Analysis of hydrodynamic characteristics for arbitrary multihull ships advancing in waves

Multihull vessels have emerged as popular alternatives to conventional monohull ships for high-speed crafts. However, the bridging structures connecting the hulls are vulnerable to various wave actions and the wave impact on the bottom of them is the most serious problems associated with multihulled vessels. In this study, prediction of relative wave elevations under the bridging structures is investigated for multihull ships traveling with forward speed in waves. A computer code YNU-SEA using the three-dimensional (3D) Green function method with forward speed has been developed and used to analyze the hydrodynamic radiation and diffraction forces and motion responses for high-speed catamarans in waves. The results of the present calculations are compared with those of previous calculations as well as with experimental results. The numerical results reveal that the present computer code can be used as a powerful tool for the accurate numerical computation of seakeeping problems for multihull ships advancing in waves. Numerical calculations of wave pattern are also carried out including wave interactions between the hulls to analyze the effects of hull form on the free surface flow around catamarans advancing in waves. The analysis of the wave pattern allows the determination of relative wave height including radiation and diffraction waves. Finally, some discussions are included based on these numerical results which may be helpful for the accurate prediction of relative wave height and wave breaking load on the deck associated with multihull ships.