Numerical simulation of viscous flow around a tanker model

Abstract

In this paper, numerical simulation of viscous flow around a tanker model was carried out utilizing software package STAR-CCM+. A mathematical model based on Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations, a k-ε turbulence model and Volume of Fluid method for describing the motion of two-phase media are given. Necessary boundary conditions for the mathematical model and the method of discretization are also described. The effect of grid density on the numerical results for the total resistance of the tanker model was investigated using three different grid densities. Two different types of the k-ε turbulence model were implemented and deviations in the numerical results are highlighted. The results for the total resistance of the tanker model, obtained by numerical simulations, were validated against the experimental results. The experiments were performed in the towing tank of the Brodarski Institute for a wide range of Froude numbers. It was shown that for all three grid densities and for both types of the k-ε turbulence model satisfactory agreement with the experimental results can be achieved for the whole range of Froude numbers. The scale effects were investigated by a Computational Fluid Dynamics study for the same tanker model in three different scales. Numerically calculated scale effects on wave resistance are reviewed.