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CHAPTER 9
CROSS CURVES

9.1 OVERVIEW 1
General 1
Input Files 2
Output File Descriptions 2
Program Outline 2
Program Limitations 3
9.2 DATA REQUIRED AND CALCULATED (DEFINITIONS) 4
9.3 METHOD OF CALCULATION 5
9.4 DATA ENTRY 6

9.1 OVERVIEW
General
This program calculates the Cross Curves of Intact Stability at constant displacement and LCG
(with the vessel free to trim). It produces a table of righting arm values at a series of heel angles
and displacements.

When initially performing the cross curve calculations, input is primarily limited to the
specification of the heel angles and displacements at which the calculations are to be performed.
All data regarding the hull shape and appendages is read from the hull offset file (.HUL), which is
created in the Hull Offset Entry Program.

Optional calculations include the calculation of righting arms while the ship is superimposed on a
standing wave.

The standard output is the righting arm table. Optional output includes plots of the calculated
hydrostatic values as well as options for saving the data on a file for later review, interpolation, or
use in the Ship Data Entry Program.

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Chapter 9 Cross Curves

Input Files
The following files are read into the Cross Curve Program.

Extension Description Created by Required by

which program this program?
.HUL hull offset file Hull Input Program Yes

.GZ Cross Curve Data File Cross Curve Program No

The primary input file for performing calculations is the hull offset file (.HUL) which is created in
the Hull Input Program. Since this file is required to perform any cross curve calculations, the
program automatically requests this file before presenting the main menu bar. The .GZ file is
accessed under

on the main menu bar.

Output File Descriptions

Extension Description Used by Required for
which programs program use?
.GZ Cross Curve Data File Cross Curve Data No
Ship Data Input Program No

Program Outline
The Cross Curves Program is selected from the
  
 
option on the Control
Program menu bar. Once this option is selected, the user must specify the hull offset (.HUL) file.

Figure 9-1
Figure 9-1 shows the main menu bar for this program, which appears once the hull file has been
selected.

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Chapter 9 Cross Curves


 
 

File Load GZ Data File (.GZ)

Save GZ Data File (.GZ)

Gen.Info Name, Date, etc.

Units and Precision

Calculations Specify Angles & Displacements

Specify Downflooding Points
Compute Righting Arm (GZ) Tables

Display Righting Arm (GZ) Table

Hydrostatic Data Summary
Downflooding Angle Data
Plot of Righting Arm (GZ) Data

Print Righting Arm (GZ) Table

Hydrostatic Data Summary
Downflooding Angle Data
Plot of Righting Arm (GZ) Data

Options Specify Wave Parameters

Calculation Precision

EXIT

Each main menu item has associated with it various additional menu options and data entry
screens. These are described in detail in the following sections. Remember, certain menu options
may be unavailable (and shown in red) because related data is incomplete or incorrect.

Program Limitations
The number of displacements for the calculations is initially limited to 45 and the number of
angles is initially limited to 15. The dimensions of the data storage arrays may be changed by
editing the SIZE.DAT file. Refer to Appendix D for more information on this topic.

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Chapter 9 Cross Curves

9.2 DATA REQUIRED AND CALCULATED

(DEFINITIONS)
The following data items are required for using the Cross Curve Program:

1) Hull offsets created with the Hull Offset Entry Program

2) A description of the conditions under which the calculations are to be performed (such as
direction of heel, pole height, centers of gravity, etc.)

While the hull offsets are read from a data file, additional parameters must be entered in order to
calculate hydrostatics. These values are described in detail below.

A range of Heel Angles may be entered for the cross curve calculations (see Figure 9-3 in the
Data Entry section). The program offers 11 heel angles as default values (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35,
40, 50, and 60 degrees). Cross curves can be calculated for up to 15 angles or as few as one (in
addition to zero). The angles need not be evenly spaced, but they must be entered in ascending
order and can not exceed 89 degrees.

Cross curves can be calculated for up to 45 displacements.

Downflooding points may be defined to limit the range of applicability of the cross curves(see
the "Downflooding Points" entry screen shown in Figure 9-4 of the Data Entry Section).

The Direction of Heel for the cross curve calculation can be specified (see the "GZ Calculation"
entry screen shown in Figure 9-5 of the Data Entry Section). The calculations are normally
performed by applying the specified heel angles in the starboard direction. This need only be
changed if the hull is asymmetric or an initial TCG is specified.

The Pole Height is the usual VCG reference for cross curves. If this value is zero, the calculated
results are sometimes referred to as KN curves. If the righting arm (.GZ) file is to be saved for
later retrieval by the Ship Data Entry Program, the pole height should be left at the default value
of 0.

