High Efficiency Computation of High Reynolds Number Flows

Although advancements in CFD technology and high performance computing have proven to be effective and reasonably accurate in assessing the hydrodynamic performance of naval vessels, the effort required to develop associated analysis models remains a challenging and time consuming task. Decomposing and manipulating the design geometry for mesh construction, while capturing near-field and far-field effects and interactions among moving components, are manual processes and place the heaviest demands on time in the analysis process. An integrated modeling and hydrodynamics analysis framework is proposed. It incorporates a feature-based modeling environment facilitating rapid layout and configuration of vessels automating the creation and parameterization of structured, unstructured, and overset grids. CFD solvers are seamlessly integrated and directly linked with algorithms for mesh refinement and adaptivity. Updating grids in critical flow regions (streamlines, wakes, boundary layers) and management of overset grids around moving components are supported. Distributed-object computing algorithms to process, manage, and enable interoperability among large scale analysis geometry and mesh models are supported. The framework integrates design and analysis processes, seamlessly linking solvers with the modeling and meshing process, enabling rapid development of computationally efficient and accurate hydrodynamic simulations for performance assessment of vessels at the earliest stage of the engineering process.