Integration of Bulbous Bow and

SONAR Dome
Dr DS Cusanelli’s paper

Presented by
S Lt AG Nikhil (43424-R)
 Scope
• Introduction
• Aim
• Development
• Drawings
• Reduction in effective Power
• References
 Introduction
• Dominic S Cusanelli
• Naval Architect at US Navy (NSWCCD)
• Specializes in methods of Resistance reduction and
stern enhancements
• Paper
• Development of a Bow for a Naval Surface Combatant
which Combines a Hydrodynamic Bulb and a Sonar
Dome (1994)
• Published in American Society of Naval Engineers,
Technical Innovation Symposium
 Aim
• Reduce total ship resistance (speeds of 14 – 31
kn)
• Improve propeller efficiency
• Improve cavitation performance due to
reduced thrust loading on propeller for ships
having SONAR dome
• Increase cavitation inception speed for Naval
destroyer (10 – 32 kn)
 Background
• Bulbous bows generally developed between
BL and DWL – reduction in resistance
• SONAR dome configurations – below BL
• Increases drag resistance of ship at low and
cruise speeds, decreases resistance at
maximum speed by 1-2%
• SONAR dome has lesser effect on wave-
making resistance than bulb near WL
 Background
• Naval Destroyer (DDG-51 Flight I – Arleigh
Burke Class)
• L : 466 ft (142 m)
• B : 60 ft (18.3 m)
• T : 20.688 ft (6.3 m)
• D : 8500 t
• SD : 4.5 ft fwd of FP (AN/SQS-53 SONAR)
 Development
• Integration of a hydrodynamic bulb into an
existing bow which houses a SONAR dome
• Evaluated many alternative bow design
concepts
• Conducted preliminary model tests to assist in
sizing and placement of selected bulb
• Reduction of ship resistance by 3-7% at
maximum and cruise speed
 Development
• Tear-drop shaped bulbous bow at stem bow
between DWL and Baseline in a spaced
relationship with SONAR dome
• Round end pointing in forward direction
• Forward end of bulbous bow extends forward
to a point between FP and 12.7 ft fwd of FP
• Uppermost extending point of bulbous bow is
located about 1 ft below DWL
Drawings
Drawings

Body Plan of DDG-51 Flight I with an

AN/SQS-53C sonar dome
 Drawings

A profile view of scaled model with

teardrop shaped bulbous bow at 12.7 ft
fwd of FP
 Drawings

Side view of bow portion similar to Fig 2

with bulbous bow positioned at FP
 Drawings

Body plan view of scaled model of Fig 2

 Powering
• Reduction in time averaged effective power
over destroyer
• Speed-time profile by 4 percent
• Effective power at 20 kn
• By 6 percent when bulbous bow located at 12.7 ft fwd
of FP
• By 2 percent when bulbous bow located at FP
 Powering

Graph of effective power ratios of the destroyer with a 26 foot

longitudinal length bulbous bow at two distinct locations
versus baseline hullform of destroyer without bulbous bow
 Powering

Graph of residuary resistance coefficient of destroyer with 26-foot

long bulbous bow at two distinct locations versus baseline hullform
of destroyer without bulbous bow
 Powering

Graph of bow wave profiles of destroyer

with 26-foot long bulbous bow located at
12.7 feet fwd of FP
 References
• Cusanelli, D.S. Development of a bow for a naval
surface combatant which combines a hydrodynamic
bulb and a sonar dome. In American Society of Naval
Engineers, Technical Innovation Symposium, 1994. pp.
231-47.
• Cusanelli, D.S. & Karafiath, G. Combined bulbous bow
and sonar dome for a vessel. US Patent No. US
5280761, 1994.
• Sharma, R. & Sha, O.P. Hydrodynamic Design of
Integrated Bulbous Bow/Sonar Dome for Naval Ships.
In Defence Science Journal, Vol. 55, No. 1, January
2005. pp. 21-36.