Self-propulsion CFD simulations

Standard self-propulsion simulations are performed for a fixed speed while controlling the RMP's of the propeller(s) to achieve the force balance.

Fully automated framework makes these simulations more accessible by reducing the required man-hours from our side. Check out our price list.

What do we need from you for self-propulsion simulations?

  • CAD file

  • Mass properties of the ship

  • Open water curves (thrust and torque)

  • Speed(s)

What can we calculate for you?

  • Achieved RPM, thrust, torque and power

  • Sinkage and trim

After performing extensive verification and validation for calm water resistance, seakeeping, wave loads and green water at model scale, we moved onto full scale CFD self-propulsion simulations.

Self-propulsion simulations are performed using the actuator disk model that only requires open water thrust and torque curves as an input: KT(J) and KQ(J).

Thanks to the Lloyd’s Workshop on Ship Scale Computer Hydrodynamic Simulation and Uljanik Shipyard, we compared the achieved speed of a general cargo carrier and a car carrier directly to sea trial measurements, with errors smaller than 1%.

But that’s not all, we performed grid sensitivity studies for both ships, showing consistent results with grid refinement. For all the details, take a look at this paper.

Numerical sea trials show good agreement with actual sea trials.