Modelling Manoeuvrability in the Context of Ship Collision Analysis Using Non-Linear FEM

Ship collisions are rare events that may have a significant impact on the safety of people, ships, and other marine structures, as well as on the environment. Because of this, they are extensively studied but events that just precede collision are often overlooked. To rationally assess collision risks and consequences, a ship’s trajectory, and consequently the velocity and collision angle, should be known. One way to achieve this is through accurate modelling of ship manoeuvrability in collision analysis using non-linear FEM (NFEM). The Abkowitz manoeuvring model is implemented in the LS-Dyna software code and is therefore coupled with FEM calculations. Hydrodynamic forces are calculated in each time step of the LS-Dyna calculation and added to the FE model continuously through calculation. The accuracy of the calculations depends on the choice of and values of hydrodynamic derivatives from the Abkowitz model. Abkowitz’s model derives hydrodynamic forces in the Taylor expansion series to provide hydrodynamic derivatives. The application of the procedure is sensitive on higher-order Taylor series members. This article reviews different sets of hydrodynamic derivatives available for the KVLCC2 ship. Each of them is incorporated into the LS-Dyna NFEM solver by a user-made Fortran subroutine, with standard Zigzag and turning manoeuvres simulated and results compared with the experimental tests. As a result, the optimal selection of hydrodynamic derivatives is determined, laying a foundation for assessing the risk of ship collision due to different ship manoeuvres prior to the collision itself.