An Experimental Study on the Effect of the Side Hull Symmetry on the Resistance Performance of a Wave-Piercing Trimaran

Abstract

This paper presented the results of an experimental investigation into the resistance performance of a wave-piercing trimaran with three alternative side hull forms, including asymmetric inboard, asymmetric outboard, and symmetric at various stagger/separation positions. Model tests were carried out at the National Iranian Marine Laboratory (NIMALA) towing tank using a scale model of a trimaran at the Froude numbers from 0.225 to 0.60. Results showed that by moving the side hulls to the forward of the main hull transom, the total resistance coefficient of trimaran decreased. Findings, furthermore, demonstrated that the symmetry shape of the side hull had the best performance on total resistance among three side hull forms. Results of this study are useful for selecting the side hull configuration from the resistance viewpoint.

Keywords

Resistance performance / Wave-piercing trimaran / Seakeeping characteristics / Side hull symmetry / Model test / Experimental study

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