Wave-making resistance reduction characteristics based on spherical bow configuration

Nowadays, the mechanism of a bulbous bow on resistance reduction is still ambiguous. By carry-ing out a study of wave-making resistance based on spherical bow configuration, we can reveal the truth of the problem and find out the effect of reducing resistance and suppressing waves of a bulbous bow on a sur-face combat ship. As such, the study is fundamentally meaningful. As to ship type DTMB 5415, CFD soft-ware STAR-CCM was utilized to analyze the effect and mechanism of the bulbous bow's main configuration parameters on wave-making resistance. To this end, several groups of extended bulbous bows with extend-ed reach and various radius parameters were first set up. Next, analyses were carried out of the variation of resistance and the mechanism of the bulbous bow on resistance reduction, which associate with the known experimental data and CFD calculated data. The final results show that, in certain circumstances, the Froude number, vertical position and radius of the bulbous bow have vital and obvious influences on wave-making resistance.