Influence of the Radius of Curvature on the Drag Induced by Bilge Vortices

摘要

Wind-tunnel experiments were conducted in order to study the influence of the bilge curvature on the generation of bilge vortices. The geometric characteristics of the vortices were determined, the circulation and the vortical drag computed. The results show that the vortical drag decreases rapidly from 14 to 2 percent of the surface drag when the ratio of the radius of curvature to the maximum thickness of the ogive is increased from 0 to 0.12. It is therefore concluded that production of vortices at the bilge does not contribute significantly to the resistance to motion of actual ships. (Author)