Numerical Analysis of Wave Interference Effects on Ship Resistance in Parallel Arrangements

Ships moving in formations experience complex hydrodynamic interactions, leading to changes in resistance and motion responses, which are important considerations in engineering applications. This study investigated the resistance of ships arranged in parallel formations using both theoretical and numerical methods. Thin ship theory and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to analyze the wave interference effects among multiple advancing ships. First, variations in wave resistance as a function of ship speed were examined. It was observed that as ship speed increases, the wavelength becomes longer, resulting in periodic occurrences of destructive and constructive interference, which cause significant fluctuations in wave resistance. Next, the influence of separation distances on wave resistance was explored at a consistent ship speed. The results showed that smaller separation distances exhibit more pronounced variations in wave resistance. Finally, the overall characteristics of wave resistance changes with respect to the number of ships in parallel arrangements were reviewed. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that wave interference effects in parallel arrangements significantly impact wave resistance, depending on forward speed and separation distance.