CFD applications in offshore engineering

Department of Mechanical and Structural Engineering and Materials Science, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway

^* Corresponding author: muk.c.ong@uis.no

Published online: 12 May 2017

Abstract

This paper gives a discussion on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applications in offshore engineering. Accurate hydrodynamic quantities are essential for engineering design. Offshore structures are generally subject to high Reynolds number flows. These high Reynolds number flow conditions (Re > 10⁶) are difficult and expensive to achieve in an experimental setup. Therefore, it is attractive to use CFD to provide the essential hydrodynamic quantities for practical design. Verification and validation studies are important for determining the validity of the CFD prediction. A procedure of performing CFD simulation is shown. Different types of turbulence modelling are discussed. Three examples of high Reynolds number CFD simulations, covering flow around offshore structural components and waves past partially-submerged horizontal cylinders, are shown and discussed.