Hydrodynamic assessment of planing hulls using overset grids

In conjunction with high performance computers, recent developments in computational science paved the path to more accurate representation of body motions inside fluids. Small motions inside the flow can be computationally approximated by using rigid body motion but it is incapable of accurately predicting the large motions of a planing vessel. The implementation of overset grid has made it possible to better approximate the complex fluid-structure interaction problem of the planing regime. The focus of this study was to evaluate the opportunity of using an overset grid system to numerically solve the flow around a planing hull and to understand the planing regime with this invaluable tool. It was shown in this study that the overset grid better captures the large motions of the planing hull at high Froude numbers. Then, the results obtained by overset grid were used to calculate the resistance components of a planing hull in a wide Froude number range. The resistance components were discussed with respect to values generated by Savitsky approach. Using the benefits that the computational science brings, the flow was visualized to explain some underlying physics relevant to the planing regime.     

Experimental and numerical investigations on hydrodynamic and aerodynamic characteristics of the tunnel of planing trimaran

The planing trimaran possesses distinctive hybrid hydrodynamic and aerodynamic performance due to the presence of tunnel. The research described in this paper was carried out based on the observation of wave characteristics of a planing trimaran model in towing tests, in which the resistance drops as soon as the wave surface separates from tunnel roof. In order to gain a deeper insight into the relationship between wave flow and forces in tunnel region, a comprehensive series of viscous CFD simulations considering free-surface and 2-DOF motion of the hull (heave and pitch) have been performed for the tested model at the volume based Froude numbers ranging from 3.16 to 5.87. The calculated results were validated by comparison with experimental data and showed good agreement. Numerical results of wave contours, longitudinal wave cuts and lifting force distributions at the calculated speeds were presented for the analysis of ventilation process in tunnel region and the corresponding variation of tunnel forces. It is found that, for the speeds higher than Froude number of 4.52, the aerodynamic forces provide major tunnel lift and mainly act on the straight section of the tunnel. And, therefore, numerical simulations of two modified models have also been performed for the analysis of influence of straight section length on the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic performance of planing trimaran.     

Reduction of jack-up and crane vessel resistance and bow swamping

A large bow wave forms when blunt-shaped vessels like self-propelled jack-up crane vessels (liftboats) operate at high speeds. Above a critical speed, this bow wave spills over the bow causing swamping. To investigate this phenomena, towing tank tests of a 1/25 scale model liftboat hull were done over a speed range of 3–8 kn. The test showed above 4 kn the bow wave formed and the vessel trimmed by the bow. At speeds above 8 kn the bow wave spilled over the bow (swamping). To cancel this critical bow wave a vertical bow plate was fitted ahead of the liftboat bow. This bow plate reduced the bow wave formation and achieved a 10–15% reduction in the towing resistance. The wave cancellation bow plate can reduce the liftboat power or increase its liftboat speed and operating range.     

Full scale CFD seakeeping simulations for case study ship redesigned from V-shaped bulbous bow to X-bow hull form

Increasing propulsion efficiency, safety, comfort and operability are of the great importance, especially for small ships operating on windy sites like the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Seakeeping performance of ships and offshore structures can be analysed by different methods and the one that is becoming increasingly important is CFD RANS. The recent development of simulation techniques together with rising HPC accessibility enables performance of advanced seakeeping simulations for ships in a full scale. The paper presents CFD seakeeping analysis for a case study vessel in two variants: V-shaped bulbous bow hull form (as built) and innovative hull form (X-bow type). The study presents the influence of redesigning the ship on selected seakeeping aspects. The advanced CFD model, with the application of overset mesh technique, was described in detail. Selected numerical results were validated on the basis of experimental testing in a towing tank and showed good agreement. The approach demonstrated here of performing the CFD seakeeping simulations for the analysis of ship performance in a full scale and close to real loading conditions has direct application to the design process as well as in determination of optimal operational parameters of any ship.     

Supercritical planning hulls

This paper gives an overview of the development of the supercritical planing hull concept during the last two decades. Our starting point was the body of theoretical and tank testing work on supercritical displacement ships which was completed by Lewis and others by 1960. In 1964 we launched a manned model small waterplane twin hull (SWATH) craft having a very low pitch stiffness, and thus very little pitching motion at wave encounter frequencies above resonance. A second craft was launched the following year, after which we changed the emphasis of our program to the higher speeds associated with planning craft. Planning catamarans occupied us between 1967 and 1971, when the first Sea Knife monohull supercritical planning hull was launched. The most recent Sea Knife is 34 ft L.O.A., displaces 16,000 lb with full fuel and crew, has been timed at 80 mph in sea state 3, and (from model tests) can do the same in sea state 4 with a comfortable ride. We conclude that supercritical planing hulls are very suitable for high speed ferries, patrol craft and crewboats, and that the technology is now mature.     

