Abstract
A good mesh is a prerequisite for achieving reliable results from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations. Mesh properties include mesh types, computational domain sizes, and node distributions. However, in literature, we found no clear consensus about what these properties should be. In this article, we performed a case study on ship rudders to determine what the suitable mesh properties are for airfoil-shaped profiles. A classic NACA 0012 profile is chosen as an example, and commercial packages ANSYS ICEM are applied for meshing with an ANSYS Fluent solver. With a strategy in consideration of relationships among different mesh properties, a comprehensive parametric investigation is conducted to study the impacts of these properties on the accuracy of rudder hydrodynamic coefficients obtained by CFD methods. The step-by-step study outputs recommended Reynolds numbers, domain sizes, and near- and far-field node distributions for mesh types with distinct topology structures, i.e., C-mesh, O-mesh, H-mesh, and Hybrid-mesh. Specifically, the study shows that a critical Reynolds number is needed for the perspective of efficiency, while a domain extending 60 times of the chord length enables the boundary effects to be negligible. As for node distributions, the near-field nodes should be treated carefully, compared with those in the far-field. After that, corresponding mesh properties for different calculation objectives are illustrated in detail based on the characteristics of mesh types mentioned above. With the proposed strategy for mesh refinements, impacts of different mesh properties on rudder hydrodynamics are clarified and recommended settings are applicable for other airfoil-shaped profiles such as wind turbines and marine propellers.
Highlights
Stimulated by developments in computer power and mechanics theories, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) methods were widely applied in ocean engineering to study the hydrodynamic performance of marine structures
Results of the benchmark and the CFD codes are achieved in essentially incompressible air with a Mach number of 0.15
This paper describes a comprehensive approach to identifying suitable mesh properties for CFD simulations of airfoil-shaped ship rudders
Summary
Stimulated by developments in computer power and mechanics theories, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) methods were widely applied in ocean engineering to study the hydrodynamic performance of marine structures. Computation domains containing target structures need to be discretized into multiple mesh elements to solve differential equations numerically. The presence of CFDbased tools enables researchers to obtain more precise hydrodynamic coefficients compared with that of traditional empirical methods, which is beneficial to establish individualized and accurate mathematical maneuverability models for different objectives. Many CFD simulations were conducted to study rudder hydrodynamics (Liu et al [2], Badoe et al [3], Van Nguyen and Ikeda [4]), but few concentrate on mesh generations for rudders. The study on mesh properties for RANS simulations of rudder hydrodynamics is performed to present detailed insight into meshes around rudders
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