Giles Thomas

Giles Thomas is a Naval Architecture Lecturer with the Department of Maritime Engineering. His research and teaching interests are in hydrodynamics, full scale measurements, model testing, yacht technology and structural finite element analysis.

• Member - Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA)
• Chartered Engineer (Engineering Council of Great Britain)

Email: gthomas@amc.edu.au
Telephone: (+61 3) 6335 4883

Capability Statement

Years at AMC: July 2003 – present

Position: Lecturer, Department of Maritime Engineering.

Areas of Expertise:

• Seakeeping Prediction and Measurement
• Slamming and Whipping of High Speed Craft
• Full Scale Measurements and Model Testing
• Yacht Technology
• Structural Finite Element Analysis

Selected Research Assignments:

• Slamming of large high-speed catamarans.
• Correlation of theoretical, towing tank and full scale ship motions data.
• Performance of yachts sailing downwind in waves.
• Added resistance of yachts in waves.
  

Selected Commercial Research and Development Assignments:

• Development of a non-linear seakeeping prediction program for the One Australia America's Cup Syndicate.
• Tank testing and wave statistical analysis for Australian Challenge America's Cup Syndicate.
• Computer modelling of the relative motions of a catamaran crew vessel and its tanker host vessel.
• Ride control system simulation and commissioning trials.
  

Education:

B.Eng(Hons) (1988), M.Phil (1991)

Experience Record:

2000 - 2003: Phd Student, University of Tasmania

1993 - 2000: Research Fellow, Curtin University of Technology

1991 - 1993: Project/Research Engineer, AMC Search

1989 - 1991: Research Assistant/Part-Time Lecturer, Australian Maritime College

Languages and Degree of Proficiency:

English: reading, writing and speaking – excellent

Spanish: basic knowledge

Selected Publications:

Thomas, G.A., Davis, M.R., Holloway, D.S., Roberts, T.J.: ‘The Whipping Vibration of Large High Speed Catamarans’. To be published in International Journal of Maritime Engineering, Vol. 13, 2003.

Thomas, G.A., Davis, M.R., Holloway, D.S., Roberts, T.J.: ‘Transient Dynamic Slam Response of Large High Speed Catamarans’. To be published in FAST 2003, Naples, Italy, October 2003.

Thomas, G.A., Davis, M.R., Holloway, D.S., Watson, N., Roberts, T.J.: ‘The Slamming Response of a Large High Speed Wave-Piercer Catamaran’. SNAME Marine Technology Journal, April 2003.

Thomas, G.A., Davis, M.R., Holloway, D.S., Roberts, T.J.: ‘Extreme Asymmetric Slam Loads on Large High Speed Catamarans’. HSMV ‘02, Naples, Italy, September 2002.

Thomas, G.A., Davis, M.R., Whelan, J., Roberts, T.J.: ‘Slamming Response of Large High Speed Catamarans’. FAST 2001, Southampton, UK, September 2001.

Harris, D., Thomas, G.A. & Renilson, M.R.: 'The Prediction of the Downwind Performance of Yachts in Waves'. 5th Chesapeake Yacht Symposium, Annapolis, USA, January 2001.

Binns, J., McRae, B. & Thomas, G.A.: ‘The Windward Performance of Yachts in Rough Water’. 4th Chesapeake Yacht Symposium, Annapolis, USA, January 1999.

Maggi, A.L., Thomas, G.A. & McRae, B.: ‘Seakeeping: A Comparison of Numerical and Towing Tank Predictions with Full Scale Measurement’. RINA International Conference on Ship Motions & Manoeuvrability, February 1998.

Thomas, G.A., Klaka, K. & Dovell, A: ‘An Investigation of Windward Performance of Yachts in Waves’. CADAP ‘95, Southampton, September 1995.

Boyd, J., Klaka, K. & Thomas, G.A.: 'Analysis of Non-Linear Vessel Motions: Experiments and Predictions'. R.I.N.A. Seakeeping and Weather Conference, London, March 1995.

Thomas, G.A. and Renilson, M.R.: 'Surf-riding and Loss of Control of Fishing Vessels in Severe Following Seas'. R.I.N.A. Spring Meetings, London, 1991.