Systems Design and Computing for Ships

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Analyse the effect of control surfaces on ships.
• Appreciate the fundamentals of computational fluid dynamics for determining fluid forces.
• Appreciate the fundamentals of finite element analysis for structural analysis.
• Select and apply appropriate computational techniques to model, analyse and visualise complex problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed
• Review a number of systems within a ship, in particular the steering system.
• Evaluate the lift and drag produced by control surfaces.
• Analyse complex problems using computational numerical methods for data analysis, signal processing and the modelling of dynamic systems.
• Design solutions for the structure of a ship's rudder according to codes of practice and industry standards.

Partial CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• As part of a small group systems engineering assignment, students will identify environmental and societal stakeholders of a maritime system and use systems thinking to determine their requirements and methods of verification and validation of these requirements.
• As part of a rudder design assignment, students will select appropriate materials for use in analytical models and incorporate suitable practical limitations on the fabrication of the rudder.
• As part of a small group design assignment, students will use mutliple techniques (experimental analysis, rules based calculations, FEA and CFD) to design a ship's rudder.
• Work on assignments both in a group and individually. When working in a group highlight contribution to the work made by each member of the team.
• In small groups, design a ship's rudder which meets class society rules.
• In small groups, use a systems approach to find the solution of a maritime system such as a small work boat or the sub-system of a larger maritime system such as the manoeuvring sub-system of a cruiseship. The assignment involves using system thinking to identify stakeholders, requirements, functions, before generating and evaluating potential solutions.
• Use engineering principles to analyse experimental rudder data from wind tunnel tests, to determine the forces acting on a new rudder design.
• Write python programs to model and solve the motion of simple dynamic systems.
• This is assessed through a group assignment which presents the results of systems engineering review utlizing diagrams to illustrate the students' system thinking. In a second group assignment, the students need to present their technical design for a Ship's rudder including suitable tables, figures and discussion of results.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Communicate a systems design idea/concept graphically.
• Function effectively as an individual, and as a member of a team through individual and group assignments. Write both individual and group technical reports
• Decompose a model of an engineering systems and processes into smaller tasks that can be solved sequentially (by a computer).
• Use a programming language confidently
• Examine a systems design critically and identify potential improvements.
• Develop computer programmes to model, analyse and present the response of a dynamic system.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Produce and interpret 2D & 3D geometry and datasets.
• Use and interpret the results from FEA and CFD modelling software.
• Process data and visualise results.
• Ability to prepare geometry data for modelling in FEA or CFD.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply an integrated or systems approach to the modelling and analysis of a ship’s steering system, incorporating numerical modelling, analysis of experimental results and classification society rules.

Design

• Introduction to systems design.
• Introduction to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) - comparison with analytical formulae; mesh refinement.
• Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics – Use of a surface panel code to model a rudder in a free stream.
• Rule based design using Classification Society rules.
• Use of experimental pressure data to predict rudder loads.
• Investigation of the influence of rudder geometry on ship manoeuvring performance.

Computing

• Programming methods, program documentation, debugging and efficiency.
• Data input and output.
• Vector and matrix manipulation.
• 2D and 3D plotting.
• Function and script files.
• Solving equations.
• Signal processing.
• Data analysis.
• Markdown language.
• Simulation of ship manoeuvring.

• Lectures and recorded material for the delivery of new material, concepts and solution strategies.
• Practical sessions where students will tackle a set of design or computing tasks.
• Practical sessions where students will tackle a set of tasks designed to develop their understanding of the design process and the use of computational geometry.
• In these practical sessions, demonstrators/ academic staff will be available to answer questions and provide feedback.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.