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Computational fluid dynamics based bulbous bow optimization using a genetic algorithm

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Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) plays a major role in predicting the flow behavior of a ship. With the development of fast computers and robust CFD software, CFD has become an important tool for designers and engineers in the ship industry. In this paper, the hull form of a ship was optimized for total resistance using CFD as a calculation tool and a genetic algorithm as an optimization tool. CFD based optimization consists of major steps involving automatic generation of geometry based on design parameters, automatic generation of mesh, automatic analysis of fluid flow to calculate the required objective/cost function, and finally an optimization tool to evaluate the cost for optimization. In this paper, integration of a genetic algorithm program, written in MATLAB, was carried out with the geometry and meshing software GAMBIT and CFD analysis software FLUENT. Different geometries of additive bulbous bow were incorporated in the original hull based on design parameters. These design variables were optimized to achieve a minimum cost function of “total resistance”. Integration of a genetic algorithm with CFD tools proves to be effective for hull form optimization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multihull Ship Technology, Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science for National Defence, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China

    Shahid Mahmood & Debo Huang

Authors
  1. Shahid Mahmood
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  2. Debo Huang
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Correspondence to Shahid Mahmood.

Additional information

Shahid Mahmood is a PhD candidate at Harbin Engineering University. He received a Bachelor and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Eastern Mediterranean University. His research interests are in computational fluid dynamics, marine hydrodynamics, ship resistance, and shape optimization.

Debo Huang was born in 1943. He is a Professor at Harbin Engineering University. His current research interests include ship hydrodynamics and resistance, high performance vessels, and optimization.

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Mahmood, S., Huang, D. Computational fluid dynamics based bulbous bow optimization using a genetic algorithm. J. Marine. Sci. Appl. 11, 286–294 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-012-1134-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-012-1134-1

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