Hydrodynamic Performances of KRISO Container Ship (KCS) Using CAD-CAE and CFD Techniques

Abstract

While at the initial design stage one has to rely on systematic experience, empirical methods and experimental model tests to predict ship hydrodynamics performance, it is now becoming more and more common to involve CFD methods in order to optimise the body lines plan. The KCS container ship was designed at the KRISO (Korea Research Institute for Ships and Ocean Engineering), now MOERI (Maritime and Ocean Engineering Research Institute), that can be used as a benchmark model for CFD predictions. The aim of this thesis is to compute with preliminary design tools and CFD instruments the hydrodynamic performances (resistance, powering and manoeuvrability) of the KCS container ship and to validate some numerical results on the basis of the model resistance tests performed both at the small Towing Tank from Dunarea de Jos University of Galati (45 m in length) and at the large Towing Tank from MOERI. The goal of the comparison is to evaluate the chances that a small basin like the one in Galati has to accurately predict the hydrodynamic resistance for this type of ship. The preliminary hydrodynamic performances are computed using the hydrodynamic modules of AVEVA Initial Design system, on the basis of the main dimensions, hydrostatics characteristics and the body lines plan of the KCS container ship. Also, the CFD instruments may be used as a predictive tool and the naval architects must have confidence that the simulation results are an accurate representation of reality. SHIPFLOW code has been applied directly to full scale, in order to study the free surface potential flow and viscous flow around the KCS hull, delivering the ship resistance. The numerical results have been validated using experimental data bases, including experimental tests results obtained at the Towing Tank from Galati University, with a model having 3.502 m length and at the MOERI Towing Tank, for a KCS model with 7.279 m length. The comparison between numerical and experimental results suggests the necessity to improve the preliminary design tools and the CFD methods in order to obtain realistic prediction of the hydrodynamics performances of the large ships. Also, the small towing tank from Galati University can be used in order to predict with satisfactory accuracy the resistance for this type of ships'.