SWIFTCRAFT
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Minimum hardware required: PI 133, (64 Mb for Win NT)
Operating system(s): Windows NT, 2000, XP
Most recent version date & number: May 2005, 1.30
Number of installations:

50+



 
  Description
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SwiftCraft is a powerful new designer's tool for speed and power prediction of propeller-driven monohull vessels under 75 m (250 ft). SwiftCraft had been developed specifically for designers and builders of motor yachts, patrol craft, small ships, supply vessels, ferries and other transit craft.
Built upon nearly 20 years of technical development by the experts at HydroComp, SwiftCraft employs the most advanced parametric prediction capabilities to be found. Complementing the strength of its calculations is its easy-to-use interface. Modeled on web navigation, it is ideal for new users where a rapid learning curve is important and the time needed to complete a project must be minimized .

 
  Capabilities & New features
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This page provides a feature overview of SwiftCraft. It offers a summary of its important calculation, reporting, expert assistance and cost/benefit features. You can review program specifications and additional in-depth information in the associated pages.

Calculation features

You will find a number of unique calculation features throughout SwiftCraft that are found only in HydroComp software. These include:
  • A "method expert" to evaluate and rank the various prediction methods, so that you can select a proper method based on proper engineering decisions
  • Extensive testing and validation of numerical methods, to insure reliable results
  • Optimum sizing of a reduction gear ratio for the vessel in conjunction with propeller sizing - a very important feature [1]
  • HydroComp's collection of commercial propeller models, to help you identify a proper model for your application
  • Analysis of the effect of propeller cupping [2]
  • A true physics-based equilibrium trim planing analysis, where all forces and moments are considered [3]


Review the calculation specifications page for a listing of prediction methods and analyses.

  1. MacPherson, D.M., "Finding the Elusive High-Pitch Propeller", Professional Boatbuilder, December/January 1997.
  2. MacPherson, D.M., "Small Propeller Cup: A Proposed Geometry Standard and a New Performance Model", SNAME Propellers/Shafting '97 Symposium, 1997.
  3. MacPherson, D.M., "Ten Commandments of Reliable Speed Prediction", Small Craft Symposium, Univ. of Michigan, May 15-17, 1996.

Reporting options

You can review, print and save a variety of comprehensive, professional reports and graphs. SwiftCraft reports are created as HTML files, so that they may be viewed in any browser - and printed, saved or emailed to a client.

Look over the report manager and a basic graph page to see how a sample report looks when it is created by SwiftCraft :

  • Single-page report [Internet Explorer only]
  • Multiple-page report
  • Basic graph report

Expert assistance

One of the ways that SwiftCraft helps promote a rapid learning curve is to provide "expert assistance" to the user in a variety of ways. For example, HydroComp has pre-configured a number of internal calculations to SwiftCraft to comply with recommended contemporary techniques. Other ways that SwiftCraft provides expert support include :

  • Automatic prediction method ranking
  • Extensive testing and validation
  • Interactive data estimates
  • A database of commercial propeller models
  • Dedicated on-line site for users
  • Focused technical reports
  • Expert tech support
  • Comprehensive help system

Cost/benefit

The benefits of SwiftCraft are unparalleled, particularly if you are involved in conceptual or preliminary design :

"By the time of the first design review, performance, cost and schedule will have been determined to the first order, because all of the critical assumptions and choices will have been made. The really serious mistakes occur in the first day." [Eberhardt Rechtin, The Synthesis of Complex Systems, IEEE Spectrum, 1997]
"Fifty percent of a product's life-cycle costs are determined by the results of the project's first five percent." [Business Week, "A Smarter Way to Manufacture", 1990]

In other words, a wrong guess on an engine or vessel parameter will stick with you throughout the life of the vessel. It should be clear that the reliable analysis of speed and power is critical to early-stage design. SwiftCraft is a key tool for successful decisions and choices regarding speed and power.

 

 
  Why Do You Need SwiftCraft ?
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SwiftCraft offers users an integrated platform for the calculation of :

  • Bare-hull drag
  • Appendage and wind drag
  • Drag reduction analysis
  • Hull-propulsor coefficients
  • Propeller and gear ratio sizing
  • Thrust, torque, power
  • Cavitation
  • Propeller strength

SwiftCraft is a required tool for the following business categories :

  • Yacht designer
  • Naval architect
  • Yacht builder
  • Small/medium shipyard
  • Engine or gear builder
  • Propeller manufacturer

SwiftCraft focuses on the needs of transit vessels operating in a free-run (or free-route) mode. If you need towing analysis or a different performance calculation, then another SwiftWorks module may be best. A representative sample of vessel types that are compatible with SwiftCraft include :

  • Motor yachts
  • Auxiliary-powered sailboats
  • Larger production powerboats
  • Patrol craft
  • Research vessels
  • Coastal ships
  • Supply vessels
  • Passenger ferries
  • Utility boats

SwiftCraft is built upon nearly 20 years of technical development by the experts at HydroComp. Many of the same capabilities and features found in the award-winning NavCad™ and PropExpert™ software can be found in SwiftCraft. For additional background on some of the techniques employed in SwiftCraft, take a look through HydroComp's popular technical paper - The 10 Commandments of Reliable Speed Prediction.

