Effects of a Bulbous Bow Shape on Added Resistance Acting on the Hull of a Ship in Regular Head Wave

Abstract

In this study, the effect of bow shape on resistance acting on a hull in regular head waves was investigated by applying a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code. For this purpose, the hydrodynamic performance as well as the resistance of ships with blunt and bulbous bows were simulated. By analyzing the obtained CFD simulation results, the effects of the bow shape on the hydrodynamic performance and resistance of the ships were found. A new bulbous bow shape with drastically reduced added resistance acting on the hull in waves is proposed. Finally, the obtained CFD results for the hydrodynamic performance of ships are presented.