Ocean and Polar Research ISSN:2234-7313(Online) Ocean and Polar Research

This paper presents the coordinate systems used for trawl doors modeling, and provides matrix equations of connection between these systems. The projections of the forces acting on the door into axes of various coordinate systems were obtained, which were used in the door equilibrium equations. Six equilibrium conditions for the door as a solid were obtained: formulas that allow for the door area in plan to be determined; its weight in water; its mass; three moment equations for determining the position of the warp and backstrops fastening points to the door with triangular and quadrangular backstrop arrangements. It was found that the moment equilibrium equations of trawl doors are generally incompatible, which was not found by any of the authors who have previously conducted research into trawl doors. Using the Kronecker- Capelli theorem, the compatibility equation is obtained. This equation includes the coordinates of the backstrop fastening points to the door, which means that these points cannot be randomly selected. The technique of determining the warp and backstrops’ fastening points position to the door is described. Conditions of directional (by angle of attack) and roll (in angle of roll) stability of the doors’ equilibrium are presented. The equations presented in this paper comprise a mathematical model that allows, when designing the doors, to select optimal parameters, as well as to carry out adjustments for trawling purposes to ensure the stable movement of the doors and the entire trawl system.