1.6.1. Introduction
E-SeaFEM is an advanced graphic user interface (GUI) which allows for a fast and easy creation of towing tank analysis models for FEM seakeeping simulations in the time domain, using the powerful solver Tdyn SeaFEM.
E-SeaFEM asks the user only for the necessary data in order to configure and generate in a few clicks the domain and mesh for the seakeeping simulation, as well as for actually running the analysis and visualizing the results. The user can always open the full Tdyn SeaFEM interface in order to add all the further complexity.
Hence, E-SeaFEM allows users to quickly execute a simulation and obtain valuable information without being necessarily familiar with all the FEM and numerical concepts involved in this type of simulation.
This manual describes all available menu options and provides detailed instructions on how to perform essential operations, such as configuring a seakeeping simulation and displaying the main results.
This first version of E-SeaFEM as described in this manual, is capable of creating and running first order seakeeping simulations in the time domain, for monohull or multihull vessels. All the advanced features which are already included in the full version of Tdyn SeaFEM can be accessed from E-SeaFEM GUI, and therefore are available for the user once the initial model with the domain, conditions and mesh sizes has been assessed.
These advanced features will be added to the GUI of E-SeaFEM in upcoming versions, in order to be able automatically create simulations which include the most complex effects, as:
Analyses including multiple different bodies.
Analyses including connections between bodies.
RAOs analyses in the time domain (white noise), or in the frequency domain (BEM solver included in Tdyn SeaFEM ).
Second order effects.
Mooring analysis.
Slender elements (based in Morison formulation)
Added specific properties in bodies: non-linear hydrostatics, external forces, mass, inertia and damping matrices.
Full body animations features in the postprocess.