Underwater Surface Boundary Condition¶

Overview¶

The input object SurfaceProperty:Underwater provides a model for applying a water boundary condition to a surface. This boundary condition captures the convective heat transfer to the free stream water. The convection may be forced if a velocity is applied to the free stream relative to the surface, or buoyant for slow or non-moving flow.

The model assumes the convective is boundary layer is developed along a nearly flat plate, and that this surface is centered at a user-specified distance from the leading edge of the boundary layer. The model also assumes free stream flow beyond the boundary layer.

The model uses a standard flat plate mixed convection Reynolds number correlation to determine a local Reynolds number and therefore a local convection coefficient. Once the convection coefficient is calculated, the convection heat transfer can be imposed on the surface outside heat balance.