Listed in alphabetical order by student name.

This thesis investigates the applicability of highly resonant wireless power transfer (HR-WPT) to autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) charging systems. The concept was realized through creating a design model based on fundamental theories and principles behind magnetic resonant coupled coils. The design model generates design curves for the selection of coil characteristics for optimal energy transfer efficiencies. The design model results are first assessed as to whether the results are reasonable when using the input power benchmark values. The design model is then compared to the curves generated from a simulated system by Pham et al. (2021) and the measured values of Hasaba et al.’s (2019) test results. The design model yields realistic outputs for an AUV application, aligns with the expected curve patterns, and yields similar expected outputs as Hasaba et al. (2019) measurements.

This thesis analyzes EEXI ratings of Post-Panamax vessels utilizing standard and future fuels within a cost analysis framework. A tool to clearly communicate the results and recommendations is provided in combination with this document. Liquified Natural Gas has shown the strongest potential for the remaining vessel to reduce its emissions over its limited lifespan. An additional discussion on the validity and applicability of these rules in actively reducing the global fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is presented.

This thesis is a hydrodynamics analysis of the implementation of tubercles onto a NACA 0018 foil. The tubercles mimic those present on the leading-edge of a humpback whale flipper. This biomimetic design induces vortices along the span of the rudder which delays separation of flow. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was used to visualize and develop the velocity flow field along the chord of the rudder, thus allowing a comparison of the hydrodynamic performance of the conventional and wavy rudders. In implementing the biomimetic characteristic, a delay in separation of flow was found.

Hydrofoils are an established technology in the marine industry, with the goal of producing a lift force while minimizing the drag force. While most hydrofoils target an elliptical lift distribution because of its induced drag benefits with a given span, a bell-shaped lift distribution has hydrodynamic benefits when the span is not constrained. This thesis optimizes the laminate schedule of a Wortmann FX 60-100 airfoil with an elliptical planform to reach a bell-shaped lift distribution. The twist is achieved by using the orthotropic properties of fiberglass to produce a bending-torsion coupled response. The hydrofoil is constructed of a foam cored fiberglass laminate with a polyester matrix. The hydrodynamic pressure on the foil is evaluated using the vortex lattice method in XFLR5. The foil’s response is modeled using finite element analysis in SolidWorks simulation. A 66-degree ply was observed to produce the greatest amount of downward twist.

When a vessel is in a seaway, it slams into waves, causing discomfort and potential vessel damage. Military landing craft often encounter heavy waves but are unable to use most slamming reduction designs. Drop tests were performed to investigate the effectiveness of using half-rounds for reducing slamming accelerations on flat-bottom hulls. A model of a landing craft hull section with minimal deadrise was constructed. Four interchangeable bottom plates with zero, one, three, and five half-rounds were constructed for use in a comparative study of accelerations. The model was dropped into a test pool from consistent heights with an onboard accelerometer to determine the maximum g’s experienced. Testing showed that the one, three, and five half-round configurations reduced the non-dimensional acceleration by 21%, 24%, and 32%, respectively. The results indicate that half-rounds are a viable solution to reduce impact accelerations experienced by flat-bottom hulls.

This research investigates methods of improving the power output of oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converters (WECs). The project follows Kritsuk and Lehman’s 2022 Webb thesis by modifying the design of their turbine and chamber. Wells turbines were designed and iterated with varied parameters, including blade sweep, number of stages, and the use of end caps. A chamber was built with a hinged forward wall to test the effect of wall angle on system performance. System tests were performed at a range of wave amplitudes and frequencies in the Robinson Model Basin (RMB). It was concluded that adding an extra stage increases the peak power output, incorporating sweep delivers a more consistent performance envelope at the expense of peak power, and that the front wall angle changes the resonance characteristics of the system. Additionally, it was noted that wave frequency dominates over wave amplitude in affecting system performance.

This thesis evaluates the economic feasibility of offshore wave-powered hydrogen production via electrolysis. The study begins by developing a concept design for an offshore hydrogen production system powered by wave energy. A lifecycle cost analysis is performed to assess the system’s competitiveness against other hydrogen production methods. The concept design features a hydrogen floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (HFPSO) powered by an array of wave overtopping devices. Results indicate that wave energy, when harvested by such devices, has the potential to be cost competitive with floating offshore wind turbines, from an energy generation perspective. However, an HFPSO with onboard liquefaction is found to be a suboptimal configuration for offshore hydrogen production. The design developed in this thesis suffers from high capital costs and significant energy requirements. These factors reduce overall system efficiency.

This thesis analyzes the impact of keel rotation on the upwind performance of a sailboat through the creation of a velocity prediction program (VPP) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). STAR-CCM+ was used to model the hydrodynamic forces on the sailboat, while coefficients from the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) were used to calculate the aerodynamic forces. Courtesy of Farr Yacht Design, the test vessel for this thesis was a Farr 36. The keel of the Farr 36 was rotated to four different angles, and the speed of the vessel in the upwind direction, otherwise known as velocity made good (VMG), was recorded. Small angles of keel rotation increased the VMG; however, there were fewer benefits at larger angles of keel rotation. It was concluded that keel rotation has a slight positive impact on the upwind performance of a sailboat but is not worth the significant structural modifications required.

