COURSE STABILITY, TURNING PERFORMANCE, AND CONNECTION FORCE OF BARGE SYSTEMS IN COASTAL SEAWAYS

Results of analytical and experimental studies to assess performance of barge systems in coastal operations are given for two major areas of maneuvering performance in calm water and connection forces in waves. Although it has been accepted practice to employ high-drag devices to achieve directional stability in pull-tow operations, motion predictions based on rotating-arm test results indicate that directional stability can be realized by use of activated rudders with virtually no increase in drag. Test results indicate that push-tow barge trains have less turning ability and a higher degree of dynamic course stability than those of ordinary ships. The effectiveness of a bow thruster unit on the turning performance is clearly evident at low speeds. Seakeeping test results indicate that the lateral bending moments generated under oblique sea conditions create major critical force components on the towing connections. An analytical procedure developed to predict lateral bending moments of push-tow barge trains with autopilot in a seaway gives encouraging agreement with test results. Results obtained in a series of computations are given under various wave conditions to be used as a design guide. Furthermore, this analytical procedure has been applied to automatically steered ship configurations to examine yaw and sway motions and lateral bending moments in oblique waves.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Annual Meeting of SNAME. Paper #9.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

  601 Pavonia Avenue
  Jersey City, NJ  United States  07306-2907
• Authors:
  • Eda, H
• Publication Date: 1972-11-16

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barge trains; Barges; Motion; Pusher barges; Seakeeping; Stability (Mechanics)
• Old TRIS Terms: Barge motions; Course stability
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039332
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 10 1972 12:00AM