Return to Answer

The simplest, modestly realistic, model I can think of would be parameterized by the following:

• Mz The Turning Moment of the ship about the steering (ie Z or yaw) axis;
• L/2 The distance of the rudder from the turning axis, approximated as 1/2 the ship's length L;
• v The current linear velocity of the ship (relative to the water, not the land nearby, so take into account any current).;
• w The current rotational (yaw) velocity of the ship about the Z-axis, measured CCW in radians per second;
• p0,p1,p2 The constant, linear and quadratic coefficients respectively of angular friction (ie resistance to turning) for the water (these control how quickly the ship stops turning when the rudder returns to straight, and impose a limitation on how sharply the rudder can be turned before losing any effect.)
• A the area of the rudder;
• d the density of the water.
• theta the current rudder angle measured CCW from straight back in radians
• heading the current heading measured CCW from origin direction in radians.
• delta-t is your time interval.

Then the relevant equations of motion can be derived something like this:

1. Turning torque from rudder Tr == sin(theta) * A * v * d
2. Friction torque from water Tw == p0 + p1 * w + p2 * w^2
3. Net torque T == max(0, abs(Tr) - abs(Tw)) * sign(Tr)
4. w' == w + T / Mz
5. heading' == heading + (w' + w) * delta-t / 2

I think I have the signs correct, but that can be corrected if necessary by multiplying T by -1 in either equation (3) or (4).

By playing around with the parameters you should even be able to get an appropriately different feel for larger vessels compared to smaller ones. You should also set a modest limit on how fast the rudder can be turned, and prevent it from being turned further once Tw exceeds Tr.

Setting p0 greater than zero will nicely model the fact that ship have no steerageway below a minimum speed.

Update

Calculation of Moments of Inertia - For ships of the same style but different sizes, the moment of inertia should vary linearly in the mass of the ship, and as the square of the length of the ship, as a first approximation.

The simplest, modestly realistic, model I can think of would be parameterized by the following:

• Mz The Turning Moment of the ship about the steering (ie Z or yaw) axis;
• L/2 The distance of the rudder from the turning axis, approximated as 1/2 the ship's length L;
• v The current linear velocity of the ship (relative to the water, not the land nearby, so take into account any current).;
• w The current rotational (yaw) velocity of the ship about the Z-axis, measured CCW in radians per second;
• p0,p1,p2 The constant, linear and quadratic coefficients respectively of angular friction (ie resistance to turning) for the water (these control how quickly the ship stops turning when the rudder returns to straight, and impose a limitation on how sharply the rudder can be turned before losing any effect.)
• A the area of the rudder;
• d the density of the water.
• theta the current rudder angle measured CCW from straight back in radians
• heading the current heading measured CCW from origin direction in radians.
• delta-t is your time interval.
• Cd is coefficient of increased drag due to a non-neutral rudder position.

Then the relevant equations of motion can be derived something like this:

1. Turning torque from rudder Tr == sin(theta) * A * v * d * L/2
2. Friction torque from water Tw == p0 + p1 * w + p2 * w^2
3. Net torque T == max(0, abs(Tr) - abs(Tw)) * sign(Tr)
4. w' == w + T / Mz
5. heading' == heading + (w' + w) * delta-t / 2
6. Drag on forward motion increases by Cd * abs(sin(**theta)) * A * v * d

I think I have the signs correct, but that can be corrected if necessary by multiplying T by -1 in either equation (3) or (4).

By playing around with the parameters you should even be able to get an appropriately different feel for larger vessels compared to smaller ones. You should also set a modest limit on how fast the rudder can be turned, and prevent it from being turned further once Tw exceeds Tr.

Setting p0 greater than zero will nicely model the fact that ship have no steerageway below a minimum speed.

Update

Calculation of Moments of Inertia - For ships of the same style but different sizes, the moment of inertia should vary linearly in the mass of the ship, and as the square of the length of the ship, as a first approximation.

Update 2:

• Added Equation (6) above and corresponding drag coefficient; and

• corrected equation (1) with additional factor L/2.

The simplest, modestly realistic, model I can think of would be parameterized by the following:

• Mz The Turning Moment of the ship about the steering (ie Z or yaw) axis;
• L/2 The distance of the rudder from the turning axis, approximated as 1/2 the ship's length L;
• v The current linear velocity of the ship (relative to the water, not the land nearby, so take into account any current).;
• w The current rotational (yaw) velocity of the ship about the Z-axis, measured CCW in radians per second;
• p0,p1,p2 The constant, linear and quadratic coefficients respectively of angular friction (ie resistance to turning) for the water (these control how quickly the ship stops turning when the rudder returns to straight, and impose a limitation on how sharply the rudder can be turned before losing any effect.)
• A the area of the rudder;
• d the density of the water.
• theta the current rudder angle measured CCW from straight back in radians
• heading the current heading measured CCW from origin direction in radians.
• delta-t is your time interval.

Then the relevant equations of motion can be derived something like this:

1. Turning torque from rudder Tr == sin(theta) * A * v * d
2. Friction torque from water Tw == p0 + p1 * w + p2 * w^2
3. Net torque T == max(0, abs(Tr) - abs(Tw)) * sign(Tr)
4. w' == w + T / Mz
5. heading' == heading + (w' + w) * delta-t / 2

I think I have the signs correct, but that can be corrected if necessary by multiplying T by -1 in either equation (3) or (4).

