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Slam events of high-speed catamarans in irregular waves

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Abstract

Slam events experienced by high-speed catamarans in irregular waves were characterised through experiments using a hydroelastic segmented model. The model was designed to represent the dynamic behaviour of the full-scale Incat 112 m vessel and to allow the measurement of the slam load on the centrebow and wet deck. It was tested in irregular head seas at two speeds relating to Froude numbers of 0.32 and 0.60. Nearly 300 slams were identified in the test data and analysed with respect to kinematic parameters. Slams were found to have a large range of magnitudes, with the largest equivalent to 1785 tonnes full scale (approximately 70% of vessel displacement); however, the majority of events were of relatively low severity. Differences in slam characteristics were found for the two model speeds tested; slams at the slower speed generally occurred further forward on the hull, prior to the wave crest and with a bow down pitch angle. Immersion of the centrebow to the two-dimensional filling height of the cross-section between the centrebow and demihulls is shown to be a better indicator of slam occurrence than immersion to the top of the archway.

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Abbreviations

CBT:

Centrebow truncation

\( F^{\prime}_{i} \) :

Slam force on transverse beam (N)

\( F^{\prime}_{\text{T}} \) :

Total slam force on centrebow (N)

\( F^{\prime}_{1} \) :

Slam force on forward transverse beam (N)

\( F^{\prime}_{2} \) :

Slam force on aft transverse beam (N)

Fr :

Froude number \( Fr = v/\sqrt {gL} \)

g :

Acceleration due to gravity

h CBT :

Immersion at CBT (m)

h w :

Wave elevation (m)

l 1 :

Distance between strain gauges mounted on elastic links and pin joint (m)

l 2 :

Distance between strain gauges mounted on elastic links 1 and 2 (m)

L :

Length at waterline

\( M^{\prime}_{1} \) :

Bending moment at elastic link 1 on transverse beam (N m)

\( M^{\prime}_{2} \) :

Bending moment at elastic link 2 on transverse beam (N m)

t :

Time (s)

v :

Velocity (m/s)

v RV :

Relative vertical bow velocity (m/s)

v v :

Vessel vertical velocity at CBT (m/s)

v w :

Vertical velocity of water surface (m/s)

w 2 :

Distance between forward and aft transverse beams (m)

x 1 :

Longitudinal position of total slam force (m)

Z:

Vertical displacement (m)

θ CBA :

Angle of centrebow archway (°)

θ p :

Pitch angle (°)

θ RI :

Relative impact angle (°)

θ w :

Angle of wave surface (°)

ζ :

Damping ratio

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by Incat Tasmania, Revolution Design Pty Ltd and an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Mr Kim Chamberlin at the model testing stage of the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1395, Launceston, TAS, 7250, Australia

    Giles Thomas, Stefan Winkler, Shinsuke Matsubara & Ben French

  2. School of Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Michael Davis, Damien Holloway & Jason Lavroff

Authors
  1. Giles Thomas
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  2. Stefan Winkler
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  3. Michael Davis
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  4. Damien Holloway
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  5. Shinsuke Matsubara
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  6. Jason Lavroff
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  7. Ben French
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Correspondence to Giles Thomas.

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Thomas, G., Winkler, S., Davis, M. et al. Slam events of high-speed catamarans in irregular waves. J Mar Sci Technol 16, 8–21 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-010-0105-y

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