Holtrop, J.

A statistical re-analysis of resistance and

propulsion data
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Holtrop, J., (1984) "A statistical re-analysis of resistance and propulsion data", International Shipbuilding Progress
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272
A STATISTICAL REANALYSIS OF RESISTANCE AND PROPULSION DATA
by
J. Holtrop*
1. Introduction
In a recent publication [1] a power prediction
method was presented which was based on a regression
analysis of random model and fullscale test data.
For several combinations of main dimensions and form
coefficients the method had been adjusted to test
results obtained in some specific cases. In spite of these
adaptations the accuracy of the method was found to
be insufficient for some classes of ships. Especially
for high speed craft at Froude numbers above 0.5 the
power predictions were often wrong. With the ob
jective to improve the method the data sample was
extended covering wider ranges of the parameters of
interest. In this extension of the data sample the
published results of the Series 64 hull forms [2] have
been included. The regression analyses were now based
on the results of tests on 334 models. Beside these
analyses of resistance and propulsion properties a
method was devised by which the influence of the
propeller cavitation could be taken into account. In
addition some formulae are given by which the effect
of a partial propeller submergence can tentatively be
estimated. These formulae have been derived in a study
carried out in a MARIN Cooperative Research pro
gramme. Permission to publish these results is grate
fully acknowledged.
2. Reanalysis of resistance test results
The results were analysed using the same subdivis
ion into components as used in [1]:
where:
R
F
= frictional resistance according to the
ITTC1957 formula
1 +K
1
= form factor of the hull
R
APP
= appendage resistance
R
w
= wave resistance
R
B
= additional pressure resistance of bulbous
bow near the water surface
R
TR
= additional pressure resistance due to
transom immersion
R
A
= modelship correlation resistance.
A regression analysis provided a new formula for
the form factor of the hull:
*) Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, Wageningen, The Nether
lands.
In this formula B and T are the moulded breadth and
draught, respectively. L is the length on the waterline
and is the moulded displacement volume. C
P
is the
prismatic coefficient based on the waterline length.
L
R
is defined as:
where Icb is the longitudinal position of the centre of
buoyancy forward of 0.5 L as a percentage of L.
The coefficient c
14
accounts for the stern shape. It
depends on the stern shape coefficient C
stern
for which
the following tentative figures can be given:
Afterbody form C'stern
Pram with gondola 25
Vshaped sections 10
Normal section shape 0
Ushaped sections
with Hogner stern 10
C14= 1+0.011C
stern
As regards the appendage resistance no new analysis
was made. For prediction of the resistance of the ap
pendages reference is made to [1].
A reanalysis was made of the wave resistance. A
new general formula was derived from the data sample
of 334 models but calculations showed that this new
prediction formula was not better in the speed range
up to Froude numbers of about F
n
= 0.5. The results
of these calculations indicated that probably a better
prediction formula for the wave resistance in the high
speed range could be devised when the low speed data
were left aside from the regression analysis.
By doing so, the following wave resistance formula
was derived for the speed range F
n
> 0.55.
where:
The coefficients c
2
, c
5
, d and have the same definit
ion as in [1]:
The midship section coefficient C
M
and the trans-
verse immersed transom area at rest A
T
and the trans-
verse area of the bulbous bow A
BT
have the same
meaning as in [1]. The vertical position of the centre
of A
BT
