Experimental Optimization of Hydrodynamic Performance of Catamarans Using Hydrofoil Element

Daily increase in fuel cost and also marine environment pollution tends designers and engineers to design and optimize based on reducing losses and energy consumption. Reduction of fuel consumption and marine environment pollution are categorized in high priority problems in design of new vessels and optimization of current ones. Using hydrofoil between two hulls is one of the best strategies in optimization cycle of fuel consumption of catamarans. HYSUCAT comes from "Hydrofoil Supported Catamarans" and stands for a vessel which is composed of a catamaran hull and hydrofoils mounted between two hulls. These hydrofoils tolerate part of hull weight in high speed and decrease wetted surface of vessel. This element reduces drag of vessel and consequently fuel consumption by decreasing the wetted surface. This research deals with determination of a suitable hydrofoil section to reduce drag and increase stability of a catamaran vessel using experimental data. