150 YEARS OF SHIP DESIGN

As part of writing a short article entitled “Ship Design – From Art to Science?” [1] for the Institution’s 150th anniversary celebratory volume [2], the author consulted the Institution’s centenary book by K C Barnaby [3] to get a feel for the formative first hundred years of ship design recorded in the learned papers presented to the Institution. This consultation was motivated by consideration of the papers in the first volume of the Transactions of 1860, which, surprisingly, contained no papers directly on ship design, either on ship design in general or through describing the design intent behind a specific new ship. Rather, like the very first paper by Reverend J Woolley, the remaining 1860 papers concerned themselves with what could be called the application of science (and mathematics) to the practice of naval architecture as an engineering discipline. However this initial focus broadened out in subsequent volumes of the Transactions so that both technical descriptions of significant new ship designs and, more recently, papers on the general practice of ship design have also figured, alongside the presentation of progress in the science of naval architecture. Given that the vast bulk of ships built over this period have been designed like most buildings to a set pattern, or as we naval architects would say based on a (previous) “type ship”, those designs presented in the Institution’s Transactions, and the few other collections of learned societies’ papers, are largely on designs that have been seen to be of particular merit in their novelty and importance. Therefore this review looks at the developments in ship design by drawing on those articles in the Transactions that are design related. In doing so the papers have been conveniently broken down into the three, quite momentous, half centuries over which the Institution has existed. From this historical survey, it is then appropriate to consider how the practice of ship design may develop in the foreseeable future.

Experimental model tests to improve a tanker resistance performance

The ship resistance is one of the most important hydrodynamics performances, being related to the contractual ship speed. The experimental model tests can be used to measure and improve the resistance performance. In this paper, the possibility of using the experimental techniques in order to improve a tanker model resistance is demonstrated, based on a bulbous bow modelling solution. In this context, the results obtained in the Towing Tank of the Naval Architecture Faculty of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, related to a tanker model resistance with and without bulbous bow are presented. The bulbous bow form was realised based on the hydrodynamics principles adapted to the bow forms of the tanker. In the case of the bulbous bow solution, a significant reduction of over 8% of the tanker model resistance was obtained, in the design speed domain.

Experimental techniques in the wind tunnel of naval architecture faculty

The implementation of innovative solutions in the field of shipbuilding requires the continuous development of research infrastructure. The hydro-aerodynamic problems of fluid flow around the hulls can be solved with numerical and/or experimental techniques. In any case, the validation of the numerical solutions is performed in specialized hydro-aerodynamic laboratories by means of the experimental model tests. In this context, a wind tunnel was developed at the Naval Architecture Faculty of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, in order to measure the aerodynamic forces and moments or the speed and pressure distribution on the hull, generated by the wind action. This paper presents the most important types of problems that can be experimentally approached in the aerodynamic tunnel and the specific experimental equipments. The wind tunnel development was financed from the university funds.

Development of fishing vessel shipyard in traditional Lampulo, Banda Aceh

The construction of ships at the Lampulo shipyard has not all used the rules according to naval architecture. But there may be ineffectiveness in the use of raw materials such as a lot of wasted wood volume. This research was conducted to know the types of wood and equipment used for traditional shipbuilding and know the process of traditional shipbuilding. This research used a survey method and data was collected by interviewing and observation. This research is located in the Kutaraja Ocean Fishery Port, Banda Aceh conducted from March to April 2021. The results showed that the types of wood commonly used as raw materials for shipbuilding in traditional shipyards were bangkirai wood (Shore Laevifolia Endert), laban wood (Vitex Punesceus Vahl), balau wood (Hopea Calebica Burck), meranti merah wood (Shorea Acuminata Dyer), tembusu wood (Fagraea Fragrans Roxb), bungur wood (Lagerstroemia Speciosa Pers), and merbau wood (Intsia Bijuga). The equipment used still uses non-electronic equipment, only drill work that uses electricity. Meanwhile, the traditional shipbuilding process generally begins with laying the keel and installing the crest. Next, continued by frames installation, hull plank then upper hull main frame. Hereinafter, deck floor installation, hatches manufacture, and superstructure construction. The final stage of shipbuilding process is machining, painting, installing engines, propellers, and steering. Thus it can be said that the construction of a fishing vessel in Lampulo still traditionally a hereditary habits.