An environment for a machine learning agent representing a ship that travels from an initial location to a predetermined target was created in Unity, a videogame development program. Within this environment storms were simulated that reduce the ship’s speed and increase the rate of fuel consumption. The agent was trained to navigate this environment and plot the most efficient route, optimized for fuel consumption. After training, the simulated vessel can reach the target without any human input and navigate around storms.

Modern commercial vessels are becoming increasingly incompatible with published hullform series because of design elements such as implicit bulbous bows, vertical stems, andstern bulbs. Through the development of a modern hull form series, the resistance profile of these vessels will be better understood. This thesis is the start of a multi-year build and test project where successive students will modify a parent hull form, produce, and test the model. To reflect progression in containership design, a parent model was selected that integrates both an implicit bulb, vertical stem, and stern bulb into the design of the hull. A numerical seakeeping analysis was then conducted to verify vessel compliance with relevant limits. Once seakeeping quality was verified, the model was fabricated with detachable bow and stern sections to allow for variation. Throughout the thesis, three bow
variations were designed and built, each with different bulb sectional areas. Following the testing of the models, it was determined that the model resistance profile is consistent with others of its size, but because of uncertainties induced by the scale factor, no conclusive differences were observed between the bow variations.

This thesis investigates the opportunity cost of adopting alternative fuels—liquefied natural gas, methanol, and ammonia—within the shipping industry relative to the demand in the trucking and rail sectors. By employing a lifecycle cost and opportunity cost analysis, the study quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achievable through the use of each fuel type across different modes of transportation. The analysis indicates that ammonia synthesized with carbon capture and storage is the fuel pathway that offers the greatest emissions benefit in the maritime context while minimizing lost potential benefit in other sectors. The results aim to guide optimal investment in alternative fuel technologies across the shipping industry and broader transportation sector, informed by lifecycle emissions, industry infrastructure, and intermodal tradeoffs.

This research investigates the quality of Titanic’s maneuverability in calm-water given the vessel’s service speed of 22.5 knots. Investigations by the SNAME Marine Forensics Committee were expanded upon by developing a full-scale numerical analysis of the vessel’s hydrodynamic behavior within fully viscous Reynold’s Average Navier Stokes CFD captive model tests. A model of the ship’s hull was developed using computer aided design software and validated by comparing sections with the original lines plan of the Olympic Class. Hydrodynamic derivatives were obtained through linearizing the results of the vessel’s planar motion in pure sway and pure yaw, and the ship’s steady turning radius was determined by integrating these values with SNAME’s flat-plate rudder data. Results indicate a sufficient level of maneuverability for the ship’s safe transit across the North Atlantic Ocean given modern-day turning standards.

The final setup and validation of the Webb Institute wind tunnel focused on commissioning the tunnel for future use. The work of Gonzalez (2020) was expanded upon as data collection systems, a testing rig, and flow visualization equipment were installed. To control tunnel testing, a computer control interface was set up, and its known errors were resolved. To validate the tunnel results a NACA 0015 and a NACA 0012 foil were tested. Three-dimensional lift and drag coefficients from the NACA 0015 were compared with XLFR5’s three-dimensional analysis. Two-dimensional coefficients from the NACA 0012 were compared with XFOIL’s twodimensional analysis. It was concluded that the tunnel produces reliable and repeatable results, and the flow visualization equipment works well. The wind tunnel allows model testing using Reynolds number scaling, and it is recommended that the tunnel be used for future research and testing at Webb.

This thesis project provided Webb Institute with the capability to conduct meaningful testing of a high-speed electronically controlled diesel engine. Building on design work completed as part of Louis J. Bock’s 2021 thesis entitled, Design of A High-Speed, Common-Rail Diesel Engine Test Platform and Support Systems, this project successfully integrated Webb Institute’s Yanmar 4JH110 diesel engine with Haeberle Laboratory’s Midwest eddy current dynamometer and additional instruments.

This thesis investigates the ability of marine-grade coatings to distribute Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light in a uniform manner for the purposes of biofouling mitigation. UV-C light creates mutations in the deoxyribonucleic (DNA) structure of microbiology colonies responsible for biofouling, preventing their ability to expand. UV-C light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were affixed to A36 steel plates and coated with three different marine-grade coatings: polyurethane, epoxy, and ceramic. The biofouling growth over a one-week period was compared among these three trial coatings, bare steel plates, and copper biocidal paint coated plates. An additional set of control test plates was arranged to examine the effect of UV-C exposure on coating degradation. Using microscopic photography, it was determined that epoxy was the most effective light distribution medium and resulted in the most uniform reduction in microbiologic growth. Recommendations for future work include a refined test apparatus and the broadened testing scope.

Shipyards in the United States do not perform on the same level as their European and Asian counterparts. One aspect of this comparative inefficiency is the layout and material flow of U.S. shipyards. This thesis explores possible layouts and material flows of a modern newbuild shipyard in the United States on an existing site of a shipyard in the United States. It was concluded that if the existing site had the chance to start from a blank slate with no monetary constraints, the shipyard could be built to be more efficient than that with the current layout and material flow.