الفهرس يوجد فقط 14 صفحة متاحة للعرض العام
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المستخلص
The aim of this research is to develop a general, fast, and efficient method for the preliminary design of inland water units for the transportation of containers and to determine the main parameters of the optimum units to navigate specific inland water route i.e. performing unit/canal optimization from the ship owner point of view by minimizing the required freight rate (RFR). This method will also be used to study the effect of modification to the existing navigational route (dredging, widening ... etc) between Alexandria and Cairo on minimizing the RFR, and consequently to decide on the optimum options to enhance the capabilities of the navigational route.
The different design aspects are separated in to independent modules and each one is dealt with in a separate chapter to have an insight on the important design parameters considered and relevant evaluation methods.
In Chapter I, the importance of inland water transportation as transportation mode is presented followed by a brief presentation of previous studies conducted in Egypt for its implementation. Previous studies concerned with the implementation of optimization techniques in the ship design field are also outlined.
In Chapter II, hydrodynamic aspects for the design of inland water units are studied. Steering and maneuvering design modules are presented. Maneuvering in shallow and confined water is discussed. A practical method for the calculation of the maximum allowable breadth of units depending on the navigational route dimensions and properties is presented. Minimum bend radius and width, and units’ draft are used to determine the maximum allowable length of units and required width of canal. This is performed with the aid of published data of container ship maneuverability at different water depths. Different methods used for the prediction of inland water units’ resistance are also presented. Factors affecting units’ resistance are outlined and their relative importance is explained. Favorable hull forms and coefficients and means of generating them are also presented. A full explanation of methodical series based on accumulated experimental data of inland water units’ resistance is presented in order to derive a procedure for the determination of the power demand using assumed fixed propeller efficiency.
In Chapter III, appropriate methods for the data analysis of inland water units’ resistance are presented. Two mathematical methods, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and cubic spline interpolation, are briefly presented and their relative merits in predicting the resistance based on data from methodical series are compared. The best alternative is determined to be integrated in the intended computer program for inland water units design optimization.
Chapter IV is concerned with weight estimation and economic evaluation of inland water units. In order to determine the weight, first the construction method adopted should be outlined. Afterwards, the constructional scantlings are calculated from published classification societies’ rules and the hull steel weight can be estimated using simplified hull geometry. Published formulae for the determination of machineries’ and other weights are employed. The centre of gravity of each item is estimated in order to be used for initial stability calculations. In the economic module the cost analysis and estimation together with means of comparing different alternatives are explained. Building costs are distributed annually in addition to the annual costs. Having all the costs evaluated and assuming an internal rate of return the required freight rate can be calculated.
In Chapter V an outline of the current condition of Alexandria-Cairo navigational route is presented. The minimum water depths along the route are presented. Typical cross sections in the navigational canal together with the dimensions of bridges and locks along the route are also outlined.
In Chapter VI, a computer program integrating the design steps mentioned in the previous chapters is prepared. The navigational route characteristics are the inputs to the program while the optimum unit RFR is the output. Determination of optimum units for the transportation of containers along Alexandria-Cairo route is performed. Different units’ parameters are varied to arrive at the optimum solution. The program searches for the design with the optimum RFR based on the navigational route characteristics. The effect of different modifications in the existing navigational route on decreasing the required RFR of the optimum unit is also studied.
Finally in Chapter VII, the conclusions derived are presented together with the proposals for future research work.