From automated setup of CFD simulations in waves and self-propelled simulations with speed control to better load case management, expanded real-time hydrostatics, and a new Orca3D Object/Layer Tree, Version 3.2 brings meaningful improvements across the Orca3D product suite.
Orca3D Version 3.2 introduces a broad collection of new capabilities and workflow improvements for naval architects, marine engineers, boat designers, and ship designers working in Rhino.
Some of the most significant additions are found in Orca3D Marine CFD, where Version 3.2 automates more of the setup required for simulations in waves, adds a controller for self-propelled simulations at specified vessel speeds, and gives users greater control over simulation setup, monitoring, visualization, and reporting.
But Version 3.2 goes well beyond CFD. New and improved tools for load case management, stability analysis, real-time hydrostatics calculation, foil geometry creation, model organization, and 4K display behavior are designed to make every day Orca3D workflows faster and easier.
Orca3D Marine CFD: More Capability for advanced workflows
Version 3.2 continues to expand the integration between Orca3D and SimericsMP, allowing users to configure more of their CFD simulation setup directly from the Orca3D environment and reducing the amount of manual setup necessary within SimericsMP.
Create Self-Propelled Simulations for a Specified Target Speed
A self-propelled CFD analysis typically begins with a specified propeller RPM and allows the vessel to reach the speed at which propulsive force and vessel resistance balance.
Previously, if you needed to determine the RPM required to achieve a specific vessel speed, you generally had to run a series of simulations at different RPM values and interpolate the results—or manually adjust the propeller RPM during a simulation. Both of these could be tedious and time-consuming.
Orca3D 3.2 and SimericsMP introduce an RPM Controller that does this automatically. Users specify a target vessel speed and an estimated starting RPM for an actuator disk model of the propeller, and a PID controller adjusts the propeller RPM during the simulation until the target speed is achieved.
The controller includes predefined settings for gains and other controller values based on a selected “sensitivity”, and also gives advanced users the option to define their own controller input values when needed.
For engineers comparing resistance and self-propulsion analyses at the same forward speed, the result is a significantly more efficient workflow.
Set Up CFD Simulations in Waves from Orca3D
Version 3.2 also significantly simplifies the process of creating CFD simulations in waves.
Premium Orca3D Marine CFD users could previously perform these simulations, but the process required users to first create a calm-water simulation in Orca3D and then manually modify the mesh, numerical settings, and wave definition in SimericsMP.
Version 3.2 automates this setup to the extent possible. Users can now enable external waves from Orca3D and define the incident wave environment as part of the simulation setup.
For regular waves, Orca3D provides access to Airy and Stokes formulations including input for wave height, length, period, and direction. Irregular seaways can use the spectral formulations available in SimericsMP and can include both long-crested and short-crested wave definitions.
Users can also control whether the fluid domain begins with the wave field already initialized or starts in calm water and allows the waves to develop over time.
Version 3.2 additionally exposes advanced CFD settings that are especially useful in wave simulations, including fluid-domain size and anticipated maximum pitch and heave. Numerical options appropriate to dynamic wave simulations can also be configured from the Orca3D interface.
Note: Use of the new wave-simulation functionality requires an Orca3D Marine CFD Premium license. Simulations created through Orca3D 3.2 are currently 3-DOF, or 2-DOF with prescribed surge for resistance simulations. Full 6-DOF simulations can still be created by configuring them manually in SimericsMP.
Better CFD Monitoring, Visualization, and Documentation
Version 3.2 also improves how users manage and monitor CFD simulations.
A new “Simulation Notes” input field lets users document the purpose or important characteristics of a simulation when it is created. That information can then be viewed in the running simulation (via the Expression Editor or optionally in the graphical display) and is incorporated into CFD reports—particularly useful when a project involves numerous related runs.
Users can also choose which parameters should automatically appear as display text in SimericsMP graphical views (optionally including Simulation Notes as noted above), making it easier to communicate changing simulation values in animations.
