2011 International Conference on Transportation, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering (TMEE)

December 16-18, Changchun, China

Numerical calculation of ship wave resistance

Based on Linear theory
HaipengZhang DuanfengHan
College of shipbuilding Engineering College of shipbuilding Engineering
Harbin Engineering University Harbin Engineering University
Harbin, China Harbin, China
doctor_haipeng@163.com handuanfeng@hrbeu.edu.cn

Abstract: In order to predict the ship model wave resistance

accurately and provide theoretical basis for a real ship II. MATHEMATICAL MODEL
optimization, a numerical calculation method base on
C.C.Hsiung method (linear theory and using tent function to A. Definite Condition
represent ship hull surface) and Noblesse new slender ship A steady and irrotational flow is considered here with
theory was developed for computing Wigley hull wave inviscid and incompressible fluid properties. The ship
resistance. By comparing and analyzes the calculation results moves with constant velocity U relative to the fluid in
and model test results, the comparison results show that both
infinity field. In Fig.1, it shows that a right-handed
methods can reflect the size of ship wave resistance, and the
Cartesian coordinate system OXYZ fixed with respect to
theoretically results and the test results of Noblesse’ new
slender ship theory show better agreement.
the ship is adopted. The origin is situated at the
intersection of planes of the undisturbed still water surface
Keyword: Michell; Noblesse’s new slender ship theory; and the midship section, X-axis directs the aft and Z-axis
Wigley hull; ship wave resistance points upward.
The flow field around the ship may be described by a
velocity potential Φ ,which is expressed as
I. INTRODUCTION
Φ = −UX + ϕ . Where, ϕ is a perturbation potential, and
The performance of resistance is a fundamental the linear definite condition can be obtained as the flowing
element of ship’s performance. As in a certain extent of function.
Froude number, wave-making resistance is sensitive to the
change of ship forms. Modify the ship lines properly, may
help to reduce the wave-making resistance evidently. So
using theory and numeration methods to probe the
mechanism of wave-making and forecast wave-making
resistance has significant meanings.
At present the methods to study wave-making
resistance mainly conclude linear wave-making theory 
represent by Michell-Havelock and Dawson method based Figure 1. Coordinate system
on Rankine source model. Based on Michell method,
C.C.Hsiung calculates ship wave resistance by using tent ∇ 2ϕ = 0 ˄in the flow filed˅ (1)
function to represent ship hull surface[1]. By using this
∂ϕ U ∂ ϕ
2 2
(2)
method, the wave resistance function related to hull shape + = 0 ˄Z=0˅
is obtained. The theoretical system of the New Slender ∂Z g ∂X 2
Ship Theory of Wave Resistance was proposed by F. ∂ϕ ˄on the ship surface˅ (3)
Noblesse in 1983. Chen &Noblesse compute the ship wave = UnX
∂n
resistance by using new slender ship theory, and the better
result was obtained[2]. Dawson computed the wave ­O(1/ R), X > 0, R → ∞ (4)
ϕ( X ,Y , Z ) = ®
resistance potential flow based on Rankine sources ¯ o(1/ R), X < 0, R → ∞
distributed over a double model of the hull and free
surface[3].
Where, R = X 2 +Y2 + Z2 .
This paper is based on Michell’s thin ship theory and B. Michell Integral
Noblesse’s new slender ship theory to make wave-making
Based on thin-ship theory, the corresponding velocity
resistance numerical calculation program, which was using
potential and wave resistance formula are obtained by
to compute the wave-making resistance of Wigley
using the method of separation of variables by Michell.
mathematic ship

