CFD prediction of the wave resistance of a catamaran with staggered demihulls

Although the catamaran configuration has been known for a long time, it is only in the recent past that such hull forms have enjoyed unprecedented usage in the high-speed ferry industry. One of the design challenges faced by naval architects is the accurate prediction of the hydrodynamic characteristics of such vessels, primarily in the areas of resistance, propulsion and seakeeping. Even though a considerable amount of research has been carried out in this area, there remains a degree of uncertainty in the prediction of calm-water resistance of catamaran hull forms. In our research, we examine the calm-water wave-resistance characteristics of a chine-hull-form transom-stern slender catamaran, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and thin-ship theory. We include here a validation and comparison of CFD predictions with experimental data. We also include the results of calculations by Hydros, a computer program developed at The University of New South Wales, which gives very accurate predictions of resistance of high-speed marine vessels. The hull forms comprise a conventional catamaran along with longitudinally staggered demihull configurations. The investigation of a longitudinally staggered catamaran is to provide an unusual hull form for CFD analysis and to fill the knowledge gap between catamaran and trimaran wave resistance. Although considerable work has been done on the optimal position of trimaran outriggers for minimum resistance, significantly less work has been carried out on the centerline equivalent. While the hull form is not immediately practical, it is of great interest to understand the wave field interaction between the demihulls.