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Marine Machinery, Electrical Equipment and Automation Issue
Research on adaptive LOS guidance with time-varying sideslip compensation under environmental disturbances
Chinese Journal of Ship Research 2026, 21(2): 380-390
Published: 24 June 2025
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Objective

To address the problem of inadequate path-following accuracy and stability in unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) operating in complex environments (characterized by uncertainties such as fluctuating wind speeds and initial position deviations), a guidance method called time-varying sideslip compensated adaptive line-of-sight (TSC-ALOS) is proposed.

Method

First, a time-varying sideslip compensation mechanism is introduced based on real-time measurements of wind speed and direction, which forms the foundation of the improved TSC-ALOS algorithm. This mechanism dynamically compensates for sideslip angle variations induced by environmental disturbances, thereby optimizing the desired heading output of the USV. Subsequently, a proportional-derivative (PD)-based heading controller is designed. This controller translates the desired heading generated by the TSC-ALOS algorithm into actual rudder angle commands, enabling the USV to rapidly and stably track the target heading. This also establishes an effective connection between high-level navigation strategies and low-level control execution. Finally, numerical simulations emulating real marine environments are conducted. The performance of TSC-ALOS algorithm is compared with that of adaptive LOS (ALOS) and traditional LOS algorithms under three operational conditions: no wind, steady wind, and variable wind. Key metrics such as cross-track error and heading stability are specifically analyzed.

Results

Simulation results demonstrate that under no-wind conditions, both TSC-ALOS and ALOS algorithms achieve higher path-following accuracy than traditional LOS algorithm, particularly in handling turning segments. Under steady wind (wind speed: 8.37 m/s) and variable wind (wind speed: 16.73 m/s) conditions, TSC-ALOS significantly reduces the cross-track error, showcasing stronger resilience to environmental disturbances. In scenarios with initial position deviations, the average cross-track error of TSC-ALOS is reduced by 24.6% and 36.8% compared to ALOS and LOS algorithms, respectively.

Conclusion

The TSC-ALOS algorithm demonstrates superior guidance performance across various complex environments, with particularly notable advantages in addressing environmental disturbances and initial position deviations. It offers essential technical support for the development of autonomous navigation systems for USVs and provides insights into future research directions for algorithm optimization.

Issue
Response analysis of large container ship bridge wing structures under dynamic wind loads
Chinese Journal of Ship Research 2024, 19(6): 268-274
Published: 02 February 2024
Abstract PDF (2.2 MB) Collect
Downloads:6
Objectives

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of wind load on the safety of the bridge wing structure of a large container ship.

Methods

The variation patterns of dynamic wind load at different vertical positions are investigated and a method is proposed that applies dynamic nonlinear wind load. ABAQUS software is used to solve the nonlinear finite element model of the bridge wing structure and obtain the stress and deformation results of the structure under dynamic wind load. The synergistic effects of multiple loads on the structural response are then obtained and compared with the results of static wind load structural strength calculations in order to explore the impact of dynamic wind load effects on the response of upper building structures.

Results

The results indicate that the dynamic effects of wind load significantly affect the bridge wing structure, causing periodic oscillations of the bridge wing and leading to significant structural periodic responses under the combined action of multiple loads.

Conclusions

The findings of this study can provide important references for further understanding and considering the role of wind load in structural design.

Issue
Method of recognizing ice circumferential crack size based on YOLACT
Chinese Journal of Ship Research 2023, 18(6): 150-157
Published: 04 December 2023
Abstract PDF (1.5 MB) Collect
Downloads:5
Objective

When using the circumference crack method to calculate the ice load, the size of the circumference crack is usually determined by an empirical formula, but this can introduce many uncertainties to the selection of input parameters.

Methods

To accurately determine the size of circumference cracks, we propose a method of recognizing ice circumference crack size based on YOLACT, which can identify ice in images taken with ships. We then detect the edge of the mask and obtain the shape of the ice cracks, and the ice breaking radius and angle can be estimated by fitting the cracks.

Results

The results show that the accuracy of the ice breaking radius and angle estimated by the proposed method can reach up to 96.12% and 96.58% respectively.

Conclusion

This method can accurately determine the size of circumference cracks and assist in the initial design of marine structures in cold regions.

