Deep and Shallow Water Low-Speed Maneuvering Tests: Comparison Between Experimental and Simulation Results

This paper presents small-scale low-speed maneuvering tests with an oceanographic research vessel and the comparison with mathematical model using the real time maneuvering simulator developed by the University of São Paulo (USP). The tests are intended to verify the behavior of the vessel and the mathematical model under transient and low speed tests. The small-scale tests were conducted in deep and shallow waters, with a depth-draft ratio equal to 1.28, in order to verify the simulator ability to represent the vessel maneuverability on both depth conditions. The hydrodynamic coefficients used in the simulator model were obtained by CFD calculations and wind tunnel model tests carried out for this vessel. Standard turning circle and accelerating turn maneuvers were used to compare the experimental and numerical results. A fair agreement was achieved for shallow and deep water. Some differences were observed mainly in the initial phase of the accelerating turn test.