Hullspeed Training

Version 1.0

© Formation Design Systems 2003

Hullspeed Training

Hullspeed Training
Contents:
1 Background ..........................................................................................................3
1.1. Methods........................................................................................................3
2 Using the software ...............................................................................................4
2.1. Reading the design file ................................................................................4
2.2. Measuring the hull .......................................................................................5
2.3. Checking/modifying the data.......................................................................6
2.4. Changing the draught...................................................................................7
2.5. Specifying the data without a Maxsurf model ............................................8
2.6. Aerodynamic and Appendage drag .............................................................9
2.7. Results ........................................................................................................10
3 Limitations .........................................................................................................13

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 Hullspeed Training

1 Background
Hullspeed is a resistance prediction tool. It uses a number of standard regression
equations to estimate naked hull resistance. The hull measurements and parameters
required may be automatically calculated from an existing Maxsurf design, or may
be entered directly without the need for a Maxsurf design file.

By specifying an overall efficiency, the vessel's power requirements may be

calculated.

1.1. Methods
Hullspeed is able to compute the hull resistance using the following methods:
• Savitsky (planing and pre-planing)
• Lahtiharju
• Holtrop
• Van Oortmerssen
• Series 60
• Delft yacht series

See the Hullspeed manual for details of the applicability of the different methods.

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2 Using the software

2.1. Reading the design file

The first thing to do is to load the Maxsurf design file. Hullspeed performs
hydrostatics and takes measurements of the hull parameters to put into the
resistance regression formulae. Because of this, your design must fulfil the same
basic requirements as for Hydromax:
• Outside arrows
• Trimming
• Defined sections (at most one opening and no extraneous bits)

Right Wrong

To open a Maxsurf file, select Open Design from the File menu:

Select the file you wish to load:

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2.2. Measuring the hull

When the file is opened, you will be able to select which surfaces you wish to
include in the hull measurements. If you have superstructure surfaces in the design,
you may wish to ignore these surfaces, but in general you will want to include all
the surfaces in the measurements (this is the default setting):

Hullspeed will now measure the hull and you will be able to see its progress in the
bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

Once the hull has been measured you should first check that the sections have been
correctly formed. Do this by turning on the sections in the Display | Contours
dialog:

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The sections are the data which are used to take the hull measurements which are
then used in the regression equations, so it is essential that these have been correctly
formed.

Note that if you change the default colours, the sections shown are the Immersed
Sections, by default these are white, so if you change the background colour to
white, make sure you also change the colour of the Immersed Sections. The colours
of all the lines may be specified in the View | Colour dialog:

With the sections turned on you should see something like this:

Rotate the perspective view and check the sections. Notice also that the centres of
gravity, buoyancy and floatation are also displayed. The centre of gravity is not
used in any of the calculations and is displayed for completeness only; its
longitudinal position is set to match that of the centre of buoyancy.

Once you are happy that the sections have been correctly formed, you should
review the measurements that have been taken. If the sections have not been
correctly formed you, must correct the design in Maxsurf and reload it.

2.3. Checking/modifying the data

The measurement data is presented in the Data window:

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Any of the values may be changed by typing a new value in the appropriate cell.
Under most circumstances, the data will be correct, but there are several items
which are very difficult for a computer to determine (although they are very easy
for a human). You should pay particular attention to the following measurements:
• Transom area;
• Half angle of entrance;
• Bulb transverse area;
• Bulb height from keel;
• Deadrise at 50% LWL; and
• Chine type.
If necessary, correct any values manually.

2.4. Changing the draught

Measurements are taken at the draught of the DWL. You cannot change the trim of
the model (unless you rotate the surfaces in Maxsurf and then reopen the design).
However, the draught may be changed with the Data | Frame of Reference dialog:

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Change the DWL, and if required, update the positions of the perpendiculars. When
you click OK, Hullspeed will automatically re-measure the hull.

You can also re-select the surfaces to measure with the Measure Hull command in
the Data menu.

2.5. Specifying the data without a Maxsurf model

You can of course use Hullspeed without a Maxsurf design. Simply type in the
required measurements in the Data window. Note that not all the measurements are
required for all the regression methods. So you can save yourself some time by
turning on the methods first and then only specifying the required data.

The methods are selected in the Data | Methods dialog:

When you click OK, additional columns will be added to the Data window. These
indicate which data are being used by the different regression methods and whether
the data lie in the acceptable range specified for the method: (Unused data will have
"--" in the corresponding method column.)

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2.6. Aerodynamic and Appendage drag

The aerodynamic drag of the above-water portion of the hull may be calculated; see
Hullspeed manual for full details.

The regression methods predict naked hull resistance. However, it is possible to add
the resistance of the appendages; see Hullspeed manual for full details.

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2.7. Results
The results are displayed in graphical and tabular formats. Both data may be copied
from Hullspeed and pasted into MS Office documents (Word and Excel). When
copying data from the Data or Results tables, hold the Shift key down to copy the
column headings.

Select the entire table by clicking in the top-left grey cell. Then hold down the Shift
key whilst selecting Copy from the Edit menu (or Shift+Ctrl+C).

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Open MS Excel, place the cursor in the cell where you want to start pasting the
data. Select Paste from the Excel Edit menu (or Ctrl+V).

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Data from the graph may be read of numerically by clicking on any point on the
curve, you may then drag the cursor left or right along the curve. The curve's co-
ordinates are displayed in the bottom-left corner, see below:

You may set the speed range in the Data | Speeds dialog. The overall efficiency
used to calculate the power is specified in the Data | Efficiency dialog. The graph
may display power or resistance, use the Data | graph Type dialog to select your
preference. Finally, the units may be changed in the Data | Units dialog.

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3 Limitations
Hullspeed has a number of regression equations which are suitable for different
vessel types. See Hullspeed manual for full details and explanation of the different
methods and their application.

There are also upper and lower limits for the parameters used in the regression
equations. For some of the methods there are upper and lower speed or Froude
Number limits outside which the equations are not valid. Again these are
documented in full in the Hullspeed manual.

Hullspeed will check that the entered data is within the valid ranges for the selected
methods. In the Data window, if the values are okay they will be displayed in black;
if they are too low they will be displayed in red with the words (low); and if they
are too high they will be displayed in orange with the word (high).

Note: that in some cases, the limiting values for the method may be derived from
two or more input data, normally resulting in one parameter being too high and the
other too low. For example, if for a specified method, Transom area/ Max Sectional
area was a critical parameter then Transom area would be highlighted high and Max
Sectional area would be highlighted low if the ratio was too high, and vice versa if
the ratio was too small.

To have confidence in the results you should ensure that all the values are within
the acceptable ranges. if this is not possible, you should be careful: make small
changes to these values and try to ascertain the sensitivity of the results to these
changes. Also try to assess how far out of range the values are by adjusting them to
values which are in range. The valid ranges for the parameters for the different
methods are given in the Hullspeed user manual.

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