The simulation of free surface flows with Computational Fluid Dynamics

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Description/Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics is a powerful and versatile tool for the analysis of flow problems encountered in the
maritime environment. The University of Southampton Fluid-Structure Interactions research group use ANSYS CFX to
model a wide variety of flow problems; to gain insight into flow physics, improve designs and increase the efficiency
and safety of marine vehicles. A series of three case studies from on-going research looks at: loads applied on liquefied
natural gas tanks due to sloshing, slamming pressures experienced by high speed craft as well as the influence of
propellers on the resistance characteristics of autonomous underwater vehicles. The presence of the free surface,
complex shapes and the unsteady nature of these applications make their simulation with computational fluid dynamics
particularly challenging. The successful validation of the computational models has resulted in the development of a
selection process for suitable multiphase models as well as cost-effective meshing strategies.