Shipflow 8.0: Multi-Fidelity CFD for Ship Hydrodynamics & Hull Optimization

Shipflow 8.0 is an advanced hydrodynamic analysis software for ships and marine structures, developed by FLOWTECH and officially released in 2024 . Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), it enables simulation and analysis of water flow around ship hulls, hydrodynamic resistance evaluation, and hull form optimization.

Version 8.0 introduces Multi-Fidelity simulation capabilities, allowing engineers to combine potential flow, RANS, and boundary layer methods to achieve optimal accuracy-to-computational time ratios.

Shipflow is internationally validated and can predict ship power with less than 1.5% error compared to full-scale sea trial data . Hull optimization in Shipflow is based on RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes) equations, utilizing adaptive 3D meshing techniques to ensure high accuracy in critical regions such as the bow, stern, and propeller area.

???? Primary Users

This professional computational fluid dynamics software is designed for:

• Naval Architects & Marine Engineers optimizing hull forms, reducing hydrodynamic resistance, and predicting vessel performance during design stages .

• Hydrodynamics Analysts simulating 3D water flow around hulls, analyzing free-surface waves, and calculating pressure and velocity distributions .

• Renewable Marine Energy Researchers simulating wind-assisted propulsion systems (e.g., Flettner rotors, rigid sails) .

• Propeller & Propulsion System Designers evaluating hull-propeller interaction, calculating thrust, and predicting cavitation .

• Offshore & Marine Industry Professionals analyzing vessel performance under complex operating conditions such as variable waves and tidal currents

⚡ Key Features & Capabilities in Version 8.0

????️ New Applications

???? RANS Solver Improvements

• New Flexible Hull Mesher (XGR8) : Improved mesh quality for complex geometries (e.g., twin-hull vessels) .

• Major Overlapping Grid Update : Enhanced numerical stability and force accuracy for complex appendages (propellers, rudders, brackets) .

• Multi-Propeller Power Allocation : Simulation capability for vessels with multiple propellers and power distribution .

???? MOTIONS Module

• Ship Bending Moment Calculation : New capability for calculating vertical, horizontal, and torsional bending moments in calm water and waves .

• Atmospheric Boundary Layer Models : Simulation of steady and unsteady winds using velocity profiles at various heights .

• General PID Controller : Interface for simulating dynamic ship control systems using external libraries .

????️ XGRID & Meshing Improvements

• New Hull Meshing Method (XGR8) : Automatically generates high-quality surface meshes for monohulls (including twin-hull vessels) .

• C-Type Meshing for Ducts, Rudders & Brackets : Increased simulation accuracy for complex appendages using appropriate topology .

???? Integration & Utility Features

• CAD Integration : Direct import of 3D geometries from industrial design software for rapid simulation .

• Advanced Python Scripting : Ready-to-use examples for resistance analysis, propeller performance, self-propulsion, and wind force calculations .

• Advanced Reporting & Visualization : 3D visualization of pressure and velocity fields with analytical data output .

???? What’s New in Version 8.0 Compared to Previous Versions

Version 8.0 represents a major upgrade from previous versions. The table below highlights key differences :

???? System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) or Linux (64-bit)

• CPU: Intel Core i5 or equivalent (2.5+ GHz)

• RAM: 8 GB (16 GB recommended)