The main objective of the ESTHETICS Project is to design highly energy-efficient ships and make them industry-compatible. There are various techniques and methods to increase energy efficiency. Technical approaches within the project include minimizing wave and viscous resistance through ship form optimization, improving friction resistance by using dimpled surfaces, and enhancing propulsion efficiency using Energy Saving Devices (ESDs) on ships.
The ESTHETICS Project is an International 2549 Bilateral Cooperation project supported by TÜBİTAK and the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) of Poland. Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and Ship Design and Research Centre S.A. (CTO) are project partners.
Within the project scope, the effects of dimpled surfaces with different geometric characteristics (such as dimple frequency and ratio of dimple depth to diameter) on resistance were experimentally investigated at different speeds and boundary layer thicknesses in ITUKAT. The results were compared with those obtained from flat plates. Additionally, boundary layer measurements were conducted using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV). A special measurement setup suitable for resistance measurement of large plates was designed for experimental work.
As a result of the measurements, it was determined that dimple structures have both positive and negative effects on surface friction performance depending on the applied dimple structure density.