above the keel plane is h
B
. The value of h
B
should not exceed the upper limit of 0.6 T
F
.
Because attempts to derive prediction formulae for
the wave resistance at low and moderate speeds were
only partially successful it is suggested to use for the
estimation of the wave resistance up to a Froude num-
ber of 0.4 a formula which closely resembles the orig-
inal formula of [1]. The only modification consists
of an adaptation of the coefficient that causes the
humps and hollows on the resistance curves. This
formula, which is slightly more accurate than the
original one reads:
For the speed range 0.40 < F
n
< 0.55 it is suggested
to use the more or less arbitrary interpolation formula:
Here R
W-A0.4
is the wave resistance prediction for
F
n
= 0.40 and R
W
-
B0.55
is the wave resistance for F
n
=
0.55 according to the respective formulae.
No attempts were made to derive new formulations
for the transom pressure resistance and the additional
wave resistance due to a bulb near the free surface.
The available material to develop such formulae is
rather scarce. As regards the height of the centre of
the transverse bulb area h
B
it is recommended to obey
the upper limit of 0.6 T
F
in the calculation of the ad-
ditional wave resistance due to the bulb.
3. Re-analysis of propulsion data
The model propulsion factors and the model-ship
correlation allowance were statistically re-analysed
using the extended data sample. This data sample in-
cluded 168 data points of full-scale trials on new built
ships. In the analysis the same structure of the wake
prediction formulae in [1] was maintained. By the
regression analyses new constants were determined
which give a slightly more accurate prediction.
A point which has been improved in the wake predict-
ion formula is the effect of the midship section coef-
ficient C
M
for full hull forms with a single screw.
The improved formula for single screw ships with a
conventional stern reads:
The coefficient c
9
depends on the coefficient c
8
defined as:
273
274
The coefficient C
V
is the viscous resistance coef
ficient with
As regards the thrust deduction of single screw
ships a new formula was devised of comparable ac
curacy :
For the relativerotative efficiency an alternative
prediction formula was derived but because its ac
curacy is not better than that of the original one it is
suggested to use the prediction formula of [1]:
For multiplescrew ships and openstern singlescrew
ships with open shafts the formulae of [1] were main
tained.
The modelship correlation allowance was statis
tically analysed. It appeared that for new ships under
ideal trial conditions a C
A
value would be applicable
which is on the average 91 per cent of the C
A
value
according to the statistical formula of [1]. Apparent
ly, the incorporation of more recent trial data has
reduced the average level of C
A
somewhat. It is sug
gested, however, that for practical purposes the origin
al formula is used.
4. The influence of propeller cavitation and partial
propeller submergence
Especially on high speed craft propeller cavitation
can effect the propulsive performance.
Tests on Bseries propellers in uniform axial flow
under cavitating conditions were reported in [3], but
the representation of the results was confined to a
graphical form only.
The K
T
K
Q
J relationship of the 16 Bseries
propellers tested under cavitating conditions were
fed into the computer for a statistical analysis. The
data used consisted of the changes of K
T
and K
Q
due
to cavitation at certain Jvalues. The unaffected K
T
and K
Q
values of the propellers were supposed to be
determined accurately by the polynomials given in
[4] and [5]. From preliminary analyses it appeared that
for each propeller the conditions where influence of
the suctionside cavitation begins can be represented
well by a certain value of the speedindependent coef
ficient:
This coefficient is indicated as (K
T
/ (J
2

