Just a corny title to seduce all you avid readers to a very fascinating science concept. Flight dynamics and ship motion control work on the principle of pitch ,yaw and roll. Part of writing this blog is also to refresh my own memory about these three movements.
The image says it all.According to the above movements the ship heaves,sways and sways.It is common usage to use these three words to describe motion but one should notice each motion is completely different from the other.
One of the famous companies that does specialize in ship motion controls is NAIAD dynamics.One of their important products is the T foil. Ship and yacht manufacturers know that the final hull design and the ships balance depends a lot on design of the T foil.Just as the tail fin of an aeroplane is crucial to the extent of pitch the aircraft is subjected to,in the same way T foil has a substantial impact on the ship's stability.
Yacht racers take a particular interest in the shape and design of the t foil as this reduces the drag much considerably than a normal hull driven one.Wave pattern does not have any influence on the foil's ability to steer the course.Upwind , downwind directions and a wind greater than 12 knots still does not make a normal boat faster than a t foil rudder installed one.
This brings me to the question -how fast can it go?
Realizing the practical limitations considering drag among various other conditions one needs to find the optimum design to maximize performance
The figure above shows the maximum stress(red) at the edge. This stress might vary depending on the angle of attack and also on the size of the ship and the velocity of travel.Lesser stress region does not necessarily mean the foil is maximizing its performance.Its primary function is to minimize drag and reduce pitch and roll motions.
NAIAD dynamics customize these T foils which is important as foil's performance is highly affected by external factors and hence design of the same should be in accordance with this.The company also manufactures retractable foils.Retractable ones are not a bad idea since it can facilitate better performance only when the need arises thus increasing its functional life. Composite materials would be the ideal material for the foil mainly due to its low cost and light weight.
The greed for better performance will surely nuture better foil designs in the years to come.
Behold the future!
0 Comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
