Estimation of Current Loads on Offshore Vessels Using CFD

Abstract

Current loads acting on offshore vessels are important for predicting their hydrodynamic and structural response. It is also true for analyzing the behavior of mooring systems under the action of ocean current. However, standardized load coefficients for offshore vessels due to current are few and it is not easy to apply for arbitrary hull shapes, if any. In thie studym cirrent coefficients for offshorevarious hull shapes are calculated using a CFD code, which is well known for commercial uses in shipbuliding industry. In order to validate the present approach, a typical VLCC is taken for numerical example and resulting current coefficients are compared with the OCIMF data. The comparison shows a good agreement qualitatively. Additional two models considered herein are a FPSO and a shuttle tanker for deepwater condition (WD/T≥6), of which results may be utilized for practical design of offshore vessels.