Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. provides Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) methods to estimate ship hull performance in calm waters. We utilize Orca Marine's CFD software to conduct resistance studies on vessel hulls of all forms. This is especially useful when optimizing hull geometry to improve fuel economy, as differences of only a few percentage points in resistance can lead to significant savings for vessel operators over the life of a vessel.

We have applied our CFD capabilities to comparative studies of barges, tugs, towboats, and ATB units. Through these studies, hull forms have been optimized to provide improved flow charactertistics and reduced resistance.

Additionally, Bristol Harbor Group, Inc.’s CFD capabilities allow for efficient and accurate powering predictions during the early stages of vessel design to help ensure design speed requirements are met. Heave, pitch, and trim characteristics can be defined, and the vessel’s wake profile can be visualized and analyzed to confirm that vessel behavior aligns with operator expectations without the need for model basin testing.