Marine Hydrodynamics, from Model Testing to Modern Drag Reduction Techniques

Course Overview

This course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of marine hydrodynamics, a cornerstone of ocean engineering with substantial economic and societal impacts. You will explore the critical role of model-scale testing and numerical modeling in developing innovative concepts, supported by academic and industrial research case studies. 

A key focus of the course is frictional drag reduction for marine vehicles and other ocean engineering applications. Topics include the history of optimism and reality checks in the field, physical limitations, emerging technologies, and their future promise. 

Drawing on the instructor’s experience with laboratory studies, high Reynolds number experiments using national facilities, and full-scale sea trials, the course will guide you from foundational model testing to cutting-edge techniques. You’ll learn practical methods that have already delivered significant emissions and cost savings, equipping you to contribute to advancements in ocean engineering. 

Who Should Take This Course 

The primary target audience for this course is engineering graduate students. Working engineering professionals and entrepreneurs who are looking to update their knowledge and skills may also take this course through concurrent enrollment. 

This course is intended to enrich our engineering curricula, supplementing our traditional engineering course offerings. Because it is self-paced, interested students can more easily fit it into their schedules, since they can spend as little as 3 hours per week on it on average and still complete the course within a semester. This aspect makes it accessible to any UC Berkeley graduate student or concurrent enrollment students with a STEM undergraduate degree, allowing