Topic outline

  • Welcome to the Ship Dynamics Course !!

    You will learn about the basic principles of ship dynamics and their application for design development and assessment. The knowledge offered links with Ship Structures Course (MEC-E2007) and will help you to complete your  group ship design exercise.


    Teacher: Associate Professor Spyros Hirdaris (spyros.hirdaris@aalto.fi)

    Learning outcomes: After the course, you will be able to

    • Observe and explain physical phenomena associated with seakeeping, resistance, propulsion and maneuvering of ships progressing in waves.

    • Explain the meaning of practical methods for the assessment ship dynamics associated with resistance, propulsion, dynamic stability and motion control.

    • Explain the general theory of surface waves and interpret modelling assumptions for use in computational models and experiments used for ship design.

    • Classify, synthesize and explain common approximations to the general models known as seakeeping and wave loading models and assess their applicability and deficiencies for application in design development and operational management practices.

    • Explain the basic principles of added resistance and maneuvering models in waves, as well as analyze and synthesize their use for ship design and the management of maritime safety.

    Brief course content:

    • Introduction to the basic principles of ship dynamics (ship resistance, propulsion, seakeeping, maneuvering) and their application in ship design / operations for safety

    • Practical ship dynamics for ship resistance, propulsion, motion control and stabilisation

    • Linear and nonlinear surface wave theory

    • Ship theory for seakeeping and loading (rigid body dynamics, hydroelasticity of ships, model tests and full scale measurements)

    • Added resistance and maneuvering in waves

    The course comprises of 10 lectures, 5 assignments, a presentation at the Marine Technology Spring Gala and exams. The assignments and Gala presentation support learning, they are compulsory and count 40% of your final mark; 30% comes from mid term exam based on Lectures 1 - 5 and 30% from final exam based on Lectures 6 - 10. In case you select to drop your mid term exam mark or skip it then you will have to seat a full course exam based on Lectures 1 - 10 counting 60% of your final mark.

    For detailed schedule including lectures, tutorials, exams and submission deadlines for group assignments see the  *.xls under course schedule below.