Ship Hydrodynamics and Maneuverability

Ship hydrodynamics and maneuverability is the study of how water forces act on vessels as they move, turn, and respond to waves, with the goal of predicting and improving their behavior across a range of sea conditions. Getting these predictions right has direct consequences for fuel efficiency, cargo safety, and the ability of a ship to maintain control in adverse weather. Computational fluid dynamics has become the dominant tool for this work, but a persistent challenge lies in quantifying numerical uncertainty—understanding how faithfully a simulation actually captures the complex interplay of wave loads, propeller thrust, and hull resistance. Researchers are actively working to refine maneuvering coefficients derived from CFD, improve models of added resistance in irregular seas, and account for hydroelastic effects in which the ship's structure itself flexes in response to wave-induced forces.

Works

45,381

Total citations

193,172

Keywords

CFD SimulationsShip ManeuveringHydrodynamic OptimizationAdded ResistanceNumerical UncertaintyPropeller Performance