A TCG reference may also be entered if the ship configuration is asymmetric. This value will be
noted on the tabulated results.

As explained in the next section, an actual value for VCG or GMt of the vessel should be entered
to improve the accuracy of iterations to equilibrium. These values are independent of the pole
height and do not affect the GZ calculation.

The Draft Reference can be explicitly defined and should be used to indicate how drafts
calculated at each entered displacement are to be presented. The hull offsets are assumed to have
a molded reference. Therefore, a keel draft reference should be accompanied by a non-zero keel
thickness. Then, the molded LCF draft associated with each zero heel equilibrium displacement
will be converted to keel drafts before being displayed/printed (see the

 


option under

or


).

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Chapter 9 Cross Curves

The cross curves can be calculated at any specified trim. The trim is entered as a single value
representing trim between perpendiculars at zero heel. This value will be noted on the tabulated
results.

The cross curves can also be calculated for the vessel superimposed on a single, standing,
troichodal wave. If this properties are desired, the wave height, wave length, and wave position
must be specified. Default values of these parameters are offered based on standard formula
approximations. The wave height is defined as the full amplitude (trough to crest), and the mean
height corresponds to the entered draft. The wave position refers to the location of the crest or
trough.

9.3 METHOD OF CALCULATION

The hull form is described by offsets on stations, as discussed in the Hull Offset Entry chapter.
All computations use straight lines and arcs on the stations and Simpson's Rule for longitudinal
integration. For cross curve calculations, all appendage and shell volume allowances are included.

The cross curve calculations are performed one displacement at a time. Each displacement begins
with an equilibrium center of gravity corresponding to the initial trim specified and zero heel.
The vessel is then heeled to each specified heel angle. At each angle, the trim and draft are
adjusted to match the initial displacement and center of gravity, and then the righting arm is
calculated. Refer to Figure 9-2 for a definition of the righting arm or GZ.

Figure 9-2

This process of adjusting the trim and draft to arrive at an equilibrium condition is an iterative
one. It ends only when the differences in trim and displacement are within the specified values. If
convergence is not reached within the maximum number of iterations, a note on non-convergence
is issued. Standard assumptions are used for the number of iterations and calculation precision
required. These assumptions may be revised under

.

The formula for calculating the righting arm includes references to the vertical and transverse
center of gravity (VCG and TCG). The VCG reference is traditionally called the "Pole Height".
These reference centers of gravity do not need to reflect the actual ship centers; they are simply a
basis for the calculations. Any reference will give equally accurate results. Once the cross curves
have been calculated, they can be easily adjusted to reflect the actual VCG and TCG.

A separate VCG is required for use in the iterative process which defines the ship's equilibrium
draft and trim at a specified heel angle. The VCG has a minor effect on the trimming moment and
should be set at a typical VCG value for the ship. If a typical VCG is not known, a MGT value
may be entered instead. This value should reflect the anticipated ship condition; it is independent
of the pole height.

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Chapter 9 Cross Curves

9.4 DATA ENTRY

General data entry and menu selection in this program operate as discussed in Chapter 2. This
section will only refer to the elements of the data entry unique to the Cross Curve Program which
are found primarily under the

submenu.

Figure 9-3

The angles and displacements for the cross curve calculations are specified from the entry screen
(Figure 9-3) accessed from the


   
submenu. A
selection of angles is given as the default entry, but they can be revised. Displacements may be
entered by specifying individual displacements or a range of displacements. Displacements must
be ordered from minimum to maximum. Press [F8] for entry of minimum, maximum and
increment for a range of displacement. Press [F5] to insert or [F6] to delete a displacement.
Press [Esc] when angle and displacement entry is complete.

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Chapter 9 Cross Curves

Downflooding points are specified in the “Downflooding Points” screen (Figure 9-4), accessed
under the


  
submenu

Figure 9-4

Parameters for the calculation of the cross curves are specified from the "GZ Calculation" screen
(Figure 9-2), accessed under the



 
  
submenu.
Entries for the direction of heel, Pole Height, TCG, VCG or GM, keel or molded drafts, keel
thickness, and vessel trim are available on this screen. Press [F3] when selections are complete
to begin the calculations of cross curves. While calculations are in progress a table of righting
arm results will be displayed to keep track or the progress of the calculations.

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Chapter 9 Cross Curves

Figure 9-5

Selecting


   



brings up the "Wave Parameters" entry screen
shown in Figure 9-6 where wave parameters can be specified.

Figure 9-6

When the calculations are completed all

and



options become available to view or
print the results. Note that the Hydrostatic data summary includes computed properties at each
entered displacement at the zero heel, initial trim, equilibrium position. For definitions of the
properties presented, refer to the Hydrostatics chapter.

page 9-8