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Ship model tests at VTT tank MEC-E2001 - Ship Hydrodynamics

Let us go through the steps for the ship resistance, propeller open water and ship self
propulsion tests. In case of questions, you can contact ville.viitanen@vtt.fi.

Propeller open water tests. The purpose is to measure the performance of


the propeller. The results are produced as the propeller characteristic curves of
the thrust coefficient KT , the torque coefficient KQ and the propeller open water
efficiency η0 as a function of the advance ration, J. The steps performed at the
basin consist of:

Preparation

• Prepare post-processing tools on a plug-in basis, to be used in situ. Advisable


are Octave/Matlab, Excel, Python and the likes
• Set the propeller axis at an appropriate depth, ≥ D
• Choose the rate of revolution st. the Reynolds number Rec = ρnDc0.75 /µ is
appropriate

Calibration

• Dynamic
 calibration of thrust measurement,
 obtain calibration coefficients
CT [kg]/[V] · Tmeas [V] → T [kg]

• Static calibration for torque measurement


• Calibration for the rate of revolutions
• Dynamic zero readings of thrust and torque

Performing the tests

• Measure water temperature for ρ, µ


• Measure V , n, T and Q
• Measurement time ≈ 30s
• Time-average, plug into post-processing, check and determine possible fine-
tunings
• Calming time ≈ 10min
• Measure around 15 points
• Keep a record what you do! For example, write down time, what was the
speed, anything out of the ordinary that may be handy in the post-processing.
A great deal of work is saved when one does not constantly have to struggle
to remember which each result file or run contained

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Ship model tests at VTT tank MEC-E2001 - Ship Hydrodynamics

Analysis of the results

• Produce the coefficients J, KT , KQ , η0

• Approximate open water curves by third order polynomials

Ship resistance test. The purpose is to determine the resistance of the prototype
and to obtain dynamic running position for the investigated speed range. Additional
information is obtainable on design basis, such that wave pattern, stern/bow im-
mersion, intriguing flow phenomena etc. You measure: towing force; speed; sinkage
at AP, FP. The arrangement for the resistance tests is shown in Fig. 1. The steps
performed at the basin consist of:

Preparation

• Prepare post-processing tools on a plug-in basis, to be used in situ. Advisable


are Octave/Matlab, Excel, Python and the likes

• Determine the static running position of the ship

Calibration

• Force transducer

• Potentiometers used for the floating position measurement

• Obtain zero readings

Performing the tests

• Measure water temperature for ρ, µ

• Measure V , F , zAP , zF P

• Measurement time ≈ 30s

• Time-average, plug into post-processing, check and determine possible fine-


tunings

• Calming period ≈ 10 – 15min

• Keep a record what you do! For example, write down time, what was the
designated speed, min/max and std values, anything out of the ordinary, how
did the hull behave etc. that may be handy in the post-processing. A great deal
of work is saved when one does not constantly have to struggle to remember
contents of each result file or run

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Ship model tests at VTT tank MEC-E2001 - Ship Hydrodynamics

Figure 1: Arrangement for the resistance tests.

Analysis of the results

• Extrapolation according to the method of choice

• Produce graphs for at least CRM , CF M , CT M as a function of F n, and the


extrapolated RT S , PE and zF P , zAP , θ as a function of VS

Ship self propulsion test. The purpose of these tests is to define the power
requirement for the ship at the suitable speed range. The measured quantities are:
speed, towing force, trim and sinkage, rate of revolutions, propeller thrust, propeller
torque. In the propulsion tests, there is an additional thing to note. Given the
fact that the viscous resistance decreases with increasing speed, the propeller of the
model in the propulsion model tests would be overloaded if used the plain Froude
number similitude. Therefore, in order for the model propeller to experience similar
load under the desired conditions, the model must be towed at the skin friction
correction force that equals to the difference between model and full scale frictional
forces. The set-up for the propulsion tests is sketched in Fig. 2.

Preparation

• Prepare post-processing tools on a plug-in basis, to be used in situ. Advisable


are Octave/Matlab, Excel, Python and the likes

• Determine the required towing forces, resulting from the inconsistency in the
frictional effects

Calibration

• Transducers

• Potentiometers used for the floating position measurement

• Obtain zero readings

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Ship model tests at VTT tank MEC-E2001 - Ship Hydrodynamics

• Measure friction in the bearings and propeller shaft

Performing the tests

• Measure water temperature for ρ, µ

• For the first run, select the rotational speed of the propeller on the basis of
the resistance and open water tests. (Resistance test: an approximation of the
resistance, open water test: an approximation of the thrust.)

• Measure V , F , n, T , Q, zAP , zF P

• Measurement time ≈ 30s

• Time-average, plug into post-processing, check and determine possible fine-


tunings

• Adjust the rpm st. the pre-calculated towing force is measured within ±2N
(say). Cf. Tab. 1.

• Calming period ≈ 10 – 15min

• Keep a record what you do! For example, write down time, what was the
designated speed, min/max and std values, anything out of the ordinary, how
did the hull behave etc. that may be handy in the post-processing. A great deal
of work is saved when one does not constantly have to struggle to remember
contents of each result file or run

Analysis

• Assume linear relationship between n and F at each speed, and interpolate.


Cf. Fig. 3.

• Similarly, interpolate the thrust and torque

• Calculate wake fraction, the thrust deduction factor and the efficiency compo-
nents. Obtain PD

• Extrapolation according to the method of choice

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Ship model tests at VTT tank MEC-E2001 - Ship Hydrodynamics

Figure 2: Arrangement for the self propulsion tests.

Table 1: An example of the range of measurements of the self propulsion test.

Figure 3: An example of the linear interpolation of the rate of revolution in the


self propulsion tests.

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