Numerical study of second-order wave forces using a Rankine panel method

Abstract

Numerical analysis of the wave forces acting on ships can be complex primarily because of the interactions between incident waves and structures. In this paper, the three-dimensional frequency domain Rankine panel method is used to study the seakeeping and second-order wave drift forces of a ship in waves. The model considers second-order wave forces acting on the ship hull and therefore accounts for slow drift ship motions and the added resistance. The second-order wave forces are evaluated using the pressure integral method, also known as the near-field approach. The unsteady velocity potential is divided into three parts namely (a) incident, (b) diffraction and (c) radiation to satisfy the Laplace equation. To avoid wave reflection the Rayleigh’s artificial friction is used in way of the free surface boundary. This method is equivalent to introducing a numerical damping beach for energy dissipation. The numerical results are compared with those of experiments for Wigley-III hull in head waves and the SCb-84 hull in oblique waves. Good agreement is obtained.