Issue
Numerical simulation of temperature field in side ballast tank of polar ship at low temperature
Chinese Journal of Ship Research 2023, 18(5): 65-72
Published: 24 October 2023
Abstract PDF (3.3 MB) Collect
Downloads:9
Objectives

This paper aims to analyze the influence of polar low temperature environment and ballast water capacity on the dynamic change process of the temperature field in polar ship's ballast tank.

Methods

The volume of fluid (VOF) model was used to simulate the two phases of gas and liquid, and the standard k-ε turbulence model was used to simulate the fluid movement. The numerical analysis model of heat transfer in the ballast tank of polar ships was established to analyze the dynamic change process of the temperature field of the ballast tank at low temperature, and reveal the influence mechanism of multiple ambient temperatures and multiple loading heights on the temperature field of the ballast tank.

Results

With the continuous occurrence of heat transfer, the temperature in the area above the waterline of the side ballast tank decreases rapidly, and the cooling area extends laterally to the cabin and downward along the bulkhead respectively. When there is more ballast water, the temperature field in the cabin is relatively stable due to the large heat capacity of water, but the air heat capacity is low and the temperature field changes greatly, which is prone to cyclones and further affects the temperature field distribution in the calculation domain. Under the condition of the same ballast water capacity, the lower the external ambient temperature, the greater the difference between internal and external temperatures, the more intense the heat exchange, and the faster the temperature of the ballast tank changes.

Conclusions

The VOF two-phase flow model and the standard k-ε turbulence model can better reveal the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of the temperature field in the ballast tank in polar low temperature environment, and analyze the influence of internal and external thermal boundary conditions on the change of the temperature field in the ballast tank, which can provide necessary technical reference for the cold/freeze protection of polar ships' ballast tanks.

Issue
Distribution characteristics of polar ship ice pressure in pack ice channel
Chinese Journal of Ship Research 2024, 19(2): 53-61
Published: 25 May 2023
Abstract PDF (6.1 MB) Collect
Downloads:7
Objective

In order to study the distribution of ship ice pressure during the interaction between an icebreaker and pack ice, a numerical simulation analysis is carried out for polar ships in pack ice channels.

Method

The discrete element method (DEM) is used to model the ship and pack ice. It is assumed that the pack ice is composed of an ideal two-dimensional disc, and the effects of the ocean current on the buoyancy, drag and additional mass of the pack ice are taken into account. The numerical model is validated by comparison with the experimental results of an MT Uikku model, and the effects of different speeds and ice conditions on the ship ice pressure in the pack ice area are analyzed.

Results

The results show that the ice load is mainly concentrated on the bow of the ship when it moves in the pack ice channel. The ice pressure in the bow area increases with the increase in ice thickness, speed and the density of pack ice, among which ice thickness is the most important factor affecting the amplitude of the ice pressure. The ice pressure in the pack ice area has the greatest influence on the ice pressure in the bow area, and the ice pressure in the bow transition area has a significant effect.

Conclusion

The numerical analysis method can provide certain references for the safe navigation and structural design of polar ships.

Issue
Dynamic simulation of ship fender structure anti-collision
Chinese Journal of Ship Research 2022, 17(6): 261-270
Published: 13 September 2022
Abstract PDF (2.7 MB) Collect
Downloads:14
Objectives

This study aims to investigate the dynamic coupling effect of "hull-fender-dock" during ship berthing.

Methods

Using the nonlinear finite element method, a port side and fender structure finite element model is established to simulate the dynamic evolution of speed, stress and energy during ship berthing.

Results

The results show that when the fender makes contact with the dock, the ship's speed decreases to zero and the dynamic deformation and interaction force of the fender structure are at their maximum. When the ship is berthing, the fender shows strong energy absorption capacity, accounting for about 70% of the initial total kinetic energy of the ship, and the hull structure is well protected.

Conclusions

Further analysis indicates that, with the improvement of the initial berthing speed, port protection efficiency shows a decreasing trend. The ultimate berthing speed of the target ship of this study is 2.5 kn, and the recommended safe berthing speed is 2 kn. The results of this study can be used as a reference for ship berthing speed limits and hull structure energy absorption design.

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