Vessel: Efficient Plain Text File Format for Ship Hull Geometry

Abstract

Initially, digital geometric model of a ship hull is assumed to maintain continuity in solving traditional ship theory problems, ship hydromechanics and seakeeping in severe storm waves. In the research reported here we consider using a table of plaza ordinates (transversal projection of frames) supplemented with a description of sterns as a means of describing digital geometric model. This description, which we call Vessel (VSL) format, allows for later addition of compartments, appendages and superstructures. These more complicated ship structures and their characteristics (e.g. ship compartments and superstructures are characterised by template-based modelling) are added to initial ship hull model in separate files from the working directory of a particular experiment. We show how this model is converted into three-dimensional triangular mesh suitable for ship motion simulations. VSL format is generally more efficient than industry standard IGES format and is distinguished by the simplicity and capability of editing by hand.