0
))
BI
.
Here K
T
is the thrust coefficient, J is the advance
coefficient and
o
is the cavitation number defined as
where p
v
is the vapour pressure, p
o
+ pgh is the static
pressure in the undisturbed flow at the level of the
shaft centre line, p is the density of the water and V is
the advance speed of the propeller.
From the data of the Bseries (K
T
/(J
2

o
))
B I
was
determined for each propeller and by means of mul
tiple regression analysis these ( K
T
/ ( J
2

o
) )
B I
values
were correlated to the main propeller parameters.
This resulted into the following formula:
Here A
E
/A
O
is the expanded blade area ratio and Z is
the number of blades.
The pitch ratio appeared to have no significant in
fluence on the K
T
/ ( J
2

o
) value where cavitation begins
to affect the propulsive performance. Of course, this
will not be true for the effect of the pitch setting of a
controllablepitch propeller because then the radial
load distribution is changed.
If K
T
/ ( J
2

o
) exceeds the value given by the predic
tion equation cavitation influence is present and
should be accounted for. This influence was represent
ed in relation to the characteristics of the noncavitat
ing propeller because these are well defined by the
polynomial representation in [4] and [5]. This was
done by analysing the ratios
and
Coefficient F
N
is the factor by which the rotation rate
n should be increased, whereas F
P
is the factor by
which the propulsive power is increased due to cavitat
ion. The factors F
N
and F
P
were considered as a func
tion of K
T
/J
2
for each cavitation number because
K
T
/ J
2
can be regarded the same for noncavitating
conditions and for conditions in which the propulsive
properties are affected.
It appeared that the influence of the cavitation num
ber could be expressed well by using
as an independent variable.
By means of selective regression analysis the propor
tionality was correlated with the main propeller par
ticulars, and the following prediction equations were
derived:
and
It should be noted, however, that the scatter in the
data was fairly large. It is suggested that the para
meters A
E
/A
O
and Z are not used outside the ranges of
The formula for F
N
is valid for
whereas the formula for F
p
is valid only for
In all other cases F
N
and F
p
are 1.0.
In the optimization of the performance of ships
in ballast conditions the behaviour of not fully im
mersed propellers can be of importance.
For practical use the following equations were
derived from model experiments on the assumption
that by introducing a fictitious increase G of the en
trance velocity the influence of the partial emergence
can be accounted for over the range of propeller
loadings of interest:
V
E
is the resultant entrance velocity of the propeller.
This increase factor G was related to coefficients
describing the emergence of the propeller and the
propeller loading.
As a parameter indicating the emergence the variable
U is used with:
Where D is the diameter, h
o
is the vertical distance
from the keel plane to the blade tip in its lowest
position, T
A
is the draught aft and w
h
is a measure for
the wave height at the location of the propeller, ap
proximated by:
275
where:
From experiments it appeared that the speed in
crease factor G could be expressed as a linear function
of the emergence coefficient U and the propeller
loading K
T
/J
2
= T/( pD
2
( 1 w)
2
V
2
) . Hence, for pos
itive values of U the factor G can be determined
from:
where the coefficient 3 is an empirical constant.
When the propeller emergence is not excessive the
thrust deduction and the relative rotative efficiency
can be regarded to be unaffected.
5. Numerical example
For the following hypothetical twin screw ship
the still water powering performance is calculated
over the speed range from 25 to 35 knots.
Main particulars
L
B
T
F
T
A
S
app
C
stern
50.00
12.00
3.10
3.30
900
50
0
m
m
m
m
m
3
m
2
A
BT
i
E
C
M
lcb
A
T
1+K
2
C
WP
0
25 degrees
0.78
4.5% L aft of L.
10 m
2
3
0.80
Related coefficients
C
P
L
R
1+K
1
C
17
m
3
C
2
0.60096
14.1728 m
1.297
1.4133
2.0298
1.0
C
B
S
hull
C
A
C
5
C
15
0.46875
584.9 m
2
0.00064
0.7329
0.7440
1.69385
Results resistance calculation
Speed m
4
cos( /F
2
n
) m
3
F
d
n
R
w
R
APP
R
TR
R
(knots) (kN) (kN) (kN) (kN)
25
27
29
31
33
35
0.3279
0.1820
0.0409
0.0834
0.1876
0.2730
3.3100
3.0883
2.8962
2.7274
2.5780
2.4453
475
512
539
564
590
618
21
24
28
31
35
39
25
16
2
0
0
0
662
715
756
807
864
925
Results propeller design and calculation of propulsion factors
t = 0.054 D = 3.231 m
0
= 0.705 (30 knots)
w = 0.039 P/D = 1.136
R
= 0.980 A
E
/A
O
= 0.763
!
!
276
Resu|ts performance ca|cu|ation
Speed total N` P
D
` F
N
F
P
N`` P
s
``
thrust
(knots) (kN) (RPM) (kW) (RPM) (kW)
25 699 259.3 12670 1,000 1.000 259.3 12798
27 756 275.7 14707 1.000 1.000 275.7 14856
29 799 291.1 16617 1.000 1.000 291.1 16785
31 853 307.1 18915 1.008 1.000 309.6 19106
33 913 326.2 21508 1.019 1.011 329.8 21964
35 978 340.2 24406 1.033 1.027 351.4 25318
* without effect of propeller eavitation.
** including effect propeller cavitation.
References
l.Holtrop. J. and Mermen, G.G.J., 'An approximate power
prediction method', International Shipbuilding Progress,
Vol. 29, July 1982.
2. Yeh, H.Y.H., 'Series 64 resistance experiments on high-
speed displacement forms', Marine Technology, July 1965.
3. Lammeren, WP.A. van, Manen, J.D. van, and Oosterveld,
M.W.C., 'The Wageningen B-screw series', SNAME, November
1969.
4. Oosterveld, M.W.C. and Oossanen, P. van, 'Further computer
analysed data of the Wageningen B-screw series', Internation-
al Shipbuilding Progress, July 1975.
5. Oosterveld, M.W.C. and Oossanen, P. van, 'Representation
of propeller characteristics suitable for preliminary ship
design studies', International Conference on Computer
Applications in Shipbuilding, Tokyo, 1973.