A CFD-based Optimization of Wind Resistance of Ship Superstructure

Abstract

With the sustainable and continuous advancement of ship design and shipbuilding technology, the optimization of ship superstructures has become a focal point in improving sailing performance and energy efficiency. This study presents a CFD-based parametric and practical optimization approach to analyze and reduce wind resistance on the superstructure of a 114 000 DWT oil tanker. A numerical simulation model was developed to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of various superstructure designs under different wind conditions. Systematic alterations were made to several structural parameters, such as the windward bridge building length, the curvature of the windward surface, and the side edges’ fillet radius. The research hypothesis of this study is that modifying the key geometric parameters of the ship superstructure (increasing bridge building length, optimizing windward curvature, and enlarging fillet radius) can inhibit airflow separation on the windward side, optimize the pressure distribution of the superstructure surface, reduce the intensity of vortex generation in the wake region, and thus effectively reduce the aerodynamic wind resistance of the superstructure. The results showed that increasing the bridge building length by 32.9% (4.6 m) of the main body significantly reduced wind resistance by 25.3%. Further optimization through curvature adjustment showed that a lower curvature (β = 0.07) minimized turbulence and vortices, contributing to a more uniform pressure distribution and reduced resistance. Increasing the fillet radius from 100 mm to 1 000 mm led to a 9.1% reduction in wind resistance, as smoother transitions reduced the airflow generation of vortices. Under representative operating conditions, this optimization can reduce the total ship resistance by about 1.635%, and the annual fuel consumption of the oil tanker can be reduced by about 1.5%–2.0% with negligible adverse effects on ship motion stability at the design speed of 14 kn. These findings provide valuable insights for future ship design practices, emphasizing the potential of CFD-based optimization in achieving energy-efficient and environmentally friendly performance of vessels. The novelty of this study lies in the first synergistic optimization of three key geometric parameters for the superstructure of 114 000 DWT oil tankers, filling the gap in multi-parameter collaborative optimization of oil tanker superstructure wind resistance, and providing a practical design framework for engineering applications.

Keywords

MBD / CFD simulation / Ship superstructure / wind resistance / Drag reduction / Aerodynamics optimization

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