Time-history plotting is more flexible as well. Instead of always creating Heave/Pitch and Resistance/Effective Power plots, users can now select the plots that Orca3D should automatically create and can include additional values such as Total Trim, which combines static equilibrium trim with dynamic trim calculated during the CFD simulation. Existing SimericsMP display settings can even be reused as a template for a new analysis.
Bring Orca3D Points of Interest into CFD
Orca3D Points of Interest can now be used directly into CFD simulations.
A Point of Interest, previously used mainly for identifying a downflooding location, can now also be designated as a wave-height measurement point, an acceleration measurement point, or a CFD probe. Orca3D then creates the corresponding measurement or monitoring point when the SimericsMP simulation is generated.
This makes it easier to define meaningful measurement locations while you're working with the vessel in Rhino and carry them forward into the CFD analysis—for example, monitoring wave elevation at a particular location or acceleration at a specific point on the vessel during a dynamic simulation.
More Control Over Advanced CFD Settings
The new Advanced CFD settings provide access to fluid-domain dimensions, maximum pitch and heave allowances, and the numerical options used for the simulation.
Although these settings can still be changed directly in SimericsMP, defining and saving them with the Rhino model helps create a more repeatable analysis workflow.
Users can also now specify a towing point directly within the Rhino environment where it is more convenient to do so. The point can be entered manually or selected graphically, avoiding the difficulty of translating a location between Rhino and SimericsMP coordinate system orientations. Orca3D also automaticall creates a monitoring point at the tow point location so its placement can be visually checked.
More Flexible CFD Rendering
The OrcaCreateCfdRender command can now create a rendering for a specific time step in the simulation instead of always relying on the final time step.
This provides more control when creating visuals from dynamic analyses, particularly when vessel attitude or free-surface behavior changes significantly during the simulation.
Advanced Stability: Faster Work with Complex Load Cases
Version 3.2 also introduces several improvements for users working with stability models and large numbers of loading conditions.
View and Edit Multiple Load Cases in a Single Matrix
For Advanced Stability users working with many loading conditions, Orca3D 3.2 introduces a new Fluid Load Case Matrix that makes it easier to compare and edit multiple load cases from a single window.
Instead of opening each load case individually, users can now review multiple conditions side by side and make changes across tanks, compartments, and fixed load groups in a matrix-based interface. The new tool supports editing tank contents and fill levels, permeability, compartment status, free-surface calculation types, and fixed load groups across multiple load cases. Columns represent individual fluid load cases, while rows represent compartments or fixed load groups depending on the selected tab.
The matrix also provides immediate feedback as changes are made. Orca3D calculates the total weight and center of gravity for each condition in real time, making it easier to understand the effect of loading changes across multiple cases. Unsaved edits are clearly identified, and users can apply, undo, or revert changes as needed while continuing to work.
For projects with a large number of loading conditions, the Fluid Load Case Matrix provides a much more efficient way to compare configurations, make consistent changes, and manage complex stability models.
The new Advanced Stability Fluid Load Case Matrix allows multiple loading conditions to be reviewed and edited side by side, with weight and center of gravity updated in real time.
Watch this short video to learn more about the new Orca3D Load Case Matrix:
Clearer Equilibrium Results
The Fluid Load Case Editor has also been reorganized to make equilibrium results easier to interpret.
Because fluid shifts or conditional flooding can cause the resulting mass properties to differ from the original input values, Version 3.2 now displays the input and resulting mass properties side-by-side. A Delta/Residual column clearly identifies changes between them.
Faster Load Case Management
The Load Case Manager can now copy multiple load cases in a single operation, including folders containing multiple load cases. Orca3D also retains the tree's expanded state, scroll position, and selections while users add, modify, copy, or delete load cases.
For repeated stability evaluations, Orca3D 3.2 now also remembers the last Stability Criteria selection, eliminating the need to select the same criteria each time the analysis is rerun.
The scriptable version of OrcaManageDesignVariables has also been implemented, enabling users to create and delete Orca3D Design Variables through scripts.
