General information
From a hydrodynamic perspective, submarines might be some of the most complex ships today. Due to stealth requirements, strict limitations are posed regarding the radiated noise. Furthermore, tactical and safety requirements dictate high levels of controllability in all six degrees of freedom. Sailing submerged at full speed underneath ice or close to the bottom requires very accurate depth control, while evasive manoeuvres require swift reaction to steering action and small turning diameters.
From a hydrodynamic perspective, submarines might be some of the most complex ships today. Due to stealth requirements, strict limitations are posed regarding the radiated noise. Furthermore, tactical and safety requirements dictate high levels of controllability in all six degrees of freedom. Sailing submerged at full speed underneath ice or close to the bottom requires very accurate depth control, while evasive manoeuvres require swift reaction to steering action and small turning diameters.
Services & Activities
MARIN is involved in hull form optimisationand noise & vibration. Extensive use of CFD is made during the optimisation of the hull form.
Investigations in the seakeeping performance for submerged (snorkelling/snorting) as well as surfaced condition and verification of the stringent demands on the controllability can be examined using our tools or basins. Examples include the steering ability and ship & platform motions for the various degrees of freedom using simulations or model tests.
The Nautical Centre MSCN offers training of the crew and the simulation of special situations and is actively involved in the development of submarine simulators.
The Trials & Monitoring Department is involved in in-service performance monitoring, cavitation observation, noise & vibration measurements and measures loads & responses.
MARIN is involved in hull form optimisationand noise & vibration. Extensive use of CFD is made during the optimisation of the hull form.
Investigations in the seakeeping performance for submerged (snorkelling/snorting) as well as surfaced condition and verification of the stringent demands on the controllability can be examined using our tools or basins. Examples include the steering ability and ship & platform motions for the various degrees of freedom using simulations or model tests.
The Nautical Centre MSCN offers training of the crew and the simulation of special situations and is actively involved in the development of submarine simulators.
The Trials & Monitoring Department is involved in in-service performance monitoring, cavitation observation, noise & vibration measurements and measures loads & responses.
Facilities & Tools
Submarines are tested in the following MARIN facilities:
Submarines are tested in the following MARIN facilities:
| Resistance and propulsion, Captive/PMM manoeuvring tests | |
| Cavitation, noise and erosion observation, steady oblique motion and flooding tests |
| Seakeeping and manoeuvring tests using free sailing models and waves from arbitrary directions | |
| Seakeeping and manoeuvring tests in shallow water | |
| PMM tests | |
| Similar as in the Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin, for variable water depths, current and waves from arbitrary directions |
Submarine behaviour can most notably be evaluated by the RAPID, PARNASSOS, ReFRESCO, SUBSIM, SUBMAR, SAMSON and FREDYN tools.
For information on these and other software tools relevant for submarines, please see:
For manoeuvring, seakeeping and nautical issues here
For resistance & propulsion, noise, erosion and vibration here
For information on these and other software tools relevant for submarines, please see:
For manoeuvring, seakeeping and nautical issues here
For resistance & propulsion, noise, erosion and vibration here
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience record
The list below gives a review of submarine projects in which MARIN participated:
The list below gives a review of submarine projects in which MARIN participated:
- International naval working group on submarines (members: USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia). See www.shwg.org.
