for data collection is proposed, which combines a top-down with a bottom-up approach which should help in surpassing some of the difficulties commonly faced in port economic impact studies. The presented methodology allows port planners and policymakers to assess the economic significance and geographic reach of port investments. This study considers the economic impacts of the port cluster and the socio-economic significance of port user industries. The several layers of the analysis are kept separate to allow a better grasp of direct and indirect impacts. The proposed methodology is demonstrated in a study of the Port of Lisbon, which confirms the significance of this port to the Portuguese economy, and also demonstrates that the influence of the Port of Lisbon is mostly limited to an area in close proximity to the port. Therefore, results suggest that investments for the development of logistic infrastructures associated with the port should concentrate in the immediate hinterland of the port.     

An inverse model for calculation of global volume transport from wind and hydrographic data

The P-vector inverse method has been successfully used to invert the absolute velocity from hydrographic data for the extra-equatorial hemispheres, but not for the equatorial region since it is based on the geostrophic balance. A smooth interpolation scheme across the equator is developed in this study to bring together the two already known solutions (P-vectors) for the extra-equatorial hemispheres. This model contains four major components: (a) the P-vector inverse model to obtain the solutions for the two extra-equatorial hemispheres, (b) the objective method to determine the Ψ-values at individual islands, (c) the Poisson equation-solver to obtain the Π-values over the equatorial region from the volume transport vorticity equation, and (d) the Poisson equation-solver to obtain the Ψ and depth-integrated velocity field (U, V) over the globe from the Poisson Ψ-equation. The Poisson equation-solver is similar to the box model developed by Wunsch. Thus, this method combines the strength from both box and P-vector models. The calculated depth-integrated velocity and Ψ-field agree well with earlier studies.     

Estimating salinity to complement observed temperature: 2.Northwestern Atlantic

This paper addresses the problem of estimating salinity for a large region in the Atlantic Ocean containing the Gulf Stream and its recirculation. Together with Part 1 [Thacker, W.C., 2007-this issue. Estimating salinity to complement observed temperature: 1. Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Marine Systems. doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2005.06.008.] dealing with the Gulf of Mexico, this reports on the first efforts of a project for developing world-wide capability for estimating salinity to complement expendable-bathythermograph (XBT) data. Such estimates are particularly important for this region, where the strong frontal contrasts render the task of assimilating XBT data into numerical models more sensitive to the treatment of salinity.Differences in salinity's co-variability with temperature and with longitude, latitude, and day-of-year from the northwestern part of the region with the Gulf Stream to the southeastern part more characteristic of the Sargasso sea suggested that the region be partitioned to achieve more accurate salinity estimates. In general, accuracies were better in the southeastern sub-region than in the more highly variable northwestern sub-region with root-mean-square estimation errors of 0.15 psu at 25 dbar and 0.02 psu at 300 dbar as compared with 0.35 psu and 0.50 psu, respectively, but in the southeast there was an unexpected error maximum around 1000 dbar where estimates were slightly less accurate than in the northwest. For pressures greater than 1400 dbar root-mean-square errors in both sub-regions were less than 0.02 psu.     

Research on stability design of a bar-reinforced spherical bulkhead

In this paper, the stability of a concave spherical stem bulkhead under the pumping load when still lying at the slipway is analyzed. The stability of the spherical stem bulkhead with different shell thickness and reinforcing forms is discussed. According to the results of stability analysis, the optimization design of the spherical stem bulkhead stability is performed. On the basis of considering the machining technical requirements of the bulkhead, a rational design of the spherical stem bulkhead structure is obtained. This paper has a certain value to the design of submarine's spherical stem bulkhead.     

A comparison of Chinese,Japanese, and Korean shipyard production technology

This paper compares Chinese, Korean, and Japanese shipyard production technology. Development in the world shipbuilding over recent years has influenced focus areas related to shipyard manufacturing technologies and product performance. Software systems, information technology, production technology, and local challenges of shipyards are compared with shipbuilding outputs among these three countries. Various technologies developments, shipyard production and the problems in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean shipyards are discussed respectively. Finally, future areas of research are pointed out.