An integrated method for predicting the hydrodynamic resistance of low-cBcB ships

An integrated CFD method is described for predicting the total hydrodynamic resistance at model as well as at full scale of conventional ship forms. The method combines a non-linear potential with a viscous flow solution of the RANS equations. The potential solution is achieved by covering the hull and the free surface with quadrilateral elements while convergence is based on an iterative procedure. A three-block decomposition is introduced to solve the RANS equations in curvilinear co-ordinates and a new conformal mapping technique has been developed to generate grids effectively. To validate the method, experiments have been carried out for a model with three different bulbous bows at the towing tank of NTUA. Computed resistance coefficients for both the models and the 40:1 full scale ships are also compared in order to evaluate the fundamental principles of empirical extrapolation methods.