A fully automated optimisation of a fully parametric vessel for real world conditions

This project aims to investigate methods and techniques for improving the efficiency of CTV’s (Crew Transfer Vehicles) working within offshore domains, primarily offshore wind farms. The two key stages in the vessels operation will be analysed, namely the transit and transfer periods. Both of these periods will be broken down further to enable the key hydrodynamic and aerodynamic effects to be analysed and in turn optimised through the use of CFD and potential flow methods.

As stated above, both stages within the voyage will be investigated, however the main focus will be aimed towards the transfer stage and the analysis of manoeuvring aspects of the CTV close to a offshore platform while in real world conditions.

It is hoped through this research that the understanding of complex flow dynamics of non-monohull vessel’s manoeuvring will be further advanced, thus enabling efficiency gains to be made to the vessel at an earlier design stage. In addition, the manoeuvring, seakeeping and resistance characteristics will be compared with each individually optimised hull to analyse the pros and cons of optimising for manoeuvring with respect to resistance, and vice versa.

This investigation will primarily focus on the use of full-scale unsteady RANS CFD simulations while being coupled with a fully parametric modeller, such as CEASES/Friendship Framework. It is hoped to obtain full-scale results from within the industry through the Departments contacts. In addition, this research aims to utilise the Departments towing tank facilities for manoeuvring experiments and the validation of the respective CFD simulations.

This project has strong synergies with the research strengths of the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering in relation to ship design and the energy efficiency sector.For more information about the project contact Dr Tahsin Tezdogan (tahsin.tezdogan@strath.ac.uk) Lecturer at the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering at the University of Strathclyde.

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