Frazer-Nash supplies HydroDyna to Dstl
Traditionally the assessment of candidate High Speed Craft hull forms is conducted using full scale sea trials. Trials provide valuable data on craft performance but require significant planning to get right and, therefore, can be expensive and time-consuming. The inevitable variations in sea conditions, and in time and location, can also further complicate the comparison of trials data.
Given these challenges Dstl had a desire to supplement their full scale sea trials with computational assessments which offer the ultimate repeatability in seaway conditions. A number of tools exist for this purpose; however, these are either too simple to resolve the effect of subtle changes to the hull design or too computationally complex.
Frazer-Nash’s HydroDyna software offers a unique approach that can resolve the influence of hull geometry changes whilst enabling more information to be captured in the same time period. The result of which is a more robust calculation and the ability to rapidly conduct wide ranging parametric studies.
Dstl is using the software to conduct High Speed Craft assessment into a number of factors including structural loading, whole body vibration exposure and manoeuvrability. HydroDyna is able to provide them with a unique tool that can be adapted specifically to meet their needs to explore a wide range of hull form concepts and identify the most promising solutions for focus in further analysis or future trials.
Dr Graham Hawkes, fluids group leader at Frazer-Nash, said: “We are really pleased to have won the contract with Dstl and for our software to be used in this analysis project. We have developed our specialist HydroDyna software over a number of years, and it has almost exclusively been used for consultancy work in-house up until this point.
“Therefore the main challenge for us with this project has been to deliver HydroDyna in a form that could be used by Dstl. We have worked very closely with Dstl to develop a range of training materials and courses to enable them to get the full potential out of the software.”
Dr Kieran Rutherford, senior engineer at Dstl, said: “HydroDyna represents a new capability to Dstl, and supports our purpose to maximise the impact of specialist leading research for the defence of the UK. In austere times, the ability to conduct repeated high level assessments of high speed craft hull concepts in a computational environment is of benefit compared with the often unpredictable and unrepeatable sea states for expensive physical trials. It has been a pleasure working with Frazer-Nash on this project, and they have been supportive throughout to ensure that the project is successful.”