- Near-bottom effects on submarines (RNLN), 2008-2011
- Free running model tests for Walrus class submarine (RNLN), 2008
- Viscous-flow CFD calculations for bare-hull DARPA SUBOFF submarine (RNLN), 2006-2008
- Upgrade RNLN POWCT submarine trainer in Den Helder (IMTECH), 2005-2006
- Astute class submarine (BAE Systems), 2005-2006
- Model tests for WASUB human powered submarine (TUDelft), 2005, 2006
- Moray class submarine (RDM) during preliminary design phase
- Walrus class submarine (RNLN) during design phase
- Large systematic test series for several different submarine hull forms for the Dutch and Canadian navy
- In total, model tests were made on around 30 different submarine models
Most recent papers on submarines presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
Calculation of bottom clearance effects on Walrus submarine hydrodynamics
Bettle, M.C., Toxopeus, S.L. and Gerber, A.G., International Shipbuilding Progress, 2010
Calculation Of Manoeuvring Forces On Submarines Using Two Viscous-Flow Solvers
Vaz, G.N.V.B., Toxopeus, S.L. and Holmes, S., OMAE ASME 29th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Shanghai, 2010
Channel Transits from Shipyard to open sea
M.P.C. de Jong, O.M. Weiler, J.T.M. van Doorn, F.H.H.A. Quadvlieg, and A. Fryer, PIANC MMX Congress, Liverpool, UK, 2010
Calculation Of Current Or Manoeuvring Forces Using A Viscous-Flow Solver
Toxopeus, S.L. and Vaz, G.N.V.B., OMAE ASME 28th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Honolulu, 2009
Viscous-flow calculations for bare hull DARPA SUBOFF submarine at incidence
Toxopeus, S.L., International Shipbuilding Progress, 2008
Hydrodynamic support in the design of submarines
Terwisga, T.J.C. van, and Hooft, J.P., Bicentennial Maritime Symposium, 1988
Bettle, M.C., Toxopeus, S.L. and Gerber, A.G., International Shipbuilding Progress, 2010
Calculation Of Manoeuvring Forces On Submarines Using Two Viscous-Flow Solvers
Vaz, G.N.V.B., Toxopeus, S.L. and Holmes, S., OMAE ASME 29th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Shanghai, 2010
Channel Transits from Shipyard to open sea
M.P.C. de Jong, O.M. Weiler, J.T.M. van Doorn, F.H.H.A. Quadvlieg, and A. Fryer, PIANC MMX Congress, Liverpool, UK, 2010
Calculation Of Current Or Manoeuvring Forces Using A Viscous-Flow Solver
Toxopeus, S.L. and Vaz, G.N.V.B., OMAE ASME 28th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Honolulu, 2009
Viscous-flow calculations for bare hull DARPA SUBOFF submarine at incidence
Toxopeus, S.L., International Shipbuilding Progress, 2008
Hydrodynamic support in the design of submarines
Terwisga, T.J.C. van, and Hooft, J.P., Bicentennial Maritime Symposium, 1988
Most recent submarine articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
FreSCo successfully predicts flow around submarine hull
Safety of a submarine and its crew is paramount. To understand and predict a submarine’s behaviour in extreme conditions, insight into hydrodynamics is indispensable. MARIN and the Royal Netherlands Navy have teamed up in an...
Free Running Model tests shed light on the elusive world of the submarine
Free Running Model tests have always been in common use at MARIN, given that they offer the most accurate picture of a ship’s behaviour. However, this technique is also important for submarines. But until now, little has been...
Safe passage of nuclear sub
As BAE SYSTEMS Limited designs and constructs the nuclear Astute Class submarines at its facility in Barrow-in-Furness, it has been up to MARIN together with WL | Delft Hydraulics to make sure that the submarine can make its...
MARIN takes up the challenge laid down by the Royal Netherlands Navy
In a challenging upgrade, MARIN was recently asked to implement SAMSON simulation software into a submarine simulator belonging to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). Can SAMSON’s famous strength rise to the occasion?
SAMSON: the power for safe submarines
Assessing manoeuvrability is a vital aspect of the design of submarines and the development of emergency procedures for them. Over the last decade MARIN has developed a computer model and program to predict the behaviour...
Safety of a submarine and its crew is paramount. To understand and predict a submarine’s behaviour in extreme conditions, insight into hydrodynamics is indispensable. MARIN and the Royal Netherlands Navy have teamed up in an...
Free Running Model tests shed light on the elusive world of the submarine
Free Running Model tests have always been in common use at MARIN, given that they offer the most accurate picture of a ship’s behaviour. However, this technique is also important for submarines. But until now, little has been...
Safe passage of nuclear sub
As BAE SYSTEMS Limited designs and constructs the nuclear Astute Class submarines at its facility in Barrow-in-Furness, it has been up to MARIN together with WL | Delft Hydraulics to make sure that the submarine can make its...
MARIN takes up the challenge laid down by the Royal Netherlands Navy
In a challenging upgrade, MARIN was recently asked to implement SAMSON simulation software into a submarine simulator belonging to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). Can SAMSON’s famous strength rise to the occasion?
SAMSON: the power for safe submarines
Assessing manoeuvrability is a vital aspect of the design of submarines and the development of emergency procedures for them. Over the last decade MARIN has developed a computer model and program to predict the behaviour...
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with submarines, please contact:
the MARIN navy team at navy@marin.nl
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with submarines, please contact:
the MARIN navy team at navy@marin.nl