SHIPS OF THE FUTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15123, 14 October 1912, Page 9

SHIPS OF THE FUTURE.

FIELDS OF RESEARCH FOR MATHEMATICIANS. Is a lecture to the International Congress of Mathematicians, at Cambridge (England), Sir W. White 2 formerly Director of Naval Construction, pointed out two lines on which the researches of mathematicians could materially help in the future of naval architecture.

The foundations of modern engineering, lie said, had been laid on mathematical and physical' science, and the days of blind reliance upon engineering formula? and " rules of thumb'' were over. It was probably true to pay that no branch of engineering had benefited more from mathematical assistance than naval architecture bad done. Mathematical theories led to the introduction of the experimental tank, and the operations of these tanks had resulted in a great addition to natural knowledge, and had secured enormous economies of fuel. The success achieved

in connection with modern developments of steam navigation and the attainment of very high speeds was chiefly due to these tank experiments, which had involved relatively small cost. Naval architects owed the great advantage they possessed over their to the genius of William Fronde, who devised these tanks.

Mathematicians seeking new fields to conquer might profitably turn their attention to two subjects on. which additional !i«ht was still needed. The first had relation to the laws which governed tho efficiency of screw propellers when applied to steamships. ■ They had been -using screw propellers for more than 70 years, and, iranldy, ho confessed that they Were still in need of light .about that. An experience of his own showed the possibilities here existing. A large cruiser obtained the guaranteed sped of 23 knots on trial with a displacement of about 30,000-h.p. He had anticipated a speed of 23? knots, and ho got it by simply increasing the radial area of the prepcllere by 20 per cent.

Another subject upon which knowledge was still incomplete was in regard to tho stresses experienced by the structures of fhips at sea when driven through waves and made to perform rolling, pitching, and heaving movements simultaneously. Engineers wanted every aid science could give. Mathematicians had helped them in the past, and he hoped would continue that h«n in the future.