The wave interference and the wave drag of a leader–follower ship fleet

Abstract

The wave interference and the corresponding effects on the wave drag of the leader–follower ship fleet are researched here, via a 4-point model and the Neumann-Michell potential flow computation. A simple analytical relation of the dominant wake angle is given, which considers both the wave interferences between the ship bow and the stern, and the wave interferences between the leader ship and the follower ship. Moreover, a simple relation of the destructive interference region (where the wave drag of the follower ship decreases) for the wave drag is given based on the research on the effects of the ship distance ℓ2 and the Froude number F on the wave drag of the leader ship or the follower ship. An interesting finding is that the destructive interference relation is invalid at low Froude numbers or very high Froude numbers, since the constructive interference of the divergent waves is apparent at low Froude numbers and the transverse waves is relatively small at high Froude numbers. These findings can be used to decrease the wave drag of ship fleets or ship formations.