978-1-4577-1701-7/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE 2098

 π /2
4ρ g 2 (5) K (0) (t ) = Fr −2 ³ Enx da + ³ Enx2t y dl (11)
Rw = ³ (I
2
+ J 2 ) sec3 θ dθ h c
πU 2 0 If the ship has port and starboard symmetry, calculation
I + iJ = could be simplified somewhat by replacing integral
0 L /2 domain by half hull surface and half waterline(y>0).
g g
³ dZ ³ f X ( X , Z ) exp(U 2 Z sec θ +i
X sec θ )dX
2
Putting E into (11) and designating the real part and
−T − L/ 2
U2 imaginary part of zeroth order Konchin function as
(6) Kr (t ) and Ki (t ) respectively, which are expressed as:
Assuming that ship length is L, beam is B=2b, draft is Kr(t ) = Kr(−t )
T. Moreover, the dimensionless form of x=X/L, y=Y/b,
z=Z/T was obtained. sec θ is let as t 2 + 1 and the wave 2Fr −2 ³ + exp[(1 + t 2 ) Fr −2 z]cos[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]
h
resistance coefficient is expressed as cos[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]nx da + 2³ + cos[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]
∞
8 ρ g B 2T 2 κ 0 (t 2 + 1) 2 c
Cw = Rw / = ³ 2 [ P 2 + Q 2 ]dt (7) cos[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]nxt y dl
π L 2 0 (t + 2) 1/ 2

(12)
Where,
0 1/ 2 Ki(t ) = Ki(−t )
T
P= ³³ f ( x, z ) exp[2k (t 2 + 1) 2 ( ) z ]cos[2k (t 2 + 1) x]dxdz ,
x 0 0 − 2Fr −2 ³ + exp[(1 + t 2 )Fr −2 z]sin[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]
−11/ 2
L h
0 1/ 2
T cos[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]nxda − 2³ + sin[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]
Q=³ ³ f x ( x, z) exp[2k0 (t 2 + 1)2 ( ) z]sin[2k0 (t 2 + 1) x]dxdz . c

−11/ 2
L cos[(1 + t 2 )1/2 Fr −2 x]nxt y dl
f x is ship form function, Fr is Froude number, (13)
2
k0 = 1 / 2 Fr is wave number. So, the wave resistance coefficient is expressed as˖
Rw
Cw = =
C. Noblesse’s new slender ship theory 0.5ρU 2 L2
(14)
Based on Noblesse’s new slender ship theory, the 1 ∞ª 2 2 2 1/ 2
Kr (t ) + Ki(t ) (1 + t ) dt
º
velocity potential is obtained by using alternative method, π ³−∞ ¬ ¼
which avoided the problem of solving the distribution of
source and dipole. The dimensionless form of ϕ = ϕ / UL III. NUMERICAL CALCULATION AND COMPARISON
and ( x, y , z ) = ( X , Y , Z ) / L are obtained and the linear free The numerical algorithm outline in the preceding
surface condition is became as the flowing formula. sections has applied to prediction of wave resistance. The
∂ϕ ∂ 2ϕ case considered is the well-known Wigley hull model,
+ Fr 2 2 = 0 (z=0) (8) which is defined by the analytical formula.
∂z ∂x 2 2
The velocity potential equation, which is valid both in B ª § 2x · º ª § z · º (15)
y = «1 − ¨ ¸ » «1 − ¨ ¸ »
near-field and far-field, can be obtained by using Green 2 «¬ © L ¹ »¼ «¬ © T ¹ »¼
theorem. The characteristic dimensions of the Wigley hull are
ª ∂E º L=16, B/L=0.1, T/L=0.0625 and Cb=0.444. In Fig.2, it
ϕ (ξ ) = ³ «Gnx − ϕ »da +
h
¬ ∂n ¼ shows that the Wigley hull surface is divided into 110
ª § ∂ϕ ∂ϕ · ∂G º planes.
Fr 2 ³ «G ¨ nx2 + t x − nz t y ¸ −ϕ t y dl −
c
¬ © ∂l ∂d ¹ ∂x ¼»
Fr 2 ³ Gq(ϕ )dxdy
σ
(9)
Where, h is hull surface, c is waterline, ³ is still water
surface, n is denotes the outward normal and t is tangential
vector of waterline c.
Kochin free amplitude function is expressed as˖
∂E Figure 2. Sketch of panel arrangement of Wigley
K (t ) = Fr − 2 ³ ( En x − ϕ )da +
h ∂n
At first, based on C.C.Hsiung method, ship hull surface
ª § 2 ∂ϕ ∂ϕ · ∂E º was represented by using tent function and a numerical
³c ¬« E ©¨ n x + t x ∂l − n z t y ∂d ¸ −ϕ t y dl −
¹ ∂ x z ¼» calculation program for wave make resistance value was
worked out to calculate wave resistance of Wigley hull. In
³σ Eq (ϕ )dxdy Figure3, it shows the comparison of calculation result
(10) between this paper and reference[5][6].
Where, E = exp[ Fr −2 (1 + t 2 )1/2{(1 + t 2 )1/2 z − i( x + ty)}] . Due In Figure3, it shows that the computed result of wave
to first step velocity potential ϕ (0) (ξ ) = 0 , the first step resistance coefficient of the Wigley hull with fixed sinkage
kochin amplitude function can be expressed ignoring the and trim is consistent with the computed results carried out
last term of Esq. (10). by references. It can be seen that the wave resistance
coefficient has the same tendency as the variation,

