CFD simulations
Computational Fluid Dynamics, abbreviated as CFD, is in its general meaning a numerical analysis simulation tool for engineers and researchers to help solve problems that involve fluid flows.
Typical and most well-known industrial applications are simulations of air around cars or aircrafts. Within these applications, CFD has over a few decades helped design much more efficient and comfortable products.
It is also an increasingly popular tool within the marine industry where model scale experiments long have been the standard. With increasingly more powerful and less costly computers, CFD can be a very useful complement to experiments. In some cases, CFD can even replace experiments due to matching accuracy at both lower cost and shorter time to results.
At Ulstein Design & Solutions, CFD is used every day to predict calm water hull resistance. In the design evolution, hull lines and appendages are designed and aligned for lowest possible hull drag.
Comparison of wave patterns from model experiments and CFD
Since calm water is a sea state that ships rarely encounter it is important to design a ship that operates well in waves. This in respect to both fuel consumption and passenger comfort.
Comparison of waves and hull motion from model experiments and CFD
Even though hydrodynamics is the fluid problem in focus designing ships, different aerodynamic problems can also be considered. Examples of different objectives are estimations of drag force, turbulence and comfort criteria. Another example is to analyze dispersion of exhaust gases.
Streamlines showing air flow paths over the superstructure of a cruise vessel
At Ulstein, CFD simulations is not only an internal activity or, restricted to the marine industry. We have both CFD software and powerful computer hardware inhouse able to solve your flow problems. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
