I'm saying that many of the statements made about why the Titanic hit
the iceberg, with regard to her rudder's ineffectiveness, are incorrect.


Nav wrote:
Such as?

Such as yours.


If the engine were stopped the rudder effectiveness would have been
reduced.

OK, tell us what you mean by stopped. Then tell us about the Titanic's
engineering plant and how they would have "stopped" the central shaft.


... I think that is most likely true, why do you disagree with it?

Oh, just a silly whim on my part, no doubt. Years of marine propulsion
engineering have nothing to do with it.

If it were reversed, effectiveness would be even lower.

That's a mighty big "if." As above, please explain how they would have
put the central shaft in reverse.

In any case, the ship was going full speed, the loss of the prop stream
across the rudder would not reduce the rudder's effectiveness very much.

DSK

DSK wrote:

I'm saying that many of the statements made about why the Titanic hit
the iceberg, with regard to her rudder's ineffectiveness, are incorrect.


Nav wrote:

Such as?


Such as yours.


If the engine were stopped the rudder effectiveness would have been
reduced.


OK, tell us what you mean by stopped. Then tell us about the Titanic's
engineering plant and how they would have "stopped" the central shaft.



The engine would be stopped by opening the steam bypass valve. That
might not stop the propellor but that's not the issue here.

Now are you still saying that stopping the engine has no effect on
rudder effectiveness


... I think that is most likely true, why do you disagree with it?


Oh, just a silly whim on my part, no doubt. Years of marine propulsion
engineering have nothing to do with it.


So you think an engine in neutral has no effect on rudder?


If it were reversed, effectiveness would be even lower.


That's a mighty big "if." As above, please explain how they would have
put the central shaft in reverse.

In any case, the ship was going full speed, the loss of the prop stream
across the rudder would not reduce the rudder's effectiveness very much.


Do you know what slip is and how it would affect the rudder? What would
have been a likely value of slip for the central propellor of the
Titanic at full speed?

It's strange but every time I've taken the helm of a displacement boat
the loss of helm authority when the engine is throttled back has been
most obvious. Perhaps it's your engineering expertise that makes the
difference.


Cheers

OK, tell us what you mean by stopped. Then tell us about the Titanic's
engineering plant and how they would have "stopped" the central shaft.


Nav wrote:
The engine would be stopped by opening the steam bypass valve. That
might not stop the propellor but that's not the issue here.

Please tell me what ships you've steamed where the engine could be
stopped by "opening a steam bypass valve." Also please tell me where the
steam is bypassed to... are you suggesting dumping main steam directly
into the condenser?

Another point I'd like you to explain is how do you stop the engine and
not the shaft. Push in the clutch, maybe?


Now are you still saying that stopping the engine has no effect on
rudder effectiveness

No, I'm saying that 1- a ship running at full speed is not going to stop
& lock the shaft in less than a minute, 2- if it did then the water flow
over the rudder would still be quite strong (ie 20+ knots), 3- in the
specific case of the Titanic, the central prop had no reverse and thus
no way to stop the shaft. Did you pay any attention at all to my post
explaining some of the basics of the Olympic class ships propulsion plant?



Do you know what slip is

Yes.


... and how it would affect the rudder?

Sure. Is it supposed to be rocket science? Are you insisting that a ship
going 20+ knots is suddenly not going to answer her helm because of the
loss of the prop stream?

It has been suggested that if the Titanic's central prop had been spun
in reverse, the cavitation would have greatly diminished her steering
response... now that is a stronger case, except that it's simply not
possible when there's no reverse on the central engine.



... What would
have been a likely value of slip for the central propellor of the
Titanic at full speed?

I don't know, but it wouldn't be hard to figure out. The stats for the
engine's RPM and prop pitch are public.



It's strange but every time I've taken the helm of a displacement boat
the loss of helm authority when the engine is throttled back has been
most obvious.

Yes, and I'm sure you have lots and lots of experience driving 800+
ships at 20+ knots. They handle *very* differently than a sailboat with
under auxiliary power.

If you're claiming that a vessel cannot be steered without a prop stream
over the rudder, then how do you manage to control your boat's heading
when under sail?



.... Perhaps it's your engineering expertise that makes the
difference.

Perhaps.

DSK

DSK wrote:

OK, tell us what you mean by stopped. Then tell us about the
Titanic's engineering plant and how they would have "stopped" the
central shaft.


Nav wrote:

The engine would be stopped by opening the steam bypass valve. That
might not stop the propellor but that's not the issue here.


Please tell me what ships you've steamed where the engine could be
stopped by "opening a steam bypass valve." Also please tell me where the
steam is bypassed to... are you suggesting dumping main steam directly
into the condenser?


On the Titanic the turbine received LP steam from the main engines. To
stop it separate from the main engines, a valve which I call a "steam
bypass valve" was opened to bypass the turbine and allow the LP steam
back to the condenser.

It is strange that you claimed such expertise on the Titanic machinery
but did not know this.

Cheers

Please tell me what ships you've steamed where the engine could be
stopped by "opening a steam bypass valve." Also please tell me where
the steam is bypassed to... are you suggesting dumping main steam
directly into the condenser?


Nav wrote:
On the Titanic the turbine received LP steam from the main engines.

Duh. I told you that several posts ago, Navjax.

.... To
stop it separate from the main engines, a valve which I call a "steam
bypass valve" was opened to bypass the turbine and allow the LP steam
back to the condenser.

