MHL: Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory

ARES Custom Yachts

Resistance tests on a custom 135' motor yacht.

The Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NA&ME) participated in a combined numerical and experimental study of a 120' luxury yacht. The sponsor, ARES Custom Yachts, was in the process of a mechanical refit on a recently modified 120' vessel, and a new design of a slightly larger ~130' craft. The NA&ME department used the existing 120' geometry to perform bare-hull resistance tests along with duplicate numerical simulations using a Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) solver. This project was an excellent opportunity to benchmark the capabilities of the state-of-the-art numerical tools.

To complete the simulations for the 4 different experimentally-tested loading-conditions (two displacements and two positions of the longitudinal-center-of-gravity), a unique approach was developed to reduce the numerical expense of populating the test matrix. The outcome provides the responses of resistance, sinkage, and trim for any displacement and lcg. Also, the wake fraction was determined to be used for the engine-propeller matching.

Tank Refurbishing

The physical modeling basin was originally constructed in 1904 as part of the West Engineering building. The tank was 300 ft long when first installed but was extended another 60 ft in 1908. The tank has been in operation for over 100 years with little renovation, until recently. In the summer of 2005, the MHL began a major refurbishing of the tank. The tank was completely drained, cleaned, repaired and sealed. A new video system was installed so that high speed underwater video could be taken during testing. The tank holds over 749,000 gallons of water and took five days to completely drain. Once drained it took several weeks to remove the buildup of debris collected over 100 years as well as several hundred truck grills that had served as an engineered wave damping beach. Once drained and cleaned, the tank was repaired, sealed and refilled.

Electric Ship Test

A series of experiments were performed on the development of control algorithms to drive an all electric ship.

Investigations of the OPE 42 Sportfish

The Donald L. Blount and Associates, Inc. Outpost Expedition 42 (OPE 42) craft model was tested at the MHL physical modeling basin. The purpose of this investigation is to experimentally evaluate the hydrodynamic performance of a 42 foot Sportfisherman vessel using model tests. The primary areas of operation for the vessel will be the equatorial ranges of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One of the desired goals of the vessel is the ability to back down on fish at speeds up to 8 knots.

AMSEC LLC Investigations of the Sub Shield

1/50th scale models of a United States Navy Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) and an Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) were built and tested in calm, shallow water. The SSBN was appended with a fixed rudder and fixed stern planes and the OSV was appended with bilge keels but no rudder.

Honda Marine R & D Company, LTD.

Planing Hull and Outboard Motor Lower Unit Experiments Series #1, Planing Hull and Outboard Motor Lower Unit Experiments Series #2, Planing Hull and Outboard Motor Lower Unit Experiments Series #3, Planing Hull and Outboard Motor Lower Unit Experiments Series #4

HONDA R & D Company LTD. contracted the MHL to perform resistance tests on a model appended with a series of outboard motors of various design.

SeaRay

Investigation of the Sea Ray 330DA and 55 DA, Investigation of the Sea Ray 27 DA, Investigation of the Sea Ray 44 DA Project Zeus

A series of resistance and seakeeping tests were performed

Israel Shipyards Ltd. Investigations of High Speed Patrol Boats – The Shaldag 24.5 and 29 meter Hulls

Model experiments were performed to evaluate the performance of high speed patrol boats for the Israel Shipyards Ltd. Two models at several model displacements and trim conditions were evaluated. Test included resistance and powering test in both calm water and in waves, heave and pitch response, hull plate pressure and model wind resistance.

Baja Marine Corporation

Comparative Testing of the BAJA 18, Investigations of the Outlaw 35, Investigations of the Baja 39.5 series and the Outlaw 30

Resistance and seakeeping tests were performed on various hulls

Burger Boat Company - Hull 509 Experiments

A series of resistance and seakeeping model tests were performed on the 101.5 foot enclosed bridge motor yacht LIBERTY.

VT Halter, Investigation of a 62 meter Fast Missile Boat (FMC)

A 1:13.78 scale model of a 62 meter Fast Missile Boat was built and tested in calm water at several displacements and LCG combinations. Tested speeds ranged from 15 to 43.5 knots.

New York City trash skimmers (w/ Davidson Laboratory, Stevens Institute)

EHP and Seakeeping Analysis of a 47 ft LOA Inter-Pier Skimmer for the NYC DEP, EHP and Seakeeping Analysis of a 31 ft LOA Inter-Pier Skimmer for the NYC DEP

The Glosten Associates, Investigation of a 270 Container Barge in Tow

A 1:28.3 scale model of a 270 container barge was created and tested in calm water at several different speed, skeg flap angle, and transverse starting position combinations.

Bristol Harbor Marine Design/Harbor Bunkering Company

Investigation of a 60,000 BBL Oil Barge in Tow: A 1/30th scale model of a 60K barrel barge was built and tested in calm water at several speed and skeg flap angle combinations.

Investigation of a 30,000 BBL Oil Barge in Tow: A scale model of a 60K barrel barge was built and tested in calm water at several speed and skeg flap angle combinations.

Investigations of a High Speed Catamaran Ferry - Project Liberty: Model experiments were performed to evaluate the performance of a high speed catamaran passenger ferry. Several model displacements and trim conditions were evaluated.

Persistent Ocean Surveillance, Station Keeping Buoy SeaLandAire

Series of 4 separate tests. Hull resistance, thruster and component testing of an autonomous station keeping buoy.

Marine Design Dynamics - Investigation of the Aquaflite

Tests were performed on a scale model of the prototype vessel, AQUAFLITE, across a range of speeds and loading conditions in the Physical Model Basin to measure resistance, pitch, and heave in calm water as well as added resistance and accelerations in head seas conditions. Further testing was conducted using remote control in an open water setting to investigate the vessel response in a turning configuration. A drag reducing compound, SEALR, was also tested on a WIGLEY hull at the MHL. Tests were conducted across a range of speeds and resistance of the WIGLEY hull was measured. Material properties of the AQUAFLITE were also tested at the Solid State Electronics Laboratory (SSEL) Radiation Laboratory at the University of Michigan.

NAVAIR - Hydrophone testing

A series of hydrophones were tested the model basin across a range of speeds.

Applied Concepts

Investigation of a high speed 85 foot Sportfishing Yacht: A 1/16th scale model of an 85 ft LOA high speed sportfishing yacht was built and tested in calm water at two displacements and two LCG’s. Tested speeds ranged from 10 to 47 knots. The hull was modified with fairings, vents, lifts and insert throughout the testing program. Instrumentation was used to measure drag, trim, sinkage and tow angle.

Investigation of the 77 foot Sportfishing Yacht FREEDOM: A 1/16th scale model of a 77 ft LOA high speed sportfishing yacht, Freedom, was built and tested in calm water at several displacements and LCG combinations. Tested speeds ranged from 10 to 47 knots.

National Sea Grant College Program - Ballastless Ship

Model tests of a seaway sized bulk carrier for testing of a ballastless ship concept were conducted in the model basin. Resistance and EHP, Open water and SHP tests were performed.

Barrier Concepts, Inc.

Drag reduction surface coatings on flat plates.

Cruiser Yachts

Resistance and EHP tests on the CY380.

Senesco Barge

Investigations of an 80,000 bbl oil barge.

United States Coast Guard - USCG OTH RIB Seakeeping Tests

This project investigated the seakeeping and stability performance characteristics of the USCG - H733 OTH rigid hull inflatable craft in various conditions. Particular focus was the performance of inflatable vs. foam filled collars in both the full and light load conditions. A series of tests were conducted at full scale speeds corresponding 20kts and 27kts with 2 loading conditions for the two collar configurations, foam and inflatable.