CFD RANS Simulations on a Generic Conventional Scale Model Submarine: Comparison between Fluent and OpenFOAM

Abstract

The ability to perform accurate Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations of the flow around submarines is crucial for support to SEA1000. The Hydroacoustics Group in MD have been using the commercial software code Fluent for some years now to perform these simulations, but recently have been considering using the open source code OpenFOAM to replace some of the Fluent simulations. The fidelity of the Fluent code has been carefully validated, but the accuracy of parts of the OpenFOAM code have not been so extensively tested. To test the accuracy of the OpenFOAM software, CFD simulations have been performed on the DSTO generic conventional submarine model using both Fluent and OpenFOAM. A comparison of the value of the drag coefficient calculated by the two codes shows differences of up to 15%. A partial resolution of these differences has been found and the discrepancy has been reduced in some cases, but unacceptable differences are still present. This report summarizes the work performed so far to highlight and resolve these differences, and suggests further work which needs to be done to provide confidence in the use of these codes.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2015
Accession Number
ADA622263

Entities

People

  • David A. Jones

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Signatures
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computer Programs
  • Equations
  • Flow
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Fluids
  • Geometry
  • Large Eddy Simulation
  • Naval Architecture
  • Open Source Software
  • Open Water
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Scale Models
  • Simulations
  • Standards

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation