Visualisation of a ship's behaviour in seaways

Abstract

This study evaluated the potential of using game engines to simulate realistic ship motion in various ocean conditions. The results show that the Unreal Engine is an effective tool for creating such simulations, with the added benefit of being user-friendly and intuitive. The limitations of the study, such as the inability to change fluid parameters in real-time, were attributed to temporary issues with the game engine plugins, not to the discredit of the Unreal Engine. Additionally, with further development, the Unreal Engine seems to have the ability to produce better simulations. Additional factors such as hydrodynamic drag and wind force could be introduced and built upon this existing study, making it more comprehensive. Despite the limitations encountered, the study shows that game engines like the Unreal Engine have great potential for creating ship simulations in various ocean conditions. The need for high expertise in software may not be necessary, and game engines may eventually replace the use of CFD models for fluid and ship simulations.