Hull Design

Please, I am new to hull design software which I have to use at this point in my thesis. my challenge is that I need to enter frame section information together with fore and aft body plans into a software to generate the hull form. if am to use maxsurf. please I would like to know how to go about that. Thanks.

 

you can start by inserting 'Markers' in the markers window, then once you have enough markers (per station) either start with a basic hull surface or a plan, add control points sparingly to the surface, then adjust the control points in the 'Body Plan' window accordingly to the selected station.

 

Thanks alot Yellowfinii for your reply.

 

When you say 'insert', do you mean from paper plans?

If so, scan them (correct for errors in photoshop) and insert the pictures as background images in each relevant view.

 

if u using maxsurf,..it will be better for u to read the manual at first,, because maxsurf manual covers all topics that can be done by maxsurf.
i am sure...u will understand much better than wht u know now...

Btw: r u doing in uni of newcastle?

 

thanks. yeah.

 

I don't know what am doing wrong: I enter the surface size (in meters) thus:

Length=336.4
Beam=42.8
Depth=24.1

The shape its giving me in 3D in just weird. (default surface, no any other thing entered yet).

Your contributions are highly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Maxsurf default shape or surface is not that usual ship shape.. you have modify it, add surface, merge it, and lot finally need to work out for your desired ship shape.

if u are looking for something, that u will enter the values as above , and that will give u a ship shape, then u can open the sample designs given with maxsurf (u can find it in the installation folder) , then size the surface or do the paramatric transformations.

For container ship, Fastship software has a good wizard,entering values there will give u a ship shape surface, and also some other softwares have their own wizard.

But i think, its not the real learning, to use maxsurf read again the manual as i told before, add surface ..control points whtever u need and work !

 

Basic One Surface Hull.

emsnoel,

like zeroname said you really need to read the manuals and or 'have a class on it'

I would also suggest to start with a default surface, a half cylinder looking shape. and add control points in the 3 different planes,( but do so sparingly)

So i will try to start you off with a 'basic start' for a one surface hull design.
I will assume you are using Maxsurf 11 or newer.

So firstly,

File > New Design​

Then add a basic 'U' surface.

Surfaces > Default​

Choose your units

Data > Units ​

Since you are working in metres, you may also want to work in the metric tonnes



Size your surface

Surfaces > Size Surfaces​

Ensure the surface in the list is checked
and enter the dimensions of your ship to be.




Once you got your surface sized, it should look like a long half cylinder.

Now set your Zero Point, DWL, Baseline,

Data > Frame of Reference ​

( on old versions, you also have to 'define' a zero point in a separate window
1) Click find Base
2) and also set your zero vertical point to the baseline,( this is would be a personal preference, but i find it makes learning it easier.. ( i usually prefer the DWL as the zero point)
you didnt specify a DWL so i will use 1/2 the depth, you can have this to what ever you want.
3) lastly, set the Longitudinal Datum( for aft perp and fwd perp, you can ethier enter this in, or click on the 'set to DWL' button which will calculate them.( you will have to change this as you refine your design.



Now set your lines up.

Data > Design Grid or Grid Spacing ​

depending on your version
For each of the lines, (section,Buttocks,Waterlines) click add, enter the number of lines you want, then click space them evenly throughout the model. i will use 18 Sections, 12 Buttocks, 12 Waterlines. in the sections tab, in the column split, go to the midships section and tick that box ( i will explain this later)(would be station 9 if there is 18)



next thing to do is get familiar with the small buttons on the screen.



