Ship Hull Form Optimization: A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Approach

Performance of ship resistance and other propulsion characteristics greatly depend on ships’ hull form. However, design considerations based on range of hull modifications can be practically limited by material and time resources, hence the need for computational optimization techniques based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). In this paper, hull form of a parent vessel: single screw supply vessel was screen designed and then sequentially optimized for total resistance and wave height through the application of CFD technique. The modelling was done using ANSYS®, CAESES® and NAVCAD® workbench. Input parameters included moulded beam, steepness of stem and length overall. These were the basis for parametric variations of hull forms during optimization. The optimization processes (based on turbulent flows) lasted for about two hours. A model of the optimized hull was built and tested in marine towing tank with appendages including propeller and rudder at respective model speeds in standard conditions. Towing tests showed that the optimized ship hull exhibited low resistance and decreased wave height in comparison with parent hull. The robustness of CFD technique particularly for stern to stem hull modification was further established.