Numerical Study on the Hydrodynamic Performance of Antifouling Paints

Abstract

This study presents a simple numerical method that can be used to evaluate the hydrodynamic performances of antifouling paints. Steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations were solved through a finite volume technique, whereas roughness was modeled with experimentally determined roughness functions. First, the methodology was validated with previous experimental studies with a flat plate. Second, flow around the Kriso Container Ship was examined. Lastly, full-scale results were predicted using Granville’s similarity law. Results indicated that roughness has a similar effect on the viscous pressure resistance and frictional resistance around a Reynolds number of 10⁷. Moreover, the increase in frictional resistance due to roughness was calculated to be approximately 3%–5% at the ship scale depending on the paint.

Keywords

Antifouling paint / Surface roughness / Frictional resistance / Ship resistance / Computational fluid dynamics / RANS