A combined method for the hydrodynamic characteristics of planing crafts

The prediction of the total resistance of planing crafts at high speeds is very important. In this paper, a combined method is investigated for determining the hydrodynamic characteristics of planing crafts in the calm water. The study consists of a potential-based boundary element method (BEM) for the induced pressure resistance, the boundary layer theory for the frictional resistance and practical method for the spray resistance. The planing surface is represented by a number of elements with constant velocity potential at each element. The unknown-induced pressure is obtained by using the free surface elevation condition and the Kutta condition at the transom stern. Hydrodynamic-induced resistance and lift are determined by the calculated dynamic pressure distributions. The boundary layer analysis method is based on calculations of the momentum integral equation applied to obtain the frictional resistance. A particular practical approach is introduced to present the region of the upwash geometry for the spray. A numerical program has been developed for the present research and applied to the hull form of the craft. Four different hull forms of Series 62 model 4666 planing craft are presented. It is shown that the present combined method is efficient and the results are in good agreement with the experimental measurements over a wide range of volumetric Froude numbers.     

基于Savitsky法滑行艇航行姿态参数影响研究

高速滑行艇处于滑行状态时的阻力性能一直是滑行艇水动力性能研究的重点和难点。首先采用半经验半理论的Savitsky法对棱柱形滑行艇的航行姿态与阻力进行研究分析,计算纵倾结果与试验结果吻合良好。然后改变滑行艇的长宽比、重心纵向位置与底部斜升角参数,进一步研究三种参数变化对滑行艇航行姿态与阻力性能的影响。研究结果表明:基于半经验半理论的Savitsky方法可用于棱柱形滑行艇的阻力性能分析;在高速阶段,长宽比、重心纵向位置与底部斜升角参数对阻力影响较大。     

Application of potential flow methods to fast displacement ships at transcritical speeds in shallow water

Computer codes implementing three different numerical methods for the prediction of ship squat at transcritical speeds in shallow open-water are tested. SlenderFlow is a potential flow code specifically for ships in very shallow water, based on partially dispersive slender body theory. Flotilla is a potential flow code based on fully dispersive thin-ship theory. Rapid is a general nonlinear free-surface panel code. Code predictions of transcritical sinkage, trim and resistance in laterally unrestricted water were compared to the experimental results of Graff (1964) for two Taylor series hulls in a finite-width towing tank. Once tank width effects were accounted for, each of the three codes was found to give good predictions within the valid range of the underlying theory. A simple method for estimating transcritical wave resistance from trim is presented.     

Turbulent free-surface flow around a Wigley hull using the slightly compressible flow formulation

The slightly compressible flow formulation is applied to the free-surface, three-dimensional turbulent flow around a Wigley hull. Two turbulence models (large eddy simulation and Baldwin–Lomax) are used and compared. The simulation conditions are the ones for which experimental and numerical results exist. The computational grid is built using an algebraic grid generator with the model fixed in space. The codes use the interface-capturing technique for computing the free-surface displacements and the Beam and Warming scheme for marching in time the numerical model. The results compare well with the experimental data available.     

A numerical modeling of hydrodynamic characteristics of various planing hull forms

A numerical algorithm based on the boundary element method (BEM) is presented for predicting the hydrodynamic characteristics of the various planing hull forms. The boundary integral equation is derived using Green's theorem on the wetted body surface and the free surface. The ventilation function at the transom is estimated with Doctor's empirical formula. This function is defined as the transom zone free surface boundary condition. The combined boundary integral equation and modified free surface boundary condition are simultaneously solved to determine the dipole on the wetted hull surface and the source on the free surface. The method is applied to investigate three examples of planing hulls, which include flat-plates, as well as wedge-shaped and variable deadrise planing hulls. Their hydrodynamic characteristics are calculated for different speeds. Computational results are presented and compared with existing theories and experiments. On the whole, the agreement between the present method and the selected experimental and numerical data is satisfactory.     

