Optimisation of the Catamaran Hull to Minimise of Motions and Maximise Operability

摘要

This paper describes the design and tank testing of a new fast catamaran vessel designed for the United States Navy Office of Naval Research for use as a Littoral Surface Craft. The Office of Naval Research have now ordered a demonstrator vessel named X-Craft currently under construction at Nichols Bros Boatbuilders Inc. A two year development programme at NGA produced a new hull form, the ModCAT, which when coupled with a powerful motion damping system met all of the US Navy Office of Naval Research requirements. Initial numerical studies predicted very low motions and speed loss. To validate the prediction an extensive programme of tank tests was undertaken in the ocean basin at Marintek, Trondheim.