What is special about SwiftCraft?

You will find a number of calculation features throughout SwiftCraft that are found only in HydroComp software. These include a "method expert" to evaluate and rank the prediction methods, optimum sizing of reduction gear ratio in conjunction with propeller sizing, analysis of the effect of propeller cupping, and a physics-based equilibrium trim planing analysis.

Is it easy to use?

SwiftCraft is easy to use. It was developed using a new interface architecture which makes use of a user's familiarity with navigation of the web. This interface promotes the proper completion of tasks, so new or infrequent users can quickly master the software.


 
  How Does SwiftCraft Work ?
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SwiftCraft employs many leading techniques for both its interface and calculations. This page offers a summary of each - a set of sample screens for the easy-to-use interface and a description of the principal calculation techniques.

Calculation techniques

SwiftCraft is built upon nearly 20 years of technical development by the experts at HydroComp. Many of the same capabilities and features found in the award-winning NavCad™ and PropExpert™ software can be found in SwiftCraft.

Review the calculation specifications page for a listing of prediction methods and analyses. For additional background on some of the techniques employed in SwiftCraft, take a look through HydroComp's popular technical paper - The 10 Commandments of Reliable Speed Prediction (MacPherson, D.M., "Ten Commandments of Reliable Speed Prediction", Small Craft Symposium, Univ. of Michigan, May 15-17, 1996).

 Interface

SwiftCraft was developed using the "Inductive User Interface" model. This new interface architecture builds upon a user's familiarity with navigation on the web. You will notice that the pages and navigation structure are similar to a frames-based web site. "Usability testing" which has been conducted on this interface model has determined that it promotes proper completion of necessary tasks and new (or infrequent) users can quickly master all tasks.

File-handling

SwiftCraft helps you manage your data though a logical file-handling system where you deal with project names and descriptions, rather than file names. 

 
  Technical Specifications
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Bare-hull drag

Analyses for both displacement/semi-displacement (Ct-based) and planing craft are included. The displacement/semi-displacement analysis is based on the ITTC-78 protocol with 3D form factor, and an equilibrium-trim analysis incorporating all forces and moments is used for planing hulls.

Twenty-one (21) prediction methods for displacement & semi-displacement hulls include :

Simple displ/semi, UBC trawler, Roach tugboat, Oortmerssen, Delft sailboat (5 variants), USNA YP, CRTS, Holtrop 1984, HSTS, Jin 1980, Jin 1988, DeGroot RB, DeGroot HC, Mercier, NPL, VTT RB, VTT HC .

Four (4) prediction methods for planing hulls include :

Simple planing, Series 62, Series 65B, Savitsky

An associated drag reduction analysis can be used to determine how changes in principal hull parameters affect
drag.

Added drag

A comprehensive appendage drag analysis can be employed, as well as a wind drag prediction.

Six (6) prediction methods for appendage drag include :

% vessel drag, Blount/Fox (simple), Hoerner (detailed), Sailboat (detailed), Radojcic (simple), Holtrop (detailed).

Two (2) prediction methods for wind drag include :

% vessel drag and Taylor (detailed)

Hull-propulsor interaction coefficients

A number of methods are available for the prediction of hull-propulsor interaction (i.e., propulsive) coefficients.

Seven (7) prediction methods for wake fraction, thrust deduction and relative-rotative efficiency include :

Simple displ/semi Oortmerssen, Holtrop 1984, Simple sailboat, Simple planing, Series 62 planing, Blount/Fox planing...


Propulsion sizing

SwiftCraft allows you to size your propulsion system based on a variety of design objectives to determine diameter, pitch, BAR (blade area ratio) and/or reduction gear ratio. You can size the system to match engine power or thrust loading (determined from the total drag), and include information about parasitic losses (e.g., PTO) and design points.

Propulsion analysis

The propulsion analysis provides a comprehensive review of the entire propulsion system for a free-running vessel.

Three (3) different open-wheel propeller types include:
B-series, Gawn AEW, Gawn KCA

The propulsion system analysis provides results for :

Engine RPM, Fuel rate, Overall efficiency, Blade pressure, Engine torque, Propeller thrust, Tip speed, Min Recommended BAR, Engine brake power, Propeller efficiency, % blade cavitation

An associated blade strength analysis can be used to identify a proper propeller material.

 

Link to Hydrocomp inc.

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