Uncertainty analyses on the CFD–FEA co-simulations of ship wave loads and whipping responses

Abstract

In this paper, a fluid–structure interactions method which fully couples CFD and FEA solvers in a two-way manner is used to estimate ship wave loads and hydroelastic responses. The global motions, wave loads, and springing and whipping loads on a standard S175 containership model evaluated by the CFD–FEA coupling method are comprehensively investigated and related verification and validation studies are conducted. Verification and uncertainty analyses on the influence of fluid grid density, time step, fluid domain size, fluid viscosity and hull structural element number on the results of ship responses by the CFD–FEA coupling method are systematically conducted. The CFD–FEA co-simulated results of ship wave loads are further comprehensively compared with a series of existing results of S175 ship by potential flow theory, CFD simulation and tank model experiment as a benchmark and validation study. This study is the first specialized attempt of uncertainty analysis and benchmark study of ship motions, wave loads and hydroelastic responses predicted by CFD–FEA coupling method, which will provide valuable information regarding relative accuracy of the novel method used for wave loads prediction and hydroelastic analysis.