Numerical study on the hydrodynamic forces on a ship berthing to quay by taking free-surface effect into account

In the present study, numerical simulation of the berthing maneuver of a ship in the prescribed translational motion is performed. The transient viscous flow and hydrodynamic forces on the hull are calculated by solving the unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations in overset grid system, and the free surface is captured using volume-of-fluid (VOF) approach. The present numerical results have been compared with previous computational results by Toda and available experimental data respectively. Since the effects of the quaywall and free surface are taken into consideration in the present study, it is found that the agreement is significantly better than that resulting from Toda’s 3D CFD based approach. Then the effects of various standoff distances between the ship and quaywall on the lateral forces are investigated. Meanwhile, the detailed transient flow features around the berthing ship are obtained, which are helpful to understand the interactional effects between the ship and quaywall. The present results may provide helpful guidance for vessels’ safe maneuvering in berthing motion and the design of fender system in the quay.