A Hybrid Method for Predicting Ship Maneuverability in Regular Waves

Abstract Traditionally, ship maneuvering is analyzed under calm water condition. In a more realistic scenario, such as a ship sailing in waves, the importance of taking the wave effects into account should be stressed. In this context, this paper proposes a hybrid method for predicting ship maneuverability in regular waves by combining a potential flow theory based panel method and a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS)-based computational fluid dynamics method. The mean wave drift forces are evaluated by applying a three-dimensional time-domain higher-order Rankine panel method, which takes the effects of ship's forward speed and lateral speed into consideration. The hull-related hydrodynamic derivatives in the equations of ship maneuvering motion are determined by using a RANS solver based on the double-body model. Then, the two-time scale method is applied to predict ship maneuvering in regular waves by integrating the seakeeping model in a three degrees-of-freedom MMG model for ship maneuvering motion. The numerical results of a laterally drifting S175 container ship, including the wave-induced motions, wave drift forces, and turning trajectories in regular waves, are presented and compared with the available experimental data in literature. The results show that the proposed hybrid method can be used for qualitatively predicting ship maneuvering behavior in regular waves.