FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE OF SHIPS - THICK BOUNDARY LAYER SIMULATION IN A WIND TUNNEL

The use of thick simulated boundary layers in a windtunnel as a means to investigate the influence of roughness on the frictional resistance of ships, was suggested in an earlier report. This paper starts with a discussion of which part of the boundary layer and which parameters of the flow are essential to simulate correctly. Based on the criteria of length scale and similarity laws, an experimental investigation was undertaken. We chose to simulate a 300 mm thick boundary layer on the floor of the windtunnel by a method based on works by Counihan. The conclusion of the measurements is that the difficulties in simulating a thick boundary layer are so great that the efforts first have to be directed towards using the natural boundary layer for investigations of frictional resistance. The authors opinion is that relevant measurements of the influence of roughness on the frictional resistance of ships can be made in this way at least for roughness heights smaller than about 3 mm.

• Corporate Authors:

  Swedish Ship Research Foundation

  Fack
  40270 Goteborg 8,   Sweden 
• Authors:
  • Karlsson, R
  • Appelqvist, B
  • Frossling, N
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 54 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Boundary layer; Fluid resistance; Hulls; Roughness; Skin resistance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hull resistance
• Old TRIS Terms: Hull boundary layers
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00084426
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Ship Structure Committee
• Report/Paper Numbers: SSF 5307
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 1 1975 12:00AM