An investigation of the seakeeping behaviour of a polar vessel in waves

Date
2021-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The SA Agulhas II plays a crucial role in logistical and research support in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. It is estimated that open water transits account for up to 85 % of her total voyages. She is built to Polar Class PC5 with a thick rounded stem and a full fore-body. Instinctively, these characteristics improve her performance in ice but may lead to sharp increases in open-water resistance and a ect other seakeeping aspects. In particular, her spoon-shaped bow and at raised transom predispose her to slamming. In rough sea conditions, signi cant motions are induced, which subsequently leads to an increase in resistance and fuel consumption. To ensure e cient performance at sea, vessel owners must have knowledge about a ship's responses in these environments. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken to evaluate the seakeeping behaviour of the SA Agulhas II. Full-scale measurements were conducted onboard the vessel during a cruise in the Southern Ocean. Data obtained from this campaign were used to determine the heave, roll and pitch motion responses in irregular waves. Strip theory was implemented to determine the motion Response Amplitude Operators of the vessel. Through superposition of the Response Amplitude Operators and the wave spectrum, the motion responses in irregular waves were predicted. A comparison between measured and predicted motion responses showed that heave and pitch could be predicted with reasonable accuracy. Roll motion showed various discrepancies and future research is recommended to study non-linear e ects, such as roll damping. Computational Fluid Dynamics was identi ed as an essential tool to investigate her motion responses and added resistance in head waves. During this work, three speeds were evaluated, her design speed of 14 kn, a reduced speed of 10 kn, and an increased speed of 18 kn. Overall, the results showed that the maximum heave and pitch motions are expected to occur when the encounter frequency ranges between 0.124-0.143 Hz. For all three speeds, the maximum added resistance in waves was observed when large-amplitude motion occurs. It was further shown that a reduction of speed from 14 kn to 10 kn could decrease her e ective power by 42 %. On the other hand, increasing speed by 4 kn from 14 kn to 18 kn could lead to a maximum increase in e ective power of 87 %. Computational Fluid Dynamics investigations further showed that slamming could occur at the bow region of the SA Agulhas II even though she is not operating in extreme conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics shows clear potential for further investigations into bow and stern slamming for the SA Agulhas II.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die SA Agulhas II speel 'n deurslaggewende rol in logistiek en navorsingsondersteuning in die Suidelike Oseaan en Antarktika. Na beraming behels 85 % van haar werk operasies in oop water. Sy is geklassi sser as `n ysklas skip en voldoen aan die stipulasies vir Pool Klas 5. Haar boeg is lepelvormig en haar longitudinale sentrum van dryfvermoë is ver vorentoe geposisineer. Hierdie eienskappe verbeter haar vermoë om ys te breek, maar dit kan lei tot `n skerp toename in oop water weerstand en ander seewaardigheidsimplikasies, bv. branderimpak by die lepelvormige boeg en verlengde agterskip. Rowwe seetoestande induseer beduidende rigiede ligaamsbeweging, wat lei tot `n toename in weerstand en brandstofverbuik. Om bedryfsdoeltre endheid op see te verseker, is dit van uiterste belang vir vaartuigeienaars om kennis te dra oor die gedrag van `n skip in hierdie omgewings. Daarom is `n ondersoek onderneem om die seewaardigheid van die SA Agulhas II te evalueer. Volskaal metings is aan boord die skip uitgevoer tydens `n vaart in die Suidelike Oseaan. Data verkry uit hierdie veldtog is gebruik om die dein-, rol- en stampbewegingsreaksies in onreëlmatige golwe te bepaal. Strookteorie is geïmplementeer om die bewegings-respons-amplitude-operateurs van die vaartuig te bepaal. Deur superposisie van die respons-amplitude-operateurs en die golfspektrum is die bewegingsreaksies in onreëlmatige golwe voorspel. 'n Vergelyking tussen gemete en voorspelde bewegings het getoon dat dein-en stampbeweging met redelike akkuraatheid voorspel kan word. Rolbeweging het verskillende afwykings getoon en toekomstige navorsing word aanbeveel om nie-lineêre e ekte, soos roldemping, te bestudeer. Numeriese vloeidinamika is geïdenti seer as 'n noodsaaklike hulpmiddel om haar bewegingsreaksies en weerstand in kopgolwe te ondersoek. Tydens hierdie werk is drie snelhede geëvalueer, haar ontwerpspoed van 14 kn, 'n verlaagde spoed van 10 kn, en 'n verhoogde spoed van 18 kn. Oor die algemeen het die resultate getoon dat die maksimum dein- en stampbewegings na verwagting sal plaasvind wanneer die golfaantre ngsfrekwensie wissel tussen 0.124−0.143 Hz. Vir al drie snelhede is die maksimum toegevoegde weerstand in golwe waargeneem wanneer groot amplitude beweging plaasvind. Daar is verder aangetoon dat 'n verlaging in spoed vanaf 14 kn tot 10 kn haar e ektiewe drywing met 42 % kan verlaag. Verder is daar gevind dat, indien sy haar spoed verhoog met 4 kn vanaf 14 kn tot 18 kn kan dit lei tot 'n toename in effektiewe drywing van 87 %. Numeriese ondersoeke het verder getoon dat daar branderimpak kan plaasvind by die boeg van die SA Agulhas II, alhoewel sy nie in uiterste golftoestande vaar nie. Numeriese vloeidinamika toon duidelik potensiaal vir die bestudering van branderimpak by die boeg en agterskip van die SA Agulhas II.
Description
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Seakeeping, Response amplitude operators, Polar vessel, Computational fluid dynamics, UCTD, Waves
Citation