An Unstructured Mesh Adaptation Algorithm for Ship Interaction Simulations

The dynamics of ships interacting with other ships and with harbor structures and boundaries is a difficult computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problem for several reasons: geometric complexity, modeling of the free surface, and large Reynolds numbers involved. The proposed research will employ several approaches and techniques to simplify the problem to a manageable level while maintaining modeling fidelity. Among these are to initially use a potential flow approximation (i.e., neglect the effects of viscosity), linearize the free surface and develop an unstructured deforming adaptive mesh algorithm for relative ship motion. Of these, the three- dimensional deforming mesh will be the greatest challenge, and Phase I will concentrate on developing this method and demonstrating the feasibility of using this method to accurately model multiple vessels in a harbor environment. Successful development will pave the way for a time-varying, unsteady, 3-D flow solver employing the mesh algorithm.