Abstract
The Partial Air Cushion Supported Catamaran (PACSCAT) is an innovative design which combines both the characteristics of hovercraft and catamaran. Further, it provides a high-speed and efficient solution with excellent performance, particularly for shallow water. In this paper, experimental and numerical method are carried out for research of motion attitude and resistance characteristics, which provide a reference for further research and hull optimization work. By model towing test and data interpretation, and the resistance, trim, and heave varying law with increasing speed is summarized. From the view of total resistance, the impacts of the cushion pressure and air flow on resistance performance of PACSCAT are analyzed. Based on the theory of viscous fluid mechanics, a numerical simulation method with high prediction accuracy is established. The flow field around and inside the hull is simulated, the simulating results show good agreements with the testing data. Finally, the effect of the cushion compartment improving the resistance performance is studied. The results show that the cushion compartment is significant for adjusting the pressure distribution of the air cushion. And the average resistance reduction ratio at the high-speed segment can even reach 22%.
Highlights
The Partial Air Cushion Supported Catamaran (PACSCAT) is an innovative high-performance composite craft based on catamaran hull, assisted by an air cushion between the demihulls
Main parameters dimensionless have been proceed under dimensionless expressions shown in Within the range of the whole-speed segment, interaction of the air cushion pressure, and hydrodynamic force act on the model
Air cushion pressure had a small influence on the trim angle, but a great relationship with the heave
Summary
The Partial Air Cushion Supported Catamaran (PACSCAT) is an innovative high-performance composite craft based on catamaran hull, assisted by an air cushion between the demihulls. The rest of weight is supported by hydrodynamic lift and hydrostatic buoyancy. While the airflow is injected into the air hover chamber from the plenum chamber, the hull is lifted, and the water in air hover chamber is pressed out by the high-pressure air cushion. In 2009, and 2013, a 30 m long PACSCAT by Independent Maritime Assessment Associates (IMAA), and 12 m long technical demonstrator by Harbin Engineering University Ship Equipment and Technology
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