Mesh Properties for RANS Simulations of Airfoil-Shaped Profiles: A Case Study of Rudder Hydrodynamics

A good mesh is a prerequisite for achieving reliable results from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations. Mesh properties include types, computational domain sizes, and node distributions. However, in literature, we found no clear consensus about what these should be. In this article, performed case study on ship rudders to determine the suitable are airfoil-shaped profiles. classic NACA 0012 profile chosen as an example, commercial packages ANSYS ICEM applied meshing with Fluent solver. With strategy consideration of relationships among different properties, comprehensive parametric investigation conducted impacts accuracy rudder hydrodynamic coefficients obtained by CFD methods. The step-by-step outputs recommended Reynolds numbers, near- far-field distributions types distinct topology structures, i.e., C-mesh, O-mesh, H-mesh, Hybrid-mesh. Specifically, shows that critical number needed perspective efficiency, while extending 60 times chord length enables boundary effects be negligible. As distributions, near-field nodes treated carefully, compared those far-field. After that, corresponding calculation objectives illustrated detail based characteristics mentioned above. proposed refinements, hydrodynamics clarified settings applicable other profiles such wind turbines marine propellers.