The stability and oscillatory motions of ships (automatically steered and unsteered) in the horizontal plane were examined on a digital computer for the case of regular following seas. Available hydrodynamic data for Series 60 hull forms were used. Analysis of directional stability was made for the case of zero encounter frequency (i.e., the ship runs at high speeds equal to the wave celerity). The ship (which is hydrodynamically stable without automatic control in calm water) is directionally unstable in following seas except for the small region near the ascending node of the waves. Addition of automatic control can give the ship directional stability when it is located on the wave trough, but not when it is located on the wave crest. At relatively high frequency (i.e., at low speeds in following seas), the rudder and control system are almost incapable of reducing oscillatory motion. Violent rudder activity in following seas can be decreased by reducing the yaw-rate-gain control constant and by increasing the rudder-response-time constant.
Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic data for the Manner-class vessel, gathered in earlier experiments, were used to formulate a mathematical model representing the dynamic behavior of ships in wind. A digital computer was used to solve the eigenvalues of the system. Perturbation equations were linearized, with respect to equilibrium conditions, from nonlinear equations of motion. In addition, ship trajectory in certain wind conditions was examined by means of numerical solutions of the nonlinear equations of motion. Results indicate that the ship in bow wind tends, even without an autopilot system, to maintain its original course-with perturbation in yaw inducing yaw oscillations, the convergence of which depends upon the magnitude of relative wind velocity. It is shown that beam wind creates greater difficulties, although the use of an adequate autopilot increases the region of stability in wind of certain velocities (except in some conditions of relatively strong beam wind). An increase in rudder size is shown to improve controllability in wind significantly. Computations with and without the assumption of constant longitudinal speed indicate that the effect of surge motion on yaw and sway responses in wind is important, especially in beam wind.
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