A Method of Evaluating Multi-Vessel Surface Effect Ship Motion Prediction Codes

摘要

The use of seabasing has become a necessary logistics option for the US Navy. These seabases may be formed as far as 150 nautical miles offshore where large seaways can be encountered. These seaways can induce ship motions which may restrict the ability to transfer cargo. Numerical simulations of the seabase in a range of seaways, ship speeds and headings can be used to predict the maximum seaway in which the seabase could safely operate. To support the US Navy's T-Craft Innovative Naval Prototype program, five simulation codes were chosen for evaluation. The code evaluation process was conducted in two parts. First, a matrix of required capabilities of the simulation codes is defined. Each code will then be evaluated against the capability matrix to determine the extent the code can be used to support the seabase from a motions standpoint. The second part of the evaluation was to correlate the output from each code against a set of model test results of two ships at various speeds and ship-to-wave headings. This code evaluation procedure can aid in determining the "accuracy" of the motions predictions from each program and the conditions under which each program can be used.