Estimation of nonlinear forces acting on floating bodies using machine learning

Numerical models used in the design of floating bodies routinely rely on linear hydrodynamics. Extensions for hydrodynamic nonlinearities can be approximated using e.g. Morison type drag and nonlinear Froude-Krylov forces. This paper aims to improve the approximation of nonlinear forces acting on floating bodies by using machine learning (ML). Many ML models are general function approximators and therefore suitable for representing such nonlinear correction terms. A hierarchical modelling approach is used to build mappings between higher-fidelity simulations and the linear method. The ML corrections are built up for FNPF, Euler and RANS simulations. Results for decay tests of a sphere in model scale using recurrent neural networks (RNN) are presented. The RNN algorithm is shown to satisfactory predict the correction terms if the most nonlinear case is used as training data. No difference in the performance of the RNN model is seen for the different hydrodynamic models.