Now add Control points to the model, got to the body plan
Add Control Points to the sides, and bottom to create more of the midships look we are all familiar with on a ship

when adding control points, you only need to do it for half the model say the port side, and do so by clicking on the 'turqiose color line to keep the model from getting numerous imperfections. also, y holding 'shift' button, it acts as a snap like feature.


do the same thing for the plan view, add control points for and aft of the length of the midbody you want, and some near the bow,(use as few control points as possible to prevent imperfections and massive hysteria from forming)
(when adding control points, always add them at the exterior of the surface)


Now we will form the bow.
by going to the plan viewport.
at the fore, (rightside) select all of the control points in that transverse position, make sure the 'Net' button is on,(display all control points)
drag those points to converge at the bow point
and for each set of points aft of it to the midbody slowly bring them in to develop the forward shape, do not touch the mid body points once you get the shape you want. ( remember . by holding shift it keeps the points aligned)


Do the same thing for the stern. (except it will be a much less point



Now we have our plan set. if you turn on the lines, you can start to see the shape come together, we will go into the profile now.

first we will give the stern a slant.
so drag each of the points aft slightly till you get a line you like/ meets your design requirement
i will also raise the for a slight amount.


Now we will work on the Stern.

for the stern, to have a surface that doesn't have holes or other unsightly effects, the points furthest aft have to be moved since those are the points which are closing the surface.


now to make a traditional stern shape for the rudder and prop, we have to move some control points to shape the hull.
This will undoubtedly make a funky surface at the stern, however we will fix this later on in the body plan viewport.


Now we will go into the Body Plan ..
So click the viewport and you will notice there is a window on the top right with an outline of the ship, there will also be tick marks at the bottom, those tick marks represent the transverse location of the control points. by clicking these, it will station your view to look at the selected control point and most importantly it will display the body plan line (one) of the closest station. this is very useful for faring the hull. The tick marks on the top represent the station you are at.( those are click-able along with the control point ticks)
Like i said before, ENSURE THE 'ALL CONTROL POINTS BUTTON IS DESELECTED IN THE BODYPLAN VIEW' or all you will see is a mess of lines and control points
we will start with the stern,
click on the 2nd to last control point tick
now, arrange the control points to give a flowing line and to remove the flat bottom we have from making the stern.
It will be necessary to go to the different viewports and make the necessary changes to get the desired shape.

You will have to add additional control points to the stern to get the desired shape. due to the complexity.



The bow and stem will be faired now the same way we did the stern.
Add one more set of control points, work in all the viewports.


Then spend time fairing the hull, looking for problem areas, use as little of control points as possible, to add control points to each station, go back into the body plan view and add a few more to give more control to as get flare or other stuff. the best way to learn this is to play around with it and see how it works.

Final Image


Attached is the file for Maxsurf which i created and used to make this hull from scratch, feel free to look at it.
http://www.sunymaritime.org/kmg/NewShip1S.msd

Good luck, hope this helps
~ YellowFinII

 

thats very nice reply... hope he will understand more now.. dont bother about which version u use,,, basic is same in all version from 11 to 15

Thanks

 

thanks a lot for yellowfinii. your reply of great benefit to me

 

Hi everybody!

I´m spanish student of naval architecture. I´ve already read the maxsurf manual. I´ve also read all the information there is on the web about "Frame of Reference" and "Zero Point".

My question is: what´s the difference between "Zero Point" (a small yellow cross) and the "Reference Point Location" (a small yellow circle).

Why does its movements change the hydrostatics of my model?

I know what the "Zero Point" is, but I can´t understand the difference with "Reference Point"

Hope any of you could help me

 

How can I fixed a specific bilge radius for parallel middle body of a hull by using maxsurf default surface?
Thanks for your kind attention.

 

My experience with Maxsurf leads me to say that this program, which is very very good in the calculations, has a nasty tendency to make the boat it wants and not what the user needs. My advice is to do the model with any other software, including AutoCAD, and exporte like . igs to Maxsurf..........

 

Cristhila the “zero point’ is the point from which all measurements and percentages of the hull are taken from, in conjunction with the “frame of Reference”. The "Reference Point Location" is the point used for surface rotation.

rase102232129 I suggest you read the section on “circular arcs” and NURB’s in the manual.

TANSL I have not had any trouble modelling anything I wanted in Maxsurf.