Datawave Marine Solutions

Project Habbakuk: A Ship from Ice!

Pykrete, the revolutionary composite made with ice, part of a plan to build the largest aircraft carrier ever. This wasn’t as crazy as it sounds. What happened and what can we learn from this?

Strong as Ice: Icebreaker Structure

Hull Structure, Shell and Supporting Structure, Structural

Someone once told me that icebreaking felt like crashing your car straight into a brick wall . . . and then repeating the process every minute of the day. How do we create ship hulls so strong that we crash straight through the brick wall?

Surviving the Arctic: Polar Class Icebreakers

Design Support, Fluids, Mechanical, Propulsion, Special Purpose Mechanical Systems, Structural

I’m amazed by the challenges pitted against a Polar class icebreaker. What does it take for a ship to survive in the harshest regions of our planet?

Ramming the Ice: Icebreaker Propulsion

Energy Generation, Fluids, Hull Structure, Propulsion, Propulsion Plant, Propulsion Units, Propulsors, Structural, Transmission and Propulsor Systems

This beast bares TWO nuclear reactors, with over 60 MW of propulsive power driving through anything in its path! Discover why we need so much power for an icebreaker.

Breaking the Ice: Icebreakers

Hull Structure, Propulsion, Propulsion Units, Propulsors, Structural

How do icebreakers crack through the ice and come out undamaged? We still use the same techniques from over 50 years ago. Why do they work so well?

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How to Design a Ship

Arrangements, Hydrostatics, Mechanical, Piping, Structural

How to design a ship? How to go from a blank sheet of paper to a sensible design for a ship, when you have nothing to start with? So here are my secrets revealed.

Composite Materials

Engineering Business, Hull Structure, Materials, Special Purpose Structure, Structural

Don’t let composites disappoint you. If you understand their practical limits, composites far exceed the capabilities of steel.

Six Ways to Break the Ship

Elastic Static Loading, Fatigue, FEA / Numerical Methods, Hull Decks, Hull Structural Bulkheads, Hull Structure, Masts, Kingposts, Service Platforms, Shell and Supporting Structure, Special Methods, Special Purpose Structure, Structural

Why are ship structures so labor intensive to design? Engineers need to anticipate multiple methods of failure, which makes a lot of work. The trick of efficient structural analysis focuses on recognizing which methods of failure are likely in each scenario. This article reveals six major methods of structural failure, with examples of common applications. Because it will be the failure mode you didn’t consider that ultimately leads to catastrophe.

Improve Engineering Value

3D Modeling, Arrangements, Drafting, Engineering Business, Fatigue, FEA / Numerical Methods, Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, Fluids Special Methods, Hull Structure, Hydrostatics, Structural

We all want to feel good about paying for engineering analysis. Sometimes the best answer drives us to maximize value, rather than minimize cost. In those cases, you do better to go beyond basic safety and search for enhancements. Today we discuss four engineering tasks where you can maximize your value. Extract every last drop of knowledge from your engineering project.

Six Tip to Improve Your FEA

FEA / Numerical Methods, Special Methods, Structural

An experienced engineer doesn’t have some magic button to deliver great FEA. Today we share six nuggets of wisdom for better FEA.

Trust Your Singularity

Elastic Static Loading, FEA / Numerical Methods, Structural

You stare in dread at the FEA results, seeing stress singularities. Untamed singularities cost money and add weight to your structure. Much like cancer, safe handling of stress singularities centers on recognition and proper treatment. When you understand them, they can be contained, leaving a reliable FEA model.

Mesh Size Does Matter

FEA / Numerical Methods, Structural

Are you sure that every FEA analysis ever ordered is accurate? Mesh sizes are the biggest source of error in an FEA simulation. Today I demonstrate that mistakes in FEA mesh sizing may be larger than you anticipated.

How to Run FEA

FEA / Numerical Methods, Structural

Finite Element Analysis (FEA). How does it happen? What is the general process for how to produce a quality FEA analysis, from start to finish? As a client, what do you get when you pay for FEA?

Five Minute FEA

Elastic Static Loading, FEA / Numerical Methods, Structural

Finite Element Analysis (FEA). You want it. But where to start? FEA requires more than just software. Today we arm the clever consumer with a five minute introduction to FEA, where to apply it, and an overview of the FEA process.

FEA: A Beautiful Lie (Until Proven Otherwise)

Structural

Widespread availability of finite element analysis has been labeled as democratization. Experts argue that FEA in the wrong hands is a cause for concern.

Why Don’t Boats Look Like Fish?

Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, Structural

Why don’t ships look like fish? Well, ships are different. They do not look like fish, for two very good reasons.

Red Hot Bronze: How to Make a Ship’s Propeller

Structural

So how do you build a perfect propeller the size of a house?

The True Cost of Steel

Engineering Business, Structural

When you see the next bunkering bill, you will desperately care about structural optimization. Learn about the hidden cost of steel: extra fuel costs.

Ten Forgotten Uses for A Catamaran