Validation Study of MPS (Moving Particle Semi-Implicit Method) for Sloshing and Damage Stability Analysis

The aim of this paper is to present validation studies of a CFD code based on MPS (Moving Particle Semi-implicit Method). In MPS method the fluid is represented by particles, and the particle interactions are governed by continuity and Navier-Stokes equations. It is a meshless method to simulate incompressible flow and it is able to simulate large surface distortion, fluid fragmentation and non-linear dynamics. For the validation studies, two cases with complex hydrodynamic phenomena were selected for experimental measurements in towing tank. The first one is the dynamics of a floating body in waves with an internal tank partial filled with water. In this way sloshing effects on the motion of the model can be evaluated. Usually, dynamics of the floating body and sloshing are calculated separately, by neglecting their coupling effects; the body’s motion is determined without sloshing and that motion is used to excite the liquid tank. Since the sloshing generates forces and moments, which may change the movement of the hull, sloshing forces and moments may act as a roll absorption device or can enlarger it. In MPS this coupled phenomena can be easily simulated, just by using particles representing water of the internal tank, water of the towing tank and structural particles representing the hull, the walls and the wave maker. The second phenomenon is the motions of a damaged hull from the moment soon after suffering damage until reaches the equilibrium position. This is an initial step of a validation study of the motion of a damage hull in waves, which will be compared with physical experiments. The comparisons between the numerical results obtained by the MPS with the experimental and theoretical ones show very good agreement, reinforcing the potential of MPS.