Experimental Investigation of Hydrodynamic Coefficients of a Wave-Piercing Tumblehome Hull Form

Abstract

A systematic series of calm-water forced roll model tests were performed over a range of forward speeds using an advanced tumblehome hull form (DTMB model #5613-1) to examine the mechanisms of roll damping. This experimental investigation is part of an ongoing effort to advance the capability to assess seakeeping, maneuvering, and dynamic stability characteristics of an advanced surface combatant. The experiment was performed to provide data for development and validation of a semi-empirical roll damping model for use in validation of ship motion and viscous flow simulation codes, as well as to provide a basis for future work with additional experiments, contributing to the development of an improved analytical roll damping model. Two hull configurations were tested: barehull with skeg, and bare hull with skeg and bilge keels. Measurements of forces and moments were obtained over a range of forward speeds, roll frequencies, and roll amplitudes. Stereo particle-image velocimetry (SPIV) measurments were also taken for both zero and forward speeds. Test data was used to calculate added mass/inertia and damping coefficients. Two different system modeling techniques were used. The first method modeled the system as an equivalent linearly-damped second-order harmonic oscillator with the time-varying total stiffness coefficient considered linear. The second technique used equivalent linear damping, including higher-order Fourier components, and a non-linear stiffness formulation. Results are shown, including plots of added inertia and damping coefficients as functions of roll frequency, roll amplitude, and forward speed and SPIV measurements. Trends from the experimental data are compared to results from traditional component roll damping formulations for conventional hull from geometries and differences are discussed.