Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Lifting Forces of Fin Stabilizers with Fin–Hull Interaction

Abstract

A fin stabilizer is one of the most effective and frequently used anti-roll devices for maintaining a ship’s operational safety and passengers’ comfort. However, the discrepancy between theoretical hydrofoil-based predictions and the actual dynamic lift force of fin stabilizers due to fin–hull interactions requires more research attention. This study investigates the effect of fin stabilizers on mitigating roll motion through the performance of extensive computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations over a range of fin angles and ship speeds. Model tests were carried out to validate the drag and motion results obtained from numerical analyses. The results show that fin stabilizers significantly reduce the roll motion, with the lift coefficient values influenced by the Reynolds number, leading to differences between the theoretical and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) calculations. At a high Froude number (Fr), the actual fin lift is about half of the theoretical value. These findings highlight the requirement of selecting an adequate fin area at the predominant ship speeds and ensuring an effective anti-roll effect with fin–hull interaction. This study provides a significant reference for ship design, as well as stabilization system control and optimization.