Assessment of hydrodynamic characteristics of a full-scale ship at different draughts

Numerical and experimental assessment of resistance and propulsion characteristics for a handymax bulk carrier at full-scale is carried out within this paper. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations and Volume of Fluid Method are utilized in numerical simulations of resistance, open water and self-propulsion tests for three load conditions at two speeds. Verification of the obtained numerical results is performed and numerical uncertainty is calculated. Also, comparison of four turbulence models for resistance, open water and self-propulsion tests is made. An extensive towing tank experiments are performed in Brodarski institute and the obtained results are extrapolated to full-scale values using five extrapolation methods. Furthermore, numerical results are validated by comparison with extrapolated values of total resistance, open water and propulsion characteristics. A detailed analysis of the results is provided, and advantages and disadvantages of extrapolation methods are highlighted. Also, the importance of utilizing CFD based on viscous flow in the improvement of reliability of extrapolation methods and in reducing the incremental resistance coefficient is shown. Finally, the advantages of utilizing CFD based on viscous flow for assessment of ship hydrodynamic characteristics at full-scale are presented.