Design of Hydrofoil Assisted Catamarans using a Non-Linear Vortex Lattice Method

Extensive experimental investigations of hydrofoil-assisted catamarans have identified the main hydrodynamic parameters affecting the performance of these vessels. Design principles of existing vessels are discussed in the light of these hydrodynamic findings. The experience gained from experimental testing has provided the basis for the development of a non-linear vortex lattice method for design purposes. The method is validated by comparison with experimental results and applied to the problem of optimizing a 40-knot, 40m hydrofoil-assisted catamaran with a hydrofoil system developed for modern high-speed catamarans. It is shown that the method can be successfully applied to optimization problems of these vessels as it successfully captures the complex hull-foil interactions. Results of the numerical investigation performed, indicate that optimizing the mutual distance between the hydrofoils can significantly improve the lift to drag ratio of such a vessel.