# How to Calculate for Damping Coefficients

**URL:** <https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/how-to-calculate-for-damping-coefficients/23643>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Tags:** vehicle-design, simulate\
**Created:** [September 25, 2026, 11:07am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/how-to-calculate-for-damping-coefficients/23643 "2026-09-25T11:07:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![White-Jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@White-Jack](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/White-Jack)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 11:07am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/how-to-calculate-for-damping-coefficients/23643/1 "2026-09-25T11:07:25Z")

</div>

I am running some simulations on various ROVs including the BlueROV2 in MATLAB and in Gazebo. The model I am basing my approach on is [Fossen’s Marine Craft model](https://fossen.biz/html/marineCraftModel.html).

For this model to work, one of the properties I need is the linear and quadratic damping coefficients for each of the six (6) degrees of freedom of the ROVs (i.e. surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, yaw). For quadratic damping, I am using the drag equation below:

F\_d = \frac{1}{2}\rho c\_d A u\_{x}^{2} \\ where: \ X\_{uu} = \frac{1}{2}\rho c\_d A 

This is done for each degree of freedom. I am currently experimenting with using the default C\_d value for cubes and cuboids (i.e. 1.05), and deriving a C\_d using SolidWorks Flow simulation.

For linear damping however, I am unable to find any equation or method of deriving its drag coefficient. The closest thing I have seen from research is using [Stokes Drag equation for tiny spherical objects at low speeds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stokes%27s_law), which ROVs are not.

I want to know how the linear drag coefficients are determined for the BlueROV2 and other ROVs. I am okay with either using an approximation, CFD with SolidWorks Flow Simulation, or experimentation. Also correct me if I am wrong on the calculation of quadratic drag.