Numerical study of a novel ventilation system added to the structure of a catamaran for different slamming conditions using OpenFOAM

Abstract

Large-size catamarans’ structural behavior is sensitive and critical during the slamming phenomenon. “Ventilation pipes” within the center bow structure are proposed to discharge these cumulative pressure and related loads. The validation case is comprising two different simulation schemes, static and dynamic wedge. First, the appropriate method is chosen based on the accuracy and needed computational running time criteria. The numerical solution approach solves the RANS equation using the Open Field Operation and Manipulation (OpenFOAM) library called “InterFoam and OverInterDyMFoam for static and dynamic mesh respectively. Totally three different impact conditions with four different impact velocities (12 case studies) were considered for the case with added ventilation pipes (amended hull) and the standard model (parent-hull). Apart from the limitation of the proposed plan which is discussed, the results indicate that the recorded pressure and total force decreases by about (15%–50%), and (5%–25%) respectively.