The inlet to the central turbine was actually under a slight vacuum. It
wouldn't be "LP steam" it was exhaust from the wing engines. And in
order to *stop* the central turbine, it's steam inlet would have to be shut.

Then what happens?
hint- consider the relationship between the seawater inlet temp to the
condenser (termed "injection") and the condensing pressure of steam
going into the condenser.


It is strange that you claimed such expertise on the Titanic machinery
but did not know this.

Strange that you are now repeating my posts, ignoring proper
terminology, and basically showing total ignorance of steam propulsion
engineering, while insisting that somehow I'm the one that's wrong.
Actually, it's more funny than strange, and also par for the course.

DSK

DSK wrote:

Please tell me what ships you've steamed where the engine could be
stopped by "opening a steam bypass valve." Also please tell me where
the steam is bypassed to... are you suggesting dumping main steam
directly into the condenser?


Nav wrote:

On the Titanic the turbine received LP steam from the main engines.


Duh. I told you that several posts ago, Navjax.


Wow I'm impressed! You are a veritable font of information on this
thread aren't you?

.... To stop it separate from the main engines, a valve which I call a
"steam bypass valve" was opened to bypass the turbine and allow the LP
steam back to the condenser.


The inlet to the central turbine was actually under a slight vacuum.


Yopu can wriggle as much as you want but your self serving posturing is
clearly exposed. The inlet to the turbine was not sub atmospheric.

It
wouldn't be "LP steam" it was exhaust from the wing engines. And in
order to *stop* the central turbine, it's steam inlet would have to be
shut.

Wot no bypass valve? Where did the steam go Doug -into the vacuum at the
tubine inlet? Bwhahahahhahaha!! You are such a clown. The inlet pressure
was 9psi -it's on all the web sites describing the engineering -or are
they wrong too?

Cheers

wouldn't be "LP steam" it was exhaust from the wing engines. And in
order to *stop* the central turbine, it's steam inlet would have to be
shut.


Nav wrote:
Wot no bypass valve? Where did the steam go Doug -into the vacuum at the
tubine inlet? Bwhahahahhahaha!! You are such a clown. The inlet pressure
was 9psi -it's on all the web sites describing the engineering -or are
they wrong too?

Actually, they are. The design (according to Harlan & Wolff, who should
know) called for inlet to the turbine at ~ 11 psia. So, if you grant
them 9psi *a* then they're not far wrong. Or are you now going to claim
that the condenser ran at 3 psi ... even back then, hotwell pressure was
usually given in mmHg... hint hint...

DSK

DSK wrote


In any case, the ship was going full speed, the loss of the prop stream
across the rudder would not reduce the rudder's effectiveness very much.

DSK

I agree 100%.

But if a full astern bell was rung then the induced wheel walk could
of forced her stern to swing faster into the berg.


Joe

DSK the marine propulsion expert wrote:


In any case, the ship was going full speed, the loss of the prop stream
across the rudder would not reduce the rudder's effectiveness very much.



http://www.dellamente.com/titanic/engines5.htm

"Regardless, most scenarios agree steam to the turbine would have been
cut off. While this had little effect on the ship's forward motion, it
deprived the rudder of the steady, forceful stream of water necessary to
turn a ship of that size. Several sources claim the rudder on the
Titanic and her sister ships was too small. If that was indeed the case,
shutting down the center turbine would be the last thing you would want
to do in an emergency."

Hmm, seems to agree with me? My yacht steers well without propwash
because it's rudder, in comparison, is huge... My point is that, most
power vessels can have much smaller rudders because they use the
propwash to significantly increase rudder effectiveness. It's standard
naval architecture.

Cheers

DSK the marine propulsion expert wrote:
In any case, the ship was going full speed, the loss of the prop
stream across the rudder would not reduce the rudder's effectiveness
very much.



Nav wrote:
http://www.dellamente.com/titanic/engines5.htm

Interesting web site. Thanks for the link.

It does contain a number of inaccuracies, though.


"Regardless, most scenarios agree steam to the turbine would have been
cut off. While this had little effect on the ship's forward motion,

???

The central turbine was about 35% ~ 40% of the ships forward power. How
is it going to have "little effect on the ship's forward motion?"

Or do they mean that shutting off steam to the turbine would not have
produced significant stopping impulse? That would be much more correct.

They also don't appear to know how the reciprocating engines were reversed.


... it
deprived the rudder of the steady, forceful stream of water necessary to
turn a ship of that size.

???

A steady stream of water goin 22 + knots is not "forceful"?


... Several sources claim the rudder on the
Titanic and her sister ships was too small. If that was indeed the case,
shutting down the center turbine would be the last thing you would want
to do in an emergency."

The "rudder too small" claim is total malarkey. The Olympic was the same
design and had a long service career, with a reputation of being a good
handling ship.


Hmm, seems to agree with me?

Sure. It's incorrect and based on assumptions when accurate data is
readily available.

Speaking of which, have you worked out the prop slip for the Olympic
class ships yet? Data readily available, all you need is the prop pitch,
top speed, and top speed rpm.

... My yacht steers well without propwash
because it's rudder, in comparison, is huge... My point is that, most
power vessels can have much smaller rudders because they use the
propwash to significantly increase rudder effectiveness. It's standard
naval architecture.

At low speed, sure. At full speed, the prop stream does increase rudder
effectiveness but I'd say that it's not "significant." Judgement call, I
guess... certainly your vast experience in handling large steam ships
and your claimed naval architect training give you a big advantage here.

DSK