Numerical investigation of edge configurations on piston-modal resonance in a moonpool induced by heaving excitations

Abstract

The renormalization group (RNG) turbulent model is used to investigate the fluid resonance in a moonpool formed by two identical rectangular hulls under synchronous heaving excitation (e.g., a catamaran or dual pontoon). The numerical model is validated against the available experimental data, and accurate numerical solutions are obtained. The present study focuses on the amplitude of the moving hulls and the edge configuration of the moonpool entrance, as well as their influences on the piston-modal resonant wave in the moonpool. The dependence of the resonant wave amplitude in the moonpool on the heaving amplitude, the characteristic moonpool dimensions and the local velocity magnitude is derived based on a theoretical analysis, and the results are in good agreement with the RNG turbulent solutions. Five different edge profiles are considered, including two convex edges, two concave edges (both with various dimensions), and a sharp edge. Numerical examinations show that the edge configuration has a significant influence on the piston-modal resonant responses, a larger opening size leading to a higher resonant frequency and a larger resonant wave amplitude in the moonpool. Various flow patterns of the piston-modal resonance in the vicinity of the moonpool entrance are also identified, mainly depending on the edge profile. More intensive turbulent and vortical flows give rise to more significant dissipation, accounting for the smaller relative wave amplitude in the moonpool. With the increase of the heaving amplitude, the relative piston-modal resonant amplitude is decreased in an approximate power function. Within the scope of this work, the numerical investigations show that the piston-modal resonant frequency is hardly affected by the heaving amplitude.