Numerical simulation of interference effects for a high-speed catamaran

The simulations of the flow around a high-speed vessel in both catamaran and monohull configurations are carried out by the numerical solution of the Reynold averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. The goal of the analysis is the investigation of the interference phenomena between the two hulls, with focus on its dependence on the Reynolds number (Re). To this aim, numerical simulations are carried out for values of Re ranging from 10⁶ to 10⁸ for two different values of the Froude number (Fr = 0.30, 0.45). Wave patterns, wave profiles, limiting streamlines, surface pressure and velocity fields are analyzed; comparison is made between the catamaran and the monohull configurations. Dependence of the pressure and viscous resistance coefficients, as well as of the interference factor, on the Reynolds number is investigated. Verification and validation for both resistance coefficients and wave cuts is also performed.