Impact of Water Depth on the Resistance of a Mini-Bulk Carrier: An Experimental and Numerical Study

Abstract

Water depth significantly affects ship resistance, which, in turn, influences fuel consumption. Furthermore, the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions for environmental sustainability highlights the importance of applying drag reduction methods to shallow-water vehicles. To effectively employ these methods, the initial step entails an in-depth investigation of how shallow water impacts the resistance and flow dynamics of a mini-bulk carrier. This study extensively analyzes the hydrodynamic characteristics of mini-bulk carriers, focusing on the impact of shallow water on resistance and flow dynamics utilizing a combination of experimental tests and numerical analyses. This study emphasizes the interaction between the hull and the shallow seabed. This study also highlights increased frictional drag and significant residual resistance by analyzing the total resistance at various speeds in shallow waters. The results of five key factors influencing resistance in shallow waters, namely, boundary layer thickness, shear stress, velocity and pressure, turbulence, and waves, are discussed. A decrease in water depth accelerates the flow under the hull, increasing shear stress and resistance. The accelerated flow reduces the gap between the hull and the shallow seabed, elevating water pressure and increasing sinkage and resistance. Heightened turbulence in shallow water intensifies Reynolds stress, augmenting friction and viscous resistance.

Keywords

Shallow water / Mini bulk carriers / Resistance / Computational fluid dynamics / Ship hydrodynamics

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