Numerical modeling of seawater flow through the flooding system of dry docks

Abstract

Numerical simulations have been carried out on the flooding system of a dry dock in design stage and to be located at the south coasts of Iran. The main goals of the present investigation are to evaluate the flooding time as well as the seawater flow characteristics in the intake channels of the dock. The time dependent upstream and downstream boundary conditions of the flooding system are imposed in the modeling. The upstream boundary condition is imposed in accordance with the tidal fluctuations of sea water level. At the downstream, the gradually rising water surface elevation in the dry dock is described in a transient boundary condition. The numerical results are compared with available laboratory measured data and a good agreement is obtained. The seawater discharge through the flooding system and the required time to filling up the dry dock is determined at the worst case. The water current velocity and pressure on the rigid boundaries are also calculated and discussed.