PROJECTS Dipl. Math. Julia Dohmen

Validation of a CFD-Programme for the simulation of fire spread on container ships

In December 2008, fire tests directed by an industrial partner were carried out in closed and partly open containers. On the basis of these results, knowledge on the spread of fire, the development of temperature and gas composition during a container fire could be gained. In the course of the operation, fire tests were simulated numerically using the FDS- (Fire Dynamics Simulator) programme. The aim of this was to validate the numerical method. Furthermore the options of the CFD-procedure with regard to heat transmission and propagation of fumes in a closed cargo bay are being investigated.

Simulation with OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM (Open Field Operation and Manipulation) is a free simulation software package for continuum-mechanical problems. It contains a number of standard solvers for different types of physical problems. Additional solvers can be added with the OpenFOAM-internal syntax.

By using OpenFOAM, Ms. Dohmen is engaged in the development and application of numerical procedures for the solution of marine flow problems (e.g. multiphase flows such as free surface and cavitation). For this purpose, Navier-Stokes equations and transport equations are coupled with rigid body equations of movement and solved numerically. The results obtained from these simulations are validated by means of model experiments.