Quantifying Hydrodynamic Coefficients of Complex Structures

This paper provides a comparison between calculating hydrodynamic coefficients based on engineering publications or by using computational fluid dynamics [CFD]. The CFD examines various computational codes and compares how the various turbulence models examined performed, as well as the effect of grid refinement on the resultant hydrodynamic coefficients. Using accurately derived hydrodynamic coefficients, such as drag and added mass can significantly increase sea states in which a structure may be deployed. Prospect believes that through CFD analysis larger operational weather windows can be obtained in many cases.