Hydrodynamic Performance of Ship Hull: CFD Based Design
FEA & CFD Based Simulation Design Analysis Virtual prototyping MultiObjective Optimization
Enteknograte have high-end expertise for Combining FEA and CFD tools for Ship simulation and optimization to give the best performance at the design draft and speed. Also different kind of optimization could be performed with targeting various speed-draft combinations in the operating profile. The overall hydrodynamic performance of a vessel is directly connected to the resistance and propulsive efficiency. The resistance is influenced by the hull shape, the wetted surface area and the configuration of appendages, while the propulsive efficiency is influenced by the propeller open water characteristics and the interaction between hull and propeller.


The performance depends on the variation of operating conditions, i.e. vessel speed, draft and trim. Vessels have traditionally been optimized for a single condition, normally the contract speed at design draft. With the help of state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools and modern computers it is now possible to optimize a vessel for various conditions in which the vessel will be trading.
Enteknograte has worked with hull optimization for several years. Enteknograte ’s experts have extensive relevant experience within ship hydrodynamics and energy efficiency, applied to numerous vessel types and sizes including the major segments: tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels.
All simulations of resistance and wake assessment will be performed using advanced CFD packages. A vessel’s hydrodynamic properties, including hull design and hull-propeller interaction, resistance, maneuvering, and seakeeping, must all be optimized together in order to achieve an energy-efficient design which can perform as required under these challenging conditions. By developing a digital twin of the vessel in the design phase, our solutions allow early evaluation and optimization of hull forms under realistic conditions, helping the marine industry develop innovative, better designs faster.
Use our CFD hydrodynamic solutions to:
- Perform full-scale CFD analysis of hull forms and appendages, removing any scaling uncertainties.
- Predict hull resistance under realistic operating conditions, including waves and open water.
- Analyze vessel performance when maneuvering, including self-propulsion.
- Ensure vessel designs meet seakeeping performance criteria.
- Examine wave loading and ensure structural stability.
- Optimize hull forms or appendages, including energy saving devices.

Enteknograte offers a Virtual Engineering approach with CFD and FEA tools such as Ansys Fluent, StarCCM+ for flows simulation and FEA based Codes such as ABAQUS, Ansys, Nastran and LS-Dyna, encompassing the accurate prediction of in-service loads, the performance evaluation, and the integrity assessment including the influence of manufacturing the components.
Hull Optimization Process:
A typical project for hydrodynamic hull optimization may include:
- Establishing a close dialog between Enteknograte and the Client;
- Defining a realistic operating profile;
- Discussing and combining Enteknograte ’s design ideas with the client’s design philosophy to obtain an optimal hull in both a hydrodynamic and building perspective;
- Optimizing the hull forebody based on the operating profile;
- Optimizing the hull aftbody to improve the propulsive efficiency, including consideration on propeller and machinery configuration;
- Assessing the Energy Efficient Design Index
The delivered value for the client is increased confidence in the hydrodynamic performance of the hull. Typically, considerably improved fuel efficiency and reduced gas emissions are achieved throughout the vessel’s lifetime.
Scope of our work for Hull Design included:
- Establishing a weighing matrix for the vessel’s relevant operating profile;
- Optimizing the hull forebody and aftbody (shoulders, bulb, transom stern height, etc.) based on the operating profile;
- Analyzing the wake and propulsion efficiency;
- Predicting the speed – power and fuel oil consumption curves;
- Assessing the preliminary EEDI;
