The Impact of Numerical Parameters on the Resistance Characteristics of a Container Ship at the Model and Full Scale

Abstract

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool used to predict the resistance characteristics of a ship. However, it is important to determine the numerical and modelling errors to assure accurate results. The aim of this study is the investigation of the impact of different numerical parameters on the total resistance, wave pattern and ship motion in numerical simulations at the model and full scale. These include the turbulence model and discretization schemes for convection, gradient and temporal terms within the governing equations. The numerical model used in numerical simulations is based on Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations which are discretized using the Finite Volume Method (FVM). To locate and track the free surface, the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is employed. The Grid Convergence Index (GCI) method is used for the verification study. The obtained results show that the selection of the discretization scheme for temporal term does not have impact on the median value of the total resistance and that the first-order scheme assures faster convergence in numerical simulations at the full scale. A higher portion of the frictional resistance in the total resistance is obtained with numerical simulations at the model scale in comparison to the full scale.