2099
therefore, the applicability of calculation method and 0.035 Fr=0.4
Matlab program are verified. 0.030
Secondly, based on zeroth order similar, the zeroth
order Kochin wave amplitude function for Fr=0.2ǃ0.3ǃ 0.025

0.4 were calculated by using Eq.(12)(13). Due to the

ABS(ImK(t))
0.020
symmetry of the ship and based on the Eq.(12), it can be
0.015
known that the real part of zeroth order kochin wave
amplitude function is 0. In Figure4, it shows the result of 0.010
different Froude numbers.
0.005

Cw 0.000
0 2 4 6 8 10
0.24 CW = RW /(8B T ρ g /(π L))
2 2
t

0.20 (c) Fr=0.4

t he r es ul t of t hi s paper
t he r es ul t of Ye Hengk ui
0.16 t he r es ul t of L i Zuoz hi Figure 4. kochin wave-amplitude function curve at some Froude
number
0.12
The integral range of t should be (−∞䯸+∞) in strict term.
0.08
In Figure4, it shows that the result can be meet
acquirement of calculation of mid-high speed when the
0.04
integral range of t is (-10, 10). For slow speed, the integral
range of t should be small appropriately. In this paper, the
0.00
0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 integral range of t is fixed in (-10, 10).
In Figure5, it shows the curves of wave resistance,
FR which were obtained from the calculation of this paper,
Figure 3. The wave resistance coefficient curve oriented Michell pre-calculation by Michell integral and the experiment[3].
method for wigley ship
3
Cw*10
0.6 the calculation by Michell integral
Fr=0.2
the calculation by slender ship theory
0.020
the experiment
0.5

0.015 Cw = Rw /(0.5 ρU 2 L2 )
0.4
ABS(ImK(t))

0.010 0.3

0.005 0.2

0.1
0.000
0 2 4 6 8 10
t 0.0
0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50
FR
(a) Fr=0.2
Figure 5. The wave resistance coefficient compared curve oriented
new slender ship theory
Fr=0.35
0.020
In Figure5, it shows that the wave resistance of Wigley
0.015 ship increased slowly when 0.2 ≤ Fr ≤ 0.4 Both the wave
resistance coefficient calculated by noblesse new slender
ABS(ImK(t))

ship theory and Michell thin ship theory, whose change

0.010
trend with the experimental data is consistent, are showed
a rise in fluctuant.
0.005 The calculation values of two theories compared with
experimental values have a certain bias. But the result of
Noblesse new-slender ship theory is more similar with
0.000
0 2 4 6 8 10 experimental ship model. The wave resistance calculated
by two methods is closest to experimental values when Fr
t
is closed to 0.26 and 0.35. So the two points can be
selected as the ship design optimization points.
(b) Fr=0.35

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 IV. CONCLUSION
This paper shows that the result is satisfactory when
calculating Wigley mathematical ship wave resistance with
both the Michell thin ship theory and Noblesse new
slender ship theory. But for the actual ship, the linear wave
theory is difficult to obtain high calculation accuracy of the
wave resistance. Although the linear theory can not
accurately calculate the wave resistance, it can still be able
to reflect the change trends of ship wave resistance
correctly. The linear theory connects hull value and wave
resistance, so it provides a theoretical basis for next ship
optimization.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study is supported in part by National Natural
Science Foundation of China (under Grant nos. 61004008)
and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central
Universities (under Grant nos.HEUCF110107). We would
like to thank Prof. HanDuanfeng and Dr. WangChao for
useful discussions on Michell’s thin ship theory and
Noblesse’s new slender ship theory.
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REFERENCES
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[3] Chen.C.Y, Noblesse.F. Preliminary numerical study of a new
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[4] Dawson.C.W. A practical computer method for solving ship-wave
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