Every surface of the boat that comes into contact with water directly affects the performance of the vehicle.
Hull width, waterline, stern geometry, bow form, center of gravity and trim character; It is among the factors that determine how much energy the boat will use.
Therefore, in modern watercraft design, hull geometry is not determined solely by experience or past successful forms.
Computer-aided flow analysis is used.
One of the most important tools used in this process is CFD.
What is CFD?
CFD stands for Computational Fluid Dynamics.
In simple terms, CFD enables computerized analysis of the flow around a boat as it moves through water.
The boat is digitally simulated at different speeds.
Engineers can examine how water moves around the hull, where high pressure occurs, the wave structure, and the total resistance values of the hull.
Thus, different body alternatives can be compared before the physical prototype is produced.
Why is hull resistance critical?
In order for a boat to move, the engine must overcome hydrodynamic resistance.
As the resistance increases, the required power also increases.
On a fossil fuel boat this translates into higher fuel consumption.
In electric boats, the result is directly reflected in battery usage and range.
For example, if one of two bodies operating at the same service speed creates lower resistance, it will demand less power.
This difference can translate into a huge energy gain not just in one go, but over hundreds or thousands of years of operation hours.
Therefore, in Navarc's engineering process, hull efficiency is at the center of the project.
Trim behavior
CFD analysis is not only used for resistance during straight movement.
You can also examine how the boat trims when it accelerates.
Excessive elevation of the bow or stern may cause the hull to lose its ideal operating angle.
This can increase drag force and increase energy consumption.
Thanks to the correct weight distribution and hull geometry, the aim is for the boat to exhibit a more stable behavior at different operating points.
Relationship with propeller and propulsion system
The hull and propulsion system of a marine vessel are not independent of each other.
The flow field created behind the hull can affect how the propeller operates.
Therefore, propeller loading, flow quality, and propulsion system layout may also be part of hydrodynamic evaluations.
The goal is not just to optimize a single component, but to make the entire system work more efficiently.
From CFD to structural analysis
In Navarc's engineering approach, CFD studies are the starting point of another process.
As a result of flow analysis, pressure and load distributions on the body can be determined.
These load maps can then be imported into structural analysis models.
Thus, not only the hydrodynamic performance of the vehicle but also the structural loads that may occur in critical areas are examined.
This integrated approach enables design to be linked across different engineering disciplines.
Advantage of digital design
Producing physical prototypes requires time and cost.
CFD, on the other hand, allows engineers to test many alternatives before production.
A specific area of the body is changed.
The simulation is run again.
The results are compared with the previous version.
The design is then redeveloped.
This iterative process makes it possible to evaluate many more engineering options before moving into production.
For Navarc, CFD is not just a verification software.
It is one of the basic engineering tools used in the creation of Smart Hull Architecture.