Numerical simulation of seakeeping performance of a trimaran small waterplane area center hull

  Objectives  Compared with trimarans, the trimaran small waterplane area center hull (TriSWACH)has a larger underwater ship and the waterline surface is greatly reduced, therefore, the seakeeping law of ordinary trimaran is not completely applicable to TriSWACH. The seakeeping performance of the TriSWACH is still to be researched.

  Methods  As model tests are time-consuming, expensive, and demanding in terms of the environment required, it is difficult to test and analyze all schemes. Therefore, STAR-CCM + is used to simulate the viscous flow around the hull. Firstly, considering the influence of grid setting and flow field model selection, we verified the feasibility and reliability of STAR-CCM + for calculating the seakeeping performance of trimarans. Then, the variation law of the TriSWACH's seakeeping performance is analyzed with different side-hulls.

  Results  The results show that the seakeeping performance of the TriSWACH is better than that of a trimaran when Fr=0.234 (low speed). The simulation of Fr=0.494-0.701(middle and high speed) is complicated. The seakeeping performance of the TriSWACH is better when the side-hull is placed closer to the ship bow.

  Conclusions  The results can serve as a reference for TriSWACH design.