基于物理造波和主动消波的黏性数值波浪水槽开发

基于推板造波理论和摇板造波理论,在Open FOAM平台上采用重叠网格技术建立黏性数值波浪水槽,并使用一种结合SIMPLE算法和PISO算法的PIMPLE算法对数值模型进行求解。利用开发的数值模型通过数值收敛性测试和网格独立性测试分别重点研究了时间步长、库朗数和网格尺寸对数值精度和计算效率的影响。并对比研究了此数值模型分别嵌入层流模型和湍流模型的计算精度和计算效率。实现的规则波和二阶有限振幅波与理论结果和试验结果吻合,验证了此黏性数值波浪水槽的造波和主动消波功能。基于二维数值波浪水槽,进一步研究了三维数值造波,数值计算结果与理论结果吻合良好。研究结果不仅验证了重叠网格在二维和三维两相流体域中求解运动物体与流场交互的可靠性和正确性,而且为使用此黏性数值波浪水槽解决更复杂的海洋工程问题提供了依据。     

Benchmark computations for flows around a stationary cylinder with high Reynolds numbers by RANS-overset grid approach

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy, stability and efficiency of the overset grid approach coupled with the RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) model via the benchmark computations of flows around a stationary smooth circular cylinder. Two dimensional numerical results are presented within a wide range of Reynolds numbers (6.31 × 10⁴ ∼ 7.57 × 10⁵) including the critical flow regime. All the simulations are carried out using the RANS solver pimpleFoam provided by OpenFOAM, an open source CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) toolkit. Firstly, a grid convergence study is performed. The results of the time-averaged drag and lift force coefficients, root-mean square value of lift force coefficient and Strouhal number (St number) are then compared with the experimental data. The velocity, vorticity fields and pressure distribution are also given. One main conclusion is that the numerical solutions in regard to a fixed cylinderare not deteriorated due to the implementation of the overset grid. Furthermore, it can be an appealing approach to facilitate simulations of Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV), which involves grid deformation. The present study is a good start to implement the overset grid to solve VIV problems in the future.     

A Unified Computational Method for Simulating Dynamic Behavior of Planing Vessels

High speed planing hulls have complex hydrodynamic behaviors. The trim angle and drafts are very sensitive to speed and location of the center of gravity. Therefore, motion simulation for such vessels needs a strong coupling between rigid body motions and hydrodynamic analysis. In addition, free surface should be predicted with good accuracy for each time step. In this paper, velocity and pressure fields are coupled by use of the fractional step method. On the basis of integration of the two-phase viscous flow induced stresses over the hull, acting loads (forces and moments) are calculated. With the strategy of boundary-fitted body-attached mesh and calculation of 6-DoF motions in each time step, time history of ship motions including displacements, speeds and accelerations are evaluated. For the demonstration of the software capabilities, circular cylinder slamming is simulated as a simple type of water slamming. Then, a high-speed planing catamaran is investigated in the case of steady forward motion. All of the results are in good concordance with experimental data. The present method can be widely implemented in design as well as in performance prediction of high-speed vessels.     

Numerical investigation of wave elevation and bottom pressure generated by a planing hull in finite-depth water

A numerical investigation of the bottom pressure and wave elevation generated by a planing hull in finite-depth water is presented. While the existing literature addresses the free-surface deformation and pressure field at the seafloor independently, this work proposes a direct comparison between the two hydrodynamic quantities. The dependence of the pressure disturbances at the ocean floor from the waves generated at the free-surface by a planing hull is studied for several values of both the depth and hull Froude numbers. The methodology employed is Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), a numerical technique based on the discretization of the continuum fields of hydrodynamics through mesh-less particles. The SPH code herein chosen is initially validated against experimental data for transom-stern flow. Subsequently, numerical simulations are presented for a planing hull in high-speed regimes. The results show a direct correlation between surface wave dynamics and hydrodynamic pressure disturbances at the seafloor as the value of the Froude number is varied. This is assessed by studying the inverse dependence of the low-pressure wake angle with the Froude number and by comparison of SPH results with similar works in the cited literature.     

Simulation of free surface flow around a VLCC hull using viscous and potential flow methods

Numerical simulations have been carried out to determine the incompressible free surface flow around a VLCC hull form for which experimental results are available. A commercial viscous flow finite volume code using the two-phase Eulerian–Eulerian fluid approach and a potential flow code based on the Rankine source method have been used in this study. The simulation conditions are the ones for which experimental results exist. The shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model has been used in the viscous flow code. A tetrahedral unstructured grid was used with the viscous flow code for meshing the computational domain, while quadrilateral structural patches were used with the potential flow code for meshing the VLCC hull surface and the water surface around it. The results compare well with the available experimental data and they allow an understanding of the differences that can be expected from viscous and potential flow methods as a result of their different mathematical formulations, which make their complementary application useful for determining the total ship resistance.     

