Experiment Investigation Of A High Speed Trimaran And Its Sidehull Position Optimization

Recently, the research of high capability ships is very activated, and great attentions are paid to the high speed trimaran especially. It is composed of a main hull and two sidehulls, and this ship form has some especial behaviors: good fast capability, small wave-making resistance, good stability, and so on. Accordingly, it has a good future in military and civil application.The trimaran experiment in calm water and regular waves are carried out for a series of different placements of the sidehulls. According to the comparison between the results got from the experiment, we can analysis the resistances and seakeeping capabilities. And finally, the purpose is to find out the best optimum placements for the sidehulls of the trimaran.It is definitely different that the trimaran's optimal side hull position in different navigate velocities, and it is very hard to get the best side hull position either in high speed or in low speed. We should choose the prevalent velocity to place the sidehulls in view of wave-making resistance, but we can notice that the amplitude of roll is becoming smaller with the velocity increasing. It is obvious that the wave-making resistance and seakeeping capability can't get indemnify at the same time, so we need to consider wave-making resistance and seakeeping in simultaneity, it's an issue that needs to be considered comprehensively.Whereas, its capability usually precedes monohull or catamaran in the same displacement. The wave-making resistance capability doesn't have an obvious advantage in low speed, but the advantage is very distinct in high speed. Trimaran also has some advantages in seakeeping capability, the two small side hulls can offer enough stability and sufficient deck area for superstructure and equipment.