Numerical simulation of pure sway motion of KVLCC1 in deep and shallow waters via overlapping grid technology

Objectives In modern marine technology, hydrodynamic performance is critical for ship maneuverability. Numerical simulation offers a cost-effective alternative to experimental methods by overcoming their financial and operational constraints. Methods This study employs the OpenFOAM-based naoe-FOAM-SJTU solver integrated with the Shear Stress Transport k-ω turbulence model and an overset grid approach to simulate hydrodynamic forces during the sway motion of a KVLCC1 hull under deep and shallow water conditions with varying depth-to-draft ratios. Results Validation against experimental data shows maximum deviations of less than 5% in sway force amplitude, yaw moment amplitude, and phase angles, confirming the reliability of the overset grid method for hydrodynamic predictions. Conclusions Comparative flow field analyses demonstrate pronounced shallow-water effects manifested through modified near-hull velocity profiles and wake vortex reconfiguration. Notably, free-surface wave generation shows negligible post-stabilization variations across depth conditions, indicating limited steady-state hydrodynamic influence. The results enhance mechanistic understanding of vessel-hydrodynamic interactions in confined flows, offering actionable strategies for marine system optimization.