Rudder

A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, or other carriage that moves
through a fluid medium (generally air or water).

A rudder operates by redirecting the fluid past the hull (watercraft) or fuselage, thus imparting a turning
or yawing motion to the craft.

Types of Rudders For Ships

1. Spade or Balanced Rudder

A spade rudder is basically a rudder plate that is fixed to the rudder stock only at the top of the rudder.
In other words, the rudder stock (or the axis of the rudder) doesn’t run down along the span of the
rudder.A portion of the blade extends in the fronts of the stock.
2 Semi- Balanced Rudder:in this type top portion of the rudder is hung on the stern post and the bottom
portion is extended in front.

3.Unbalanced rudder

These rudders have their stocks attached at the forward most point of their span. The rudder stock runs
along the chord length of the rudder
In this case, the torque required to turn the rudder is way higher than what is required for a
corresponding balanced rudder. So, the topmost part of the rudder has to be fixed to the spindle so as to
prevent it from vertical displacement from its natural position

Material for rudder:

The choice of hull material could fix the choice of the rudder stock material.

On steel hulls one should use a stainless steel rudder shaft.

On aluminium hulls one should choose an aluminium rudder shaft.

Composite hulls one has the choice between aluminium, stainless steel, and carbon.

Rudder property terminology

STOCK

ROOT CHORD

TIP CHORD

MEAN CHORD

SPAN

CENTRE OF PRESSURE
ANGLE OF ATTACK

SWEEP ANGLE
Forces Acting on the rudder..

Drag Force . ;;;.A drag force is the resistance force caused by the motion of a body through a fluid. A drag
force acts opposite to the direction of the oncoming flow velocity. This is the relative velocity between
the body and the fluid.

Lift Force ;;Lift is the force that acts at a right angle to the direction of motion through the fluid.Lift is
created by differences in Fluid pressure between the two transverse end (perpendicular to the direction
of motion) of body (Rudder).