Free sailing model tests of evasive action manoeuvre of a river cargo motor barge in shallow waters

The paper presents shallow water experiments of a self-propelled, free running model of an inland water motor barge. In accordance with the Rhine Manoeuvring Standards Rheinschiffsuntersuchungsordnung (RheinSchUO 1995, issue 2005), evasive action manoeuvring tests were realised. Model obtained from DST Duisburg Germany was a 5.00 meters long motor barge built to a scale of 1:20 and propelled with an 80 mm diameter ducted propeller. Tests were carried out in the auxiliary towing tank of the Ship Hydromechanics Division in Gdańsk. The experiment consisted of efficiency analysis of different rudder blades with variable rudder profiles and rudder blade areas. In total the evasive action test was repeated for three different rudder profiles, with three different chord lengths and at three different water depths each. For each particular case the total standard manoeuvre time and side rudder force was measured. These results were compared with the RheinSchUO standards. The model tests programme was realised within the EU CREATING project supported in the 6th Framework Programme.