Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction and repair of marine vehicles.
Due to the complexity associated with operating in a marine environment naval architecture is by necessity a co-operative effort between groups of technically skilled individuals that are specialists in particular fields, often co-ordinated by a lead naval architect. This inherent complexity also means that the analytical tools available are much less evolved than those for designing aircraft, cars and even space craft. This is due primarily to the paucity of data on the environment the marine vehicle is required to work in and the complexity of the interaction of waves and wind on a marine structure.
The areas of expertise filled by naval architects are typically:
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- Hydrostatics (ex: trim & stability)
- Hydrodynamics (ex: resistance and powering, seakeeping, manoeuvring)
- Arrangements (ex: concept design, volume & access)
- Structures (ex: global strength, seaway responses)
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The craft of naval architecture
Traditionally, naval architecture has been more craft than science. Ship motions are defined by the six degrees of freedom that a ship or boat can experience The suitability of a vessel's shape was judged by looking at a half-model of a vessel or a prototype. Ungainly shapes or abrupt transitions were frowned on as being flawed. This included, rigging, deck arrangements, and even fixtures. Subjective descriptors such as ungainly, full, and fine were used as a substitute for the more precise terms used today. A hull is the body of a Ship or Boat. It is a central concept in floating vessels as it provides the Buoyancy that keeps the vessel from sinking A vessel was, and still is described as having a ‘fair’ shape. The term ‘fair’ is meant to denote not only a smooth transition from fore to aft but also a shape that was ‘right. ’ Determining what ‘right’ is in a particular situation in the absence of definitive supporting analysis encompasses the art of naval architecture to this day.
The science of naval architecture
Modern low-cost digital computers and dedicated software, combined with extensive research to correlate full-scale, towing tank and analytical data, have enabled naval architects to more accurately predict the performance of a marine vehicle. A computer is a Machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions. These tools are used for static stability (intact and damaged), dynamic stability, resistance, powering, hull development, structural analysis, etc. Stability conditions (watercraft is the term used to describe the various standard loading configurations to which a Ship, Boat, or offshore platform may be subjected Curiously, analytical tools (such as Computational Fluid Dynamics) still have difficulty in predicting with absolute certainty the response of a floating body in a random sea. The challenge is being addressed by universities, towing tanks, and other marine research entities throughout the world. Data is regularly shared in international conferences sponsored by RINA, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and others. The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (also known as RINA) is an international organisation representing naval architects The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers ( SNAME) is an Professional society that provides a forum for the advancement of the engineering profession as
The Naval Architect
A naval architect is a professional engineer who is responsible for the design, construction, and/or repair of ships, boats, other marine vessels, and offshore structures, both commercial and military, including:
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- Merchant ships - oil tankers, gas tankers, cargo ships, bulk carriers, container ships
- Passenger/vehicle ferries, cruise ships
- Warships - frigates, destroyers, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships
- Submarines and underwater vehicles
- Icebreakers
- Offshore drilling platforms, semi-submersibles
- High speed craft - hovercraft, multi-hull ships, hydrofoil craft
- Workboats - fishing boats, anchor handling tug supply vessels, platform supply vessels, tug boats, pilot vessels, rescue craft
- Yachts, power boats, and other recreational craft
Some of these vessels are amongst the largest and most complex and highly valued movable structures produced by mankind. Professional Engineer (PE is the term for registered or Licensed Engineers in some countries who are permitted to offer their Professional services directly A merchant vessel is a Ship that transports Cargo and Passengers during peace time History The technology of oil transportation has evolved alongside the oil industry An LNG carrier is a ship designed for transporting liquefied natural gas ( LNG) A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of Ship or vessel that carries Cargo, goods and materials from one port to another Definition There are various ways to define the term bulk carrier Container ships are Cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size containers in a technique called Containerization. See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and A cruise ship or cruise liner is a Passenger ship used for pleasure voyages where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience A warship is a Ship that is built and primarily intended for Combat. For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability An icebreaker is a special purpose Ship or Boat designed to move and navigate through Ice -covered waters For a detailed diagram of a Petroleum drilling rig, See Drilling rig (petroleum A drilling rig is a machine which creates holes (usually called A hovercraft, or air-cushion vehicle (ACV is an Amphibious vehicle or craft, designed to travel over any sufficiently smooth surface supported by A catamaran (From Tamil 'kattumaram' is a type of Multihulled Boat or Ship consisting of two hulls or vakas joined by some A hydrofoil is a Boat with wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull. A fishing vessel is a Ship or Boat used to catch fish in the sea or on a lake or river Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS vessels can supply Oil rigs tow them to location anchor them up and in a few cases serve as an Emergency Rescue and Recovery Vessel (ERRV TUGboat (ISSN 0896-3207 is a journal published three times per year by the TeX Users Group. A yacht is a recreational boat It designates two rather different classes of Watercraft, sailing and power yachts History The technology of oil transportation has evolved alongside the oil industry An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with They are the most efficient method of transporting the world's raw materials and products known to man. Without them our society could not exist as it currently does.
Modern engineering on this scale is essentially a team activity conducted by specialists in their respective fields and disciplines. However, it is the naval architects who often integrate their activities and take ultimate responsibility for the overall project. This demanding leadership role requires managerial qualities and the ability to bring together the often-conflicting demands of the various design constraints to produce a product, which is "fit for the purpose. "
In addition to this leadership role, a naval architect also has a specialist function in ensuring that a safe, economic, and seaworthy design is produced.
To undertake all these tasks, a naval architect must have an understanding of many branches of engineering and must be in the forefront of high technology areas such as vessel arrangements, hydrodynamics, stability, and structures. He or she must be able to effectively utilize the services provided by scientists, lawyers, accountants, and business people of many kinds.
Naval architects typically work for shipyards, ship owners, design firms and consultancies, equipment manufacturers, regulatory bodies, navies, and governments. Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships These can be Yachts military In the Shipping industry classification societies are Non-governmental organizations or groups of professionals Ship surveyors and representatives of offices
See also
External links
- Australia's national centre for maritime education, training and research
- The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (official website) professional institution involved at all levels in the design, construction, repair and operation of ships, boats and marine structures. Boat building, one of the oldest branches of Engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and for Sailboats the masts In the Shipping industry classification societies are Non-governmental organizations or groups of professionals Ship surveyors and representatives of offices The International Maritime Organization ( IMO) formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization ( IMCO) is a late 20th century The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (also known as RINA) is an international organisation representing naval architects The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers ( SNAME) is an Professional society that provides a forum for the advancement of the engineering profession as A hull is the body of a Ship or Boat. It is a central concept in floating vessels as it provides the Buoyancy that keeps the vessel from sinking The Froude number is a Dimensionless number comparing inertial and gravitational forces Ship motions are defined by the six degrees of freedom that a ship or boat can experience See also Shipbuilding (song. Shipbuilding is the construction of Ships It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a Marine architecture is the construction of structures which support Ship transport, Fishing, Coastal defense or other marine activities The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (also known as RINA) is an international organisation representing naval architects
- The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers dedicated to advancing the art, science and practice of naval architecture, shipbuilding and marine engineering.
- American Society of Naval Engineers to advance the knowledge and practice of naval engineering in public and private applications and operations.
- History of naval architecture: Ferreiro, "Ships and Science", MIT Press 2007
- Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute
- US Naval Academy Naval Architecture course listing
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