Abstract
The present study deals with the local optimization of the stern area and of the propulsive efficiency of a battery-driven, fast catamaran vessel. The adopted approach considers a parametric model for the catamaran’s innovative transom stern and a QCM (Quasi-Continuous Method) body-force model for the effect of the fitted propellers. Hydrodynamic calculations were performed by the CFD code FreSCO+, which also enabled a deep analysis of the incurring unique propulsive phenomena. Numerical results of achieved high propulsive efficiency were verified by model experiments at the Hamburgische Schiffbau Versuchsanstalt (HSVA), proving the feasibility of the concept.
Highlights
The design and hydrodynamics of fast catamarans has been a favorite subject of scientific research and of innovative naval architectural engineering for many decades [1]
It is less well established that under certain conditions related to the optimization of the lengthwise distribution of the catamaran’s displacement and speed of advance, the interaction effect on resistance may be positive, reducing the sum of the demihulls single hull resistance [2]
The reduction of the catamaran’s wave resistance is well established and is associated with the slenderness of the demihulls and their least separation distance to avoid undesired negative interaction effects on the wave resistance value, whereas a variety of methods were employed for the determination of wave resistance
Summary
The design and hydrodynamics of fast catamarans (and of multi-hull vessels in general) has been a favorite subject of scientific research and of innovative naval architectural engineering for many decades [1]. The reduction of the catamaran’s (and that of multihulls, in general) wave resistance is well established and is associated with the slenderness of the demihulls and their least separation distance to avoid undesired negative interaction effects on the wave resistance value, whereas a variety of methods were employed for the determination of wave resistance These methods range from simplified thin and slender body theory methods [7,8], to 3D Boundary Element (BEM) and traveling source panel methods [2] and advanced CFD methods [9].
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