Assessment of CFD-Based Ship Maneuvering Predictions Using Different Propeller Modeling Methods

Propeller modeling in virtual captive model tests is crucial to the prediction accuracy of ship maneuvering motion. In the present study, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method with two propeller modeling methods, Sliding Mesh (SM) and Multiple Reference Frames (MRF), was used to simulate the captive model tests for a KVLCC2 tanker model. The virtual captive model tests, including for resistance, self-propulsion, rudder force, oblique towing, circular motion, oblique towing and steady turning tests with rudder angle, were conducted by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. The computed hydrodynamic forces, hydrodynamic derivatives, and hull-propeller-rudder interaction coefficients were validated against the available captive model test data and the CFD results obtained by a Body Force (BF) method in the literature. Then the standard turning circle and zig-zag maneuvers were simulated by using the MMG (Maneuvering Modeling Group) model with the computed hydrodynamic derivatives and hull-propeller-rudder interaction coefficients, and the results were validated against available free-running model test data. The most satisfactory agreement in terms of the ship hydrodynamic forces and maneuvering parameters and the most accurate rudder normal force were obtained by the SM method rather than by the MRF or the BF methods, while the lateral forces and yaw moments obtained by the SM and the MRF methods were all in good agreement with the model test data.