Numerical simulation of motions of a ship with a moonpool in head waves

The paper shows the results of assessing the possibilities of computational fluid dynamics for predicting the motions of a ship with a moonpool and vertical water motions in a moonpool in regular head waves with a zero ship speed. A moonpool is a well which is used in different types of ships such as cable laying, drill and FPSO, survey, research and so on. This well is used for launching and lifting of different devices, divers, rescue bells, cables and risers, which are protected from outboard wind and waves. The results of the numerical simulation in the OpenFOAM software of heave and pitch motions of the DTMB 5415 model in regular head waves with and without ship speed show good agreement with the experimental data. The experiment was organized with a series 60 model, which was equipped with different moonpool shapes modules in regular head waves with a zero ship speed for determining heave and pitch RAOs and vertical water motions in the moonpool. The results do not show any influence of the moonpool for heave and pitch ship motions. These data are necessary for numerical simulation verification. The results of the numerical simulation of experimental research show good agreement, which means the good efficiency of computational fluid dynamics in heave and pitch motions and vertical water motions in moonpool calculation of a ship with a moonpool. Numerical simulation should be advised for calculations during the ship design process.