Aerodynamic optimization of superstructures and components

Ships feature superstructures and components with steps, recesses and styling surfaces that cause detached flow phenomena. A favorable air flow becomes a design criterion, particularly for mega-yachts and cruise ferries. For instance, exhaust gases should be kept from passengers and crew. Within this paper it is discussed how Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are coupled for aerodynamic design. The FRIENDSHIP-Framework for parametric modeling and process control and ANSYS CFX for viscous flow simulations were combined. The aerodynamics of a mega-yacht was studied. Systematic refinements were undertaken to clarify the levels of detail for resolving geometry and fluid domain. Subsequently, the yacht’s funnel was optimized to improve emissions