Evaluation of added resistance in regular incident waves by computational fluid dynamics motion simulation using an overlapping grid system

Abstract

A computational fluid dynamics simulation method called WISDAM-X was developed to evaluate the added resistance of ships in waves. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation was solved by the finite-volume method and a MAC-type solution algorithm. An overlapping grid system was employed to implement rigorous wave generation, the interactions of ships with incident waves, and the resultant ship motions. The motion of the ship is simultaneously solved by combining the solution of the motion of the ship with the solution of the flow about the ship. The free surface is captured by treatment by the density-function method. The accuracy of WISDAM-X is examined by a comparison with experimental data from a container carrier hull form, and shows a fairly good agreement with respect to ship motion and added resistance. Simulations were also conducted for a bow-form series of a medium-speed tanker to examine the effectiveness of the WISDAM-X method as a design tool for a hull form with a smaller resistance in waves. It was confirmed that the WISDAM-X method can evaluate the added resistance with sufficient relative accuracy and can be used as a design tool for ships.