Numerical analysis of the influence of fixed hydrofoil installation position on seakeeping of the planing craft

This paper analyzes the hydrodynamic performance of a planing craft with a fixed hydrofoil in regular waves. Numerical simulations are carried out based on a RANS-VOF solver to study the hydrodynamic performance of the planing craft and the influence of the fixed hydrofoil on its seakeeping. To validate the numerical method, a series of hydrodynamic experiments of a bare planing craft without the hydrofoil were carried out, from which the seakeeping performance of the planing craft was recorded, the numerical method based on overset grid was compared with the experiment and verified reliable. Eight hydrofoil design cases were then studied, whereby, their seakeeping performance in regular wave conditions were predicted through the numerical method which has been verified reliable and compared with each other. Effects of hydrofoil parameters, such as angle of attack and installation height, on the seakeeping performance were investigated. Finally, the suitable installation parameters which can optimize the performance of hydrofoil and reduce the negative influence are verified. The influence of the speed on the effect of the hydrofoil and the flow field around the planing craft are also investigated.     

A numerical and experimental study on tank wall influences in drag estimation

This study has been undertaken to quantify the tank wall effects on resistance estimation of ship models. Given the finite width of a tank, the flow around a ship model has been numerically modelled and the pressure and pressure related drag have been estimated.Since the model runs at speeds essentially in the laminar and transient speed range, an inviscid model has been chosen for obtaining the pressure drag component in the numerical studies. Grid dependency study has been done to optimize the mesh in the control volume for the numerical studies. An unstructured grid consisting of hexahedral cells has been used in the volume of fluid (VOF) model. The model chosen is a medium speed, ocean going barge and the residuary resistance has been obtained for different tank width conditions. The tank width has been defined using a non-dimensionalized parameter W/B (tank width W, model width B) ratio. The study shows that the residuary resistance obtained at W/B=5.0 is free from tank wall influence for the chosen model. The findings of the study have been compared by testing two geosim models under the same tank width conditions. The residuary resistance values have been compared with numerical results. The combined numerical experimental approach provides interesting results of consistency for comparison. The tank wall influences suggested by the numerical study are well quantified in the experimental study and give useful guideline for limiting wall influences.     

A moving PIV system for ship model test in a towing tank

A moving particle image velocimetry (PIV) system was successfully developed and used in a large towing tank for ship model tests to observe velocity fields near ship models. The experimental method involved adjustable optical devices for various test conditions and a special particle-seeding device. The streamwise and cross-streamwise flow fields of a yacht model and a tanker model were measured. Ship type, bottom shape, and towing speed were found to be the causes of problems affecting optical access and image quality. Possible solutions, deeper optical ducts, dark painting color, and pre-processed analysis method, were proposed and discussed.     

基于HUST-Ship的船舶耐波性数值试验水池参数化建模方法研究

基于自研的HUST-Ship黏性流CFD求解器,提出了一种船舶耐波性数值试验水池参数化建模方法和网格生成技术。在自研的CFD软件平台中,根据波浪参数(规则波的波长、波高和不规则波的特征周期、有效波高)自动生成船舶耐波性数值试验水池。以结构化重叠网格技术为基础,分别对船舶与水池进行网格划分并进行网格的组装、重叠,实现船舶在耐波性数值试验水池中的数值“试验”,对船舶耐波性进行数值预报。根据波浪种类分为规则波数值试验水池与不规则波数值试验水池,可对各类波浪条件实现精确可靠的数值造波,模拟船舶在各种波浪环境中运动响应、耐波性事件与非线性运动特性。采用参数化建模方法生成的耐波性数值试验水池能够提高建模和网格生成效率,通过对国际标模进行数值预报并与船模试验结果对比,验证了参数化建模方法生成的耐波性数值试验水池对船舶在波浪中运动性能的计算精度。     

Experimental Investigation into the performance of the Axial-Flow-Type Waterjet according to the Variation of Impeller Tip Clearance

The tip clearance inside the duct from the tip of the impeller is very important to the performance of waterjet systems, which fact has been proven in the pump field. The tip clearance is especially important on the model scale because it is very difficult in manufacture to keep the tip clearance constant and minimally small along the inside of the duct. In the present study, a flush-type waterjet propulsion unit (duct, impeller, stator, and nozzle) was designed for an amphibious tracked vehicle. Two impellers of different inner diameter were designed and manufactured in order to investigate the gap effect. Resistance and self-propulsion tests with a 1/5-scale model were conducted in PNU towing tank. The flow rate at the nozzle exit, the static pressure at the various sections along the duct and also the nozzle, the revolution of the impeller, and the torque, thrust, and towing forces at various advanced speeds were measured. Based on these measurements, the performance was analyzed according to the ITTC 96 standard analysis method. Based on this analysis method, the full-scale effective and delivered power of the tracked vehicle was estimated according to the variation of tip clearance.