Computational Fluid Dynamics Applied to River Boat Hull Optimization

Abstract

Abstract This paper extends the work of Maia and Said (“Analysis for Resistance Reduction of an Amazon School Boat through Hull Shape Modification Utilizing a CFD Tool,” 2019), proposing the optimization of a school boat hull using genetic algorithms and computational fluid dynamics (CDF) simulations. The study examines a school boat used for the transportation of children to schools in riverine communities of the Brazilian Amazon. The optimization was focused on reducing the hydrodynamic hull resistance by modifying the hull lines, using the NSGA-II (non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II) algorithm in the CAD (computer aided design) CAESES environment. The objective of the study was to reduce the resistance coefficients: C wp (wave profile) and C wp trans (transverse wave profile), thus reducing the total resistance coefficient (C t) and the generated wave amplitude. Pressure distributions and flow lines were then evaluated to obtain an optimal modified hull with reduced wave emission (lower wave resistance) and, consequently, lower forward resistance. The proposed methodology resulted in a maximum reduction of 5% in the total resistance coefficient C t and in the identification of a trend of geometric variation of the hull for investigation in further studies.