How Can the Rudder Turn a Huge Ship?

Rudder, actually does not directly rotate a ship. Rather, it starts the process of how the ship turns.

But if the rudder doesn’t turn the ship How exactly does the process work?

To understand this process, we need to examine in more detail how the rudder works.

Let’s say the ship wants to turn to starboard. Meanwhile, the helm to starboard is moved. When the rudder reaches this position, the lifting force acts on it.

The force moves laterally towards the port side of the ship. causes it to gain momentum. In other words, opening the rudder does not turn the ship directly to starboard; conversely, the port side of the ship rises slightly.

This situation, as it has a relatively limited effect on rotational motion most of the time it goes unnoticed. But the small sway is the critical step that initiates the ship’s turning motion.

So what makes the ship turn?

In fact, the drag angle created by the rudder is It causes a small change in the ship’s direction of motion. The minor steering changes the ship’s hydrodynamic interactions on the water and initiates the actual turning motion.

Turning the rudder to starboard, It exerts a force on the water molecules on the pier side. These water molecules exert an opposing force on the ship’s hull due to their natural inertia.

inertial force, Because it is always in the opposite direction of motion It pushes the ship’s hull in the starboard direction.

The force can be divided into two main parts: one acting on the stern of the ship and the other acting on the bow.

This situation shows how the water searches for balance around the ship and the inertial force, is as large as the size of the ship’s displacement shows.

strong force, affecting the ship’s hydrodynamic moment It is enough to turn the ship.

Hydrodynamic moment, is in the same direction as the moment created by the rudder It helps the ship turn to starboard.

The rudder angle keeps the moments constant. When the rudder is brought to the middle position, the rudder force first disappears and then drift angle decreases. This causes the rotation movement to stop.

After reading this information, you may think about how complex the structures of ships are. Frankly, you are not wrong…

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