Heaving motion of a floating body - a computational approach

Abstract

This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation of the simulation sensitivity and accuracy for small scale floating bodies in low Reynolds number regime. The study aims to provide an extensive insight into the factors and phenomena important in simulating floating rigid bodies. The work is a continuation of previous research that performed small scale experiments and aims to provide as comprehensive basis for future expansion as possible. This paper is divided into three parts. In the first part, the experimental data is compiled and analysed, and all the most important characteristics are described. The experiments involve a wax cylinder constrained to heave motion released directly under the water surface. The second part performs an exhaustive analysis of the process of preparing a simulation framework and lists the simulation setups utilised in this study. This part is split into four sections. The first focuses on the choice of the simulation framework and its setup. The second focuses on the stability and convergence of various simulation configurations. The third compares four different turbulence models. Finally, the fourth performs sensitivity tests for a chosen turbulence model. Finally, the third part summarises and compares the simulation results. The stability analysis is performed and the main characteristics of the floating body motion are compared against the experimental data. Overall, the findings of this thesis contribute to a better understanding of the small scale, low Reynolds simulated flows and the sensitivity of the numerical approach. The results of this study provide a solid basis for further development of an extensive framework for iceberg simulation.