By playing around with the parameters you should even be able to get an appropriately different feel for larger vessels compared to smaller ones. You should also set a modest limit on how fast the rudder can be turned, and prevent it from being turned further once Tw exceeds Tr.

Setting p0 greater than zero will nicely model the fact that ship have no steerageway below a minimum speed.

The simplest, modestly realistic, model I can think of would be parameterized by the following:

• Mz The Turning Moment of the ship about the steering (ie Z or yaw) axis;
• L/2 The distance of the rudder from the turning axis, approximated as 1/2 the ship's length L;
• v The current linear velocity of the ship (relative to the water, not the land nearby, so take into account any current).;
• w The current rotational (yaw) velocity of the ship about the Z-axis, measured CCW in radians per second;
• p0,p1,p2 The constant, linear and quadratic coefficients respectively of angular friction (ie resistance to turning) for the water (these control how quickly the ship stops turning when the rudder returns to straight, and impose a limitation on how sharply the rudder can be turned before losing any effect.)
• A the area of the rudder;
• d the density of the water.
• theta the current rudder angle measured CCW from straight back in radians
• heading the current heading measured CCW from origin direction in radians.
• delta-t is your time interval.

Then the relevant equations of motion can be derived something like this:

1. Turning torque from rudder Tr == sin(theta) * A * v * d
2. Friction torque from water Tw == p0 + p1 * w + p2 * w^2
3. Net torque T == max(0, abs(Tr) - abs(Tw)) * sign(Tr)
4. w' == w + T / Mz
5. heading' == heading + (w' + w) * delta-t / 2

I think I have the signs correct, but that can be corrected if necessary by multiplying T by -1 in either equation (3) or (4).

By playing around with the parameters you should even be able to get an appropriately different feel for larger vessels compared to smaller ones. You should also set a modest limit on how fast the rudder can be turned, and prevent it from being turned further once Tw exceeds Tr.

Setting p0 greater than zero will nicely model the fact that ship have no steerageway below a minimum speed.

Update

Calculation of Moments of Inertia - For ships of the same style but different sizes, the moment of inertia should vary linearly in the mass of the ship, and as the square of the length of the ship, as a first approximation.

The simplest, modestly realistic, model I can think of would be parameterized by the following:

• Mz The Turning Moment of the ship about the steering (ie Z or yaw) axis;
• L/2 The distance of the rudder from the turning axis, approximated as 1/2 the ship's length L;
• v The current linear velocity of the ship (relative to the water, not the land nearby, so take into account any current).;
• w The current angular velocity of the ship;
• p1,p2 The linear and quadratic coefficients respectively of angular friction (ie resistance to turning) for the water (these control how quickly the ship stops turning when the rudder returns to straight, and impose a limitation on how sharply the rudder can be turned before losing any effect.)
• A the area of the rudder;
• d the density of the water.
• theta the current rudder angle measured CCW from straight back in radians
• heading the current heading measured CCW from origin direction.
• delta-t is your time interval.

Then the relevant equations of motion can be derived something like this:

1. Turning torque from rudder Tr == sin(theta) * A * v * d
2. Friction torque from water Tw == p1 * w + p2 * w^2
3. Net torque T == max(0, abs(Tr) - abs(Tw)) * sign(Tr)
4. w' == w + T / Mz
5. heading' == heading + (w' + w) * delta-t / 2

I think I have the signs correct, but that can be corrected if necessary by multiplying T by -1.

By playing around with the parameters you should even be able to get an appropriately different feel for larger vessels compared to smaller ones. You should set a modest limit on how fast the rudder can be turned as well.

The simplest, modestly realistic, model I can think of would be parameterized by the following:

• Mz The Turning Moment of the ship about the steering (ie Z or yaw) axis;
• L/2 The distance of the rudder from the turning axis, approximated as 1/2 the ship's length L;
• v The current linear velocity of the ship (relative to the water, not the land nearby, so take into account any current).;
• w The current rotational (yaw) velocity of the ship about the Z-axis, measured CCW in radians per second;
• p0,p1,p2 The constant, linear and quadratic coefficients respectively of angular friction (ie resistance to turning) for the water (these control how quickly the ship stops turning when the rudder returns to straight, and impose a limitation on how sharply the rudder can be turned before losing any effect.)
• A the area of the rudder;
• d the density of the water.
• theta the current rudder angle measured CCW from straight back in radians
• heading the current heading measured CCW from origin direction in radians.
• delta-t is your time interval.

Then the relevant equations of motion can be derived something like this:

1. Turning torque from rudder Tr == sin(theta) * A * v * d
2. Friction torque from water Tw == p0 + p1 * w + p2 * w^2
3. Net torque T == max(0, abs(Tr) - abs(Tw)) * sign(Tr)
4. w' == w + T / Mz
5. heading' == heading + (w' + w) * delta-t / 2

I think I have the signs correct, but that can be corrected if necessary by multiplying T by -1 in either equation (3) or (4).

By playing around with the parameters you should even be able to get an appropriately different feel for larger vessels compared to smaller ones. You should also set a modest limit on how fast the rudder can be turned, and prevent it from being turned further once Tw exceeds Tr.

Setting p0 greater than zero will nicely model the fact that ship have no steerageway below a minimum speed.