A lid approach for predicting wave induced motions of trimaran in regular waves

Abstract

The wave induced motions of a trimaran sailing in regular head waves were predicted by using the three dimensional boundary integral method. Large wave elevation on the free surface in between the trimaran’s main-hull and the outriggers occurred at some specific frequencies in the numerical model. The large wave elevation also induced large heave and pitch motions of trimaran. However, the large wave elevation and corresponding large motions were not observed during towing tank tests. A lid approach was introduced in this paper by placing lid on the free surface in between hulls to suppress the unrealistically large wave elevation and to correctly predict the induced motions of trimaran. The feasibility and practicability of lid approach were validated against experimental results.