Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MEC4016

 
TITLE Maritime Hydrodynamics, Manoeuvrability and Interaction

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Mechanical Engineering

 
DESCRIPTION Hydrodynamics is a vast engineering science subject key for the understanding of loading patterns round maritime floating structures and their susceptibility to motion. This study-unit provides an introductory knowledge foundation in this area.

Moreover manoeuvrability of floating structures is also introduced via analytical and experimental methods to assess practical examples of control surfaces. This study-unit also introduces aspects of maritime structure interaction, specifically for floating vessels and structures . All three aspects are introduced qualitatively through some foundation concepts and through the provision of some practical examples. The unit is particularly focused on vessels and structures engineering activity but also deals with some aspects of offshore structures design and operation.

Study-unit Aims:

The main aim of this study-unit is to establish a solid foundation of hydrodynamic science through the assessment of various loading patterns of floating structures. This is further complimented by introducing manoeuvrability and interaction of vessels through various techniques.

The study-unit is specifically aimed at those students who want to further progress a professional and/or academic career in maritime engineering .

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will:

a. be able to understand the basic science of hydrodynamics.
- List the degrees of freedom of floating structures.
- List the different types of waves.
- Analyse motion in regular waves.
- Analyse the principle of added mass.
- Analyse undamped and damped motion - introduce and apply the Morison equation.
- List and analyse different forms of rolling.
b. be able to understand the basic concepts and correlate the physics of control surfaces.
- an analysis of the theory of detailed rudder design by assessing some standard profiles.
- a description of the rudder types and the various interaction e.g. rudder-propeller and rudder-propeller-hull interactions.
- a qualitative description of cavitation effects on rudder control surfaces.
- a list of experimental and testing techniques for manoeuvrability e.g. turning circle and other turning ability tests.
c. have a good overview of the various ship interaction causes and effects through:
- a qualitative analysis of ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore interaction effects.
- an analysis of the navigation of bends.
- understand the various aspects of ship squat (ship-to-ground).

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Characterise the motion of floating structures via the application of response amplitude operators (RAOs).
- Characterise motion simple floating structures by introducing a commercial package.
- Fully characterise the physics behind rudders and control surfaces.
- Have a good overview of the design process of a ship control surfaces and rudder design.
- Appreciate the various interaction effects of rudders with various other ship systems e.g. propeller and hull.
- Characterise the various ship interaction effects using various methods such as the interpretation of ship squat curves.
- Enable independent study.
- Enable a practical approach for ship design via an assignment making use of a commercial numerical package.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Maritime Engineering Reference Book: A guide to ship design, construction and operation. A.F. Molland.
- Introduction to Naval Architecture - E.C. Tupper.
- Practical Hydrodynamics - B.Volker.
- Sea Loads on Ships and Offshore Structures - O.Faltinsen.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Study-units: MEC2340, MEC 2341 and MEC3341

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Independent Study, Project and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 15%
Examination (3 Hours) SEM1 Yes 85%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit