Research on Optimum Design of Molded Lines of the Bulbous Bow of a Container Vessel

In this paper, taking a 7000 TEU container ship as an example, research on optimization design of mold lines of bulbous bow for container ships is carried out. Firstly, geometric parameters of bulbous bow are selected to be as variables to construct 7 computing molds, then CFD methods are employed to calculate ship resistance and parameters of wave field generated by ship moving, as well as Michell integration is used to determine the coefficient of wave-making resistance. Minimization of resistance is taken as the aim function to obtain the optimum geometric parameters of mold lines at bow. The results of mold testing express that the mold lines of bulbous bow for container vessel optimized by above methods are credible and valuable for engineering practice.