Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation modeling practices for FPSO hull current load prediction were consolidated in a Joint Development Project (JDP) and used to perform CFD simulations for two candidate FPSO hulls, i.e. a barge-type hull and tanker-type hull. The current loads predicted by the JDP participants using the consolidated CFD simulation guidelines are fairly consistent, i.e. < 10% differences. Good agreement is observed between the CFD simulation and the model test results particularly for sway force and yaw moment coefficients. The CFD modeling practice will be further improved and validated in a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to ensure reproducible and reliable results for simulations of hydrodynamic performance of offshore platforms.
Current drag is one of the important environmental loads for design of offshore floating platforms including FPSO vessels. Currently this load is commonly measured in model tests either using towing tanks (e.g. OCIMF, 1994) or wind tunnels (e.g. Huang et al., 2016 and Cho et al., 2018). With significant advancement in computing technology in the last two decades, CFD has gained more attention to supplement model testing for current drag prediction and could become an alternative or supplemental tool of industry practice in the near future.
Fathi et al. (2010) had used CFD simulation to predict current loads on a LNG carrier and presented some important guidelines for CFD simulations developed under Current Affairs JIP. In recent few years, several researchers have started to further improve or develop new CFD simulation modeling practice to account for different complexities in current load prediction. For example, Koop (2015) studied shallow water and scale effects on a LNG carrier current loads while Islam et al. (2015) studied the hydrodynamic performance of a FPSO hull in highly oblique flow conditions. In another publication, Koop (2016) presented current load coefficients including shielding effects of a LNG carrier and a shuttle tanker in side-by-side configuration, a subject which was also studied by Yuck et al. (2007) using model tests. The promising results from these CFD studies which were validated using model test data, demonstrated that CFD analysis has become more reliable and efficient in predicting hull current loads.