Bulbous bow
Bulbo de proa
- Date
- 1910 (Taylor); década de 1960 (Inui) · confidence medium
- Place
- Washington, D.C., United States
- Credited to
- David W. Taylor; Takao Inui
- Field
- Movement
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A rounded protrusion below the waterline at the bow that creates its own wave interfering with the bow wave and reducing resistance. Taylor tested it on USS Delaware and Inui generalised it in the 1960s.
Taylor applied the idea around 1912; the modern design and its theory are due to Inui (Japan, 1960s). Date and credit vary by source.
What it led to
- fuel savings in tankers and container ships
- hydrodynamic design with tank testing
- high-speed bows on liners and warships