Experimental Ship Hydrodynamics Exam

Nantes, 4th Cohort 2014

First Name: Last Name:

Questions: (6 points, check the correct answer)

Wave generation in the ECN wave basin whose length is 50m and depth 5m.
1. For short waves (wavelength less than 1m), the maximum amplitude we can generate
in the wave basin is limited by
□ wave breaking □ wavemaker stroke □ wavemaker power
2. The transfer function of the wavemaker is given in the
Figure on the right. What is the required wavemaker X/H
stroke X for a H=0.6 m wave height at 0.5 Hz
frequency? 1.5

□ 0.3 m □ 0.6 m □ 0.9 m 1.0

Current and wind generation 0.5

3. The quality of a current generation device may be f (Hz)
0.4 0.5 0.6
estimated by the measurement of mean velocity and
□ turbulence level □ frequency □ reflection coefficient
4. The magnitude of wind turbulence level above the sea is
□ 0.1 % □5% □ 25 %
Resistance and towing tank tests
5. The flow around models is made turbulent to match real scale by means of
□ studs □ decoupling rods □ sand strips
6. At very low Froude numbers, despite the above stimulating device, the flow around
the model hull is
□ laminar □ turbulent
7. If we increase the model scale, we may encounter
□ surface tension effect □ wall effect □cavitation
Manoeuvrability Yaw rate
8. In a turning circle test, the ship bow is pointing Combination 1
□ toward the centre □ outward
9. In a rotating arm basin, experiments are planned with
varied drifts and yaw rates as follows Drift
(see Figure on the right)
□ pure drift, □ combination 1,
□ pure yaw, □ combination 2. Combination 2
Which one is best suited to build a mathematical of the
ship ?
(Standard ship frame is x forward, y to starboard and z
downwards)
Exercise 1: Seakeeping (4 points)
A rectangular ship model is tested in a basin at scale 1:100. Length, beam and
draught are respectively 3 m, 50 cm and 15 cm. Experimental resonance is found for
heave motion at T3=1.2 s. A seakeeping code gives an added mass A33=280 kg in
heave.
1. Estimate the theoretical heave period
2. Compare to the experimental value.

Exercise 2: Pressure drop in a pipe (4 points)

We want to determine the pressure drop p in a pipe with respect to the following
variables:
 the density of the fluid;
V the velocity of the fluid;
L the pipe length and D its diameter.
 Find the unit of the dynamic viscosity 
 Using the {M, L, T} system, show that the pressure drop p is a function of the
dimensionless number Re=V.D /

Exercise 3: Preliminary design of a floating wind turbine

model (6 points)
The picture is presenting a model of a floating wind turbine to be tested in
a wave basin in order to study the interactions between waves, wind and
floating structures.
The study is assumed to be performed at a scale of 1/50 according
Froude similitude.
ρ density of the fluid, dimension kg/m3
V velocity of fluid, dimension m/s
L representative length, dimension m
σ surface tension, dimension kg/s2

Characteristic Value at full scale

A Height of the nacelle from free surface 105 m
B Diameter of the rotor 154 m
C Rotor tilt 6°
D Diameter of the mast 5m
E Thrust at nominal speed 1 200 kN
F Rotation speed 11 rotations per minute (rpm)
G Displacement of the floater 4 800 t
H First elastic mode of mast vibration 1.2 Hz

1. Determine the dimensions of the wind turbine model (A,B,C, D)

2. Determine the displacement of the floater (G) and the thrust (E) at model scale
3. Determine the rotational speed (F) and the vibration frequency (H) to be
reached at model scale.