Numerical Simulation of Ship Motions in Regular and Irregular Waves

Abstract

Abstract A numerical simulation method is presented in this study to predict ship resistance and motion responses in regular and irregular waves. The unsteady RANS (Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes) method is selected as the governing equation, and a volume of fluid (VoF) model is used to capture the free surface, combining the k-ε equations. A finite volume method (FVM) is utilized to discretize both the RANS equations and VoF transport equation. The pressure implicit split operator (PISO) method is set as the velocity-pressure coupling equation. The overset mesh technique is utilized to simulate ship motions in waves. A DTMB5415 ship is selected as a case study to predict its pitch and heave responses in regular and irregular waves at different wave length and wave steepness. The ship is free to move in the pitch and heave directions. The CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) results are found to be in good agreement with the strip theory and experimental data. It can be found that the CFD method presented in this study can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for green design and manufacture of ships.