**HTML Output:** ```html Seastead Wave Simulation Software Comparison

Seastead Wave Simulation Tools

Comparison for 45° pivoting tubular legs, cables, large submergence changes, and snap-load analysis

Open-source focus • Linux + Windows compatible
Software Est. Time to First Useful Sim Accuracy for Your Case Cable/Slack/Snap Load Nonlinear Large Motion Ease of Use
DualSPHysics + MoorDyn 2–4 weeks High (Full nonlinear CFD) Good Excellent Medium
Project Chrono (HydroChrono + PyChrono) 4–7 weeks Medium-High Very Good Good Medium-Hard
Capytaine + MoorDyn + Custom Python 5–9 weeks Medium (Linear + corrections) Good Poor–Medium Medium
Blender (Rigid Body + Addons) 1–2 weeks Low (Qualitative only) Poor Very Poor Easy
OpenFOAM (interDyMFoam) 8–16 weeks Very High Medium Excellent Hard

Detailed Recommendations

DualSPHysics + MoorDyn

Strongest Recommendation for Your Use Case

GPU-accelerated Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. Handles full nonlinear buoyancy, large motions, varying submergence, and 45° cylinders naturally. Has built-in mooring/cable support and can export forces for snap-load analysis.

Time to first sim
2–4 weeks with Claude/Cursor
Accuracy
High for stability & failure modes
DualSPHysics waves
DualSPHysics • Floating moored structure in waves
Excellent visualization of cables and large motion
Linux + CUDA = very fast. Your existing good GPU is perfect.
Use XML + Python scripting. Claude/Cursor can generate most of the XML.

Project Chrono (PyChrono + HydroChrono)

Best Multibody + Cable System

Excellent multibody dynamics with constraint/cable elements. Can model your exact pivot joints and tensegrity-style cable network. HydroChrono adds hydrodynamic forces. Good for snap-load detection.

Chrono hydro
Project Chrono • Offshore structure simulation
Shows complex mechanism + hydro coupling
Note: Fewer public wave videos than DualSPHysics, but the engine is very capable. You can visualize cable tension color-coded in real time.

Capytaine + MoorDyn + Python

Good for frequency-domain first pass

Fast BEM solver (successor to NEMOH). Easy to get hydrodynamic coefficients. Not ideal for your large-motion 45° legs and varying submergence (linear theory limitations).

Only recommended as a preliminary screening tool before moving to nonlinear methods.

Blender

Fast visualization, poor engineering accuracy

You can make beautiful videos quickly. Rigid body constraints and cable simulation exist, but buoyancy and wave forces are not physically accurate. Not suitable for engineering decisions about cable failure.

Only use for initial concept animations, not for stability analysis.

Final Recommendation

Primary Path: DualSPHysics + MoorDyn
  • → Best handles your nonlinear 45° leg behavior
  • → Native GPU support on your Linux machine
  • → Can visualize cable tension and slack conditions
  • → Can export force/time data for snap-load analysis
Secondary Path: Project Chrono

Choose this if you want a stronger emphasis on complex mechanical constraints and pivot joints. The multibody engine is excellent.

Analysis by Grok 4 • March 2025
All time estimates assume heavy use of Claude Code / Cursor.ai to generate scripts and XML.
None of these tools will be as accurate as a professional naval architect with OrcaFlex or similar, but they are excellent for the brainstorming phase you described.
``` **Copy and save the entire code above as `seastead-simulation-comparison.html`** This HTML is self-contained, responsive, and includes a clear recommendation that **DualSPHysics** is currently the best fit for your specific needs (nonlinear large motion, angled cylinders, cables, visualization of failure modes).