Interesting Article on Ship Hull Design Theory

[rishackie]

There is an interesting article in the July 2017 issue of Physics Today about the history of the wave-line theory of hull design that was responsible for many of what we refer to as classic hull shapes.
Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.3627

 

[Roland5048]

Very interesting. Thanks.

 

[Jackdaw]

That's cool. Thx for posting.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Very interesting! Thanks!

 

[John Nantz]

It was very interesting (especially once I got past the "cookies required" part). Enjoyed much of the hull design history, albeit very condensed, which is great for not having to read a lot.
The one thing that kinda bothered me was authors attitude toward Russel as it seemed like they lambasted him. Maybe because (according to the article) "he said he discovered a new law of physics"? Uh-oh!
The formula he came up with was obviously empirical and not a pure physics Newtonian-type formula and, of course, the article is written in a physics journal. Given the time in history, 1835 > 1843, his research was breaking new ground.
The other part the authors seemed to pick on were other factors that the empirical formula didn't take into account. While that is true, realize when this was and the crude state of research facilities back then.
So .... yes, we know now that the formula is not a "new law of physics" but I can get past that. I'm sure Russel's research helped with moving science forward and it definitely helped to relocate the Hundred Guinea Cup (aka the America's Cup)! If nothing else, we can surely thank him for that.

Thanks for the link and it was a good morning read.

 

[rgranger]

 

[shemandr]

Interesting article and not scary in terms of Math. Echoing what John said, the Russel work was empirical. But isn't that what Physics is? Applied Mathematics? My high school Physics class lab section included running a cart on a low friction track measuring acceleration. Pretty much what he did.
I also noted that the yachts that were designed most closely to the wave theory did well. Granted freighters, for example, are designed to carry stuff and cannot adhere closely the the theoretical shape. That's not the theory's fault. The fact that modern hull design views friction vortices as existing all along a hull isn't surprising. In the 100 years since Russel, the theory and measurements of hulls and friction has improved. Russell did OK in my book.

 

[jssailem]

Enjoyed the read. Russels ideas were innovative. They lacked the math so important to the understanding of physical theories. They failed in the science but were instrumental in advancing the concepts of Naval Architecture. Sometimes times that's enough on a practical level till the science can be clarified.

 

[All U Get]

Good read. History written by the victors.

All U Get

 

[jssailem]

"History written by the victors".
That is just the way it is.... No safe space for losers to tell their story.

 

[Jackdaw]

"History written by the victors".
That is just the way it is.... No safe space for losers to tell their story.

Indeed, in the wold of science this is the way its supposed to be. I'm not very interested in hearing anymore from the flat-world proponents.

 

[jssailem]

Aw... You know when the sun goes down it looks like it falls out of the sky. And the ocean sizzles... It just must be flat out there.