Design and Stability: Better Downflooding Definitions
Orca3D's Curves of Interest can now be used to define downflooding locations.
This is particularly useful when a downflooding boundary is not adequately represented by a single point. Instead of approximating a curved opening using several individual points, users can select a curve for the opening. If any location on the curve becomes immersed during the analysis, Orca3D treats downflooding as having occurred.
Orca3D Design: Improved Foil Assistant and Hydrostatics Workflows
Enhanced Foil Assistant
The Foil Assistant has been updated to restore capabilities available in Orca3D Version 2 while introducing additional design controls and addressing several issues.
The updated interface provides separate foil-family selection, options to cap the tip and root, and an Advanced Design tab that lets users control the reference chord position used to define sweep. Users can also specify an elliptical planform.
More Flexible Real-Time Hydrostatics
The Real-Time Hydrostatics interface receives a meaningful upgrade in Version 3.2.
Previously, users were limited to displaying four hydrostatic parameters at once. Version 3.2 removes that restriction and allows an unlimited number of scalar hydrostatic parameters to be shown.
Parameters can also be selected by category, while improvements to sizing and docking make the control more flexible within the Rhino workspace.
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For designers who use real-time hydrostatic feedback while modifying geometry, this provides a much more comprehensive view of how design changes affect vessel characteristics.
Improvements Across Orca3D
A New Orca3D Object/Layer Tree
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Version 3.2 introduces a new Orca3D Tree View in the Orca3D Panel. Similar to Rhino's native Layers tree, and an extension to the Orca3D V2 Tree View, the Orca3D Object/Layer tree also includes the individual geometry objects within the model. Users can see how the model is organized and modify attributes such as names, visibility, color source, and lock state. The tree supports layer reordering, synchronization with Rhino's native layer order, drag-and-drop movement of objects and layers, and multiple-object selection. |
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Smarter FP, AP, and Baseline Definitions
When Forward Perpendicular, Aft Perpendicular, or Baseline locations have not been defined and are relevant to an Orca3D command, Version 3.2 will now prompt the user to define them.
Users can define the locations, continue without defining them, remember that choice for the current model, or cancel the command.
The result is a useful safeguard against unintended interpretation of hydrostatic conditions without requiring users to define references that may not be meaningful for a particular vessel.
Better High-Resolution Display and Clipping Controls
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Version 3.2 includes a series of interface improvements for 4K displays and larger font scaling. In addition to improved scaling of several Orca3D controls, the View tab has been reorganized and the Points and Curves of Interest grids have been improved. The clipping-box controls also receive several refinements, including better synchronization between sliders and Rhino gumball controls and a new dual-handle slider intended to make adjustment more intuitive. |
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Prepared for Rhino 9
Orca3D 3.2 has been developed with Rhino 9 compatibility in mind and has been tested with the latest Rhino 9 beta available as of the Orca3D 3.2 release date.
We'll continue to evaluate compatibility as Rhino 9 progresses toward its final release.
Built Around the Way Naval Architects Work
Across Orca3D 3.2, many of the improvements share the same objective: helping naval architects and marine designers spend less time configuring their tools and more time evaluating their designs.
For Marine CFD users, that means easier setup of simulations in waves, automated speed control for self-propelled analyses, better integration of model measurement points, and more simulation settings available directly from Orca3D.
For design and stability users, it means more efficient load case workflows, more flexible hydrostatics, better downflooding definitions, and improved tools for managing complex Rhino models.
All of these improvements build on the same philosophy that has guided Orca3D from the beginning: bringing practical marine design and analysis tools directly into the Rhino environment.
Explore Orca3D Version 3.2
Existing Orca3D customers: Download / Update to Orca3D 3.2
New to Orca3D? Start a free 15-day evaluation of Orca3D and explore integrated marine design and analysis inside Rhino.
Interested in Marine CFD? Contact the Orca3D team to schedule a demonstration and discuss how Marine CFD can fit into your design and analysis workflow.
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