Hydrodynamic Design of Integrated Bulbous Bowlsonar Dome for Naval Ships

Abstract

Recently, the idea of bulbous bow has been extended from the commercial ships to the design of an integrated bow that houses a sonar dome for naval ships. In the present study, a design method for a particular set of requirements consisting of a narrow range of input parameters is presented. The method uses an approximate linear theory with sheltering effect for resistance estimation and pressure distribution, and correlation with statistical analysis from the existing literature and the tank-test results available in the public domain. Though the optimisation of design parameters has been done for the design speed, but the resistance performance over the entire speed range has been incorporated in the design. The bulb behaviour has been discussed using the principle of minimisation of resistance and analysis of flow pattern over the bulb and near the sonar dome. It also explores the possible benefits arising out of new design from the production, acoustic, and hydrodynamic point of view. The results of this study are presented in the form of design parameters (for the bulbous bow) related to the main hull parameters for a set of input data in a narrow range. Finally, the method has been used to design the bulbous bow for a surface combatant vessel.