Laboratory for Ship and Platform Flows (LSPF)

Ships have been engaged in maritime trade, national defense and leisure for millennia. Their hydrodynamic performance and design is an age-old problem in naval architecture, yet it still presents numerous challenges to the marine hydrodynamics community. Research at the LSPF focuses on the modeling of free surface flows past conventional and high-speed vessels and the estimation of their resistance and seakeeping in deep and shallow waters. Recent studies have concentrated on the coupling of hydrodynamic simulations with modern optimal control theory for the minimization of the motions and the fuel efficient navigation of high-performance and conventional vessels in a stochastic environment. These studies encompass the development of analytical and computational techniques, including the use of the state-of-the-art SWAN (ShipWaveANalysis) Software Suite.

The exploration and development of large offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs in deep waters is a key activity of the oil industry, presenting a host of technological challenges. Research at the LSPF has concentrated upon the study of the hydrodynamics and dynamics of novel deep-water offshore platform technologies. This includes studies of the surface wave hydrodynamics of various concepts, the nonlinear statics and dynamics of mooring, riser and tether systems in water depths up to 10,000 feet and the response simulation of platform concepts in hostile weather environments. Recent studies have concentrated on the development of floater concepts for the support of wind turbines to be deployed in large scale offshore wind farms in shallow and deep waters. These studies encompass the development of analytical and computational techniques, including the use of the state-of-the-art SML (Swim-Motion-Lines) and SWAN Software Suites.