Study of resistance performance of vessels with notches by experimental and computational fluid dynamics calculation methods

Owing to the special working characteristics and operation requirements, lots of working ships have notches in different sizes and shapes in their hulls. In order to study the resistance performance of the vessel with notches, a series of model resistance tests were performed in respect to the 4 500 m³/h cutter suction dredger, and the tests were simulated based on the computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT. Based on analysis to the experimental data and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation results, the change of the flow field and the resistance performance caused by the notches were studied, and the reliability of the software in simulation of viscous flow around the hull was proved. It provides the basis for the future study and the design optimization of this kind of working ships.