Ship Resistance Computations using OpenFOAM

Abstract

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for ship hydrodynamics has been advancing significantly within the last decade towards providing design tools which are capable of fullscale modeling and simulations with much less cost and more accuracy. For ship resistance and powering, CFD has become increasingly important part of the design process. Establishing the reliability of CFD for specific applications requires test runs and comparisons with experimentally measured data. In this work, ship resistance components such as viscous frictional and pressure forces and wave resistance are to be obtained by virtual towing tank simulation technique by using OpenFOAM CFD code. In numerical simulations, optimum mesh arrangement and different turbulence models such as k-omega (k- ω), and SST (Shear Stress Transport) are considered first for a definite test run and the most accurate combination is determined. Then, a definite hull form designed by Delta Marine Company of Istanbul, Turkey is investigated under the decided setting of parameters for its total resistance characteristics for a number of different speeds. Finally, a speed versus resistance curve for the selected ship form is obtained from the results of numerical computations and compared with the available towing test results. Concluding comments are made on the performance and reliability of the OpenFOAM as a numerical tool in determining the resistance characteristics of a ship. The suggested mesh arrangements and turbulence parameter settings for possible best results are also pointed out in closing;