Numerical simulation of ship-ice interaction in brash ice channel, comparison of injection methods using CFD-DEM

Abstract

This study explores the behavior of brash ice channels, with a particular focus on the interactions between ice particles and their collective effects on the ship hull. Emphasis is placed on both hydrodynamic forces and particle-induced loads acting on the vessel. A coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Element Method (CFD–DEM) framework is employed to simulate these interactions. Two distinct ice particle injection methods (Random injection and Part injection) are implemented to evaluate their influence on computational performance, particle distribution, and overall simulation fidelity. The goal is to assess how accurately these methods capture real-world ice–ship interaction phenomena. Our findings reveal that the random injector achieves a more natural particle distribution, maintaining consistent channel porosity and effectively modeling brash ice conditions. This method was computationally advantageous, reducing CPU time by approximately 80% compared to the part injector, which exhibited higher computational costs and premature bow wave effects due to its structured injection pattern. These results underscore the importance of injection methods in accurately modeling ice resistance while balancing computational demands. The insights gained from this research contribute to improving the numerical simulation of ships brash ice channels.