Application of eddy-viscosity turbulence models to problems in ship hydrodynamics

Abstract

With the rapid advent of computational methods in all fields of engineering, several areas have
emerged as significant sources of ambiguity. Among these is the selection of a turbulence
model to close the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equation. In ship hydrodynamics, this has
been particularly difficult to resolve due to the complex nature of the problem. Furthermore,
there are a wide variety of turbulence models all claiming superiority. Thus, navigating to the
correct choice is a subject of experience. The present study aims to alleviate the ambiguity
inherent in the field. This is done by performing a series of tests on the turbulence models and
comparing the integral outcomes with experimental results. Specifically, shallow water cases
are chosen due to the additional layer of complexity associated in the prediction of parameters
of interest. The results are analysed via a modified bivariate plot, which reveals a strong
candidate for the optimum choice of turbulence modelling. The assessment simultaneously
takes into account resistance and sinkage, in addition to consistency across different case studies. The time per iteration also points towards the same candidate, identified as the standard
k-ω model, as a good choice within the software used to perform the analysis. The results also
suggest that pressure resistance and its constituent components are not coupled with the
turbulence model. On the other hand, frictional resistance is highly dependent on the closure
selected and is identified as the main contributor to deviations with regards to experimental
values.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Tahsin Tezdogan: orcid.org/0000-0002-7032-3038

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