Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Sescu, Adrian

Committee Member

Martin, Stanley

Committee Member

Narsipur, Shreyas

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Aerospace Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

This research investigates the intricacies of ship simulation and developmental processes for integrating wet gap crossing capabilities into a simulated environment. The US Army Mark III Bridge Erection Boat (BEB) and Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) were modeled in commercial off the shelf (COTS) and Government Co-Owned (GCO) navigation software suites to determine their performance capabilities and limitations. Each model was constructed using naval architecture concepts to accurately capture their hydrostatic and hydrodynamic effects before being validated against available performance data and expert elicitation from expert US Army watercraft operators. Models were configured and tested in simulated river flows with current speeds ranging from 0 to 4 knots. Analysis of simulation exercises highlight a successful implementation of BEB/IRB operations for the conventional rafting configuration and limited success for the longitudinal rafting configuration. Simulation results demonstrated the benefits for use as a training and operational planning tool, preparing personnel for potential challenges in a low-risk environment

Sponsorship (Optional)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center

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