A review for numerical simulation methods of ship–ice interaction

Abstract This paper represents the state-of-the-art in the field of ice tank numerical simulation methods. It gives a comprehensive review of existing commercial and prototype numerical methods in the ship–ice interaction, including aspects such as features, capabilities, and presents a discussion in terms of their characteristics. The numerical simulation techniques are categorized as discrete element method, finite element method, cohesive element method, smoothed particle hydrodynamics method, peridynamics method, lattice Boltzmann method, and some coupled models of these methods, mainly depending on what the numerical methods are implemented to simulate the behavior of ice. One purpose is to classify the chosen methods and evaluate their efficiency and accuracy, and to enable potential readers to quickly grasp the main numerical methods and the development of their applications in the ship–ice interaction scenarios. We assess their practicability and validity from both perspectives of practice and physics and discuss challenges in existing numerical simulation methods. We highlight the significance of interdisciplinary applications for developing the research in fluid–structure interactions. Instead of elaborating on the numerical simulation techniques theoretically, their applications in ship–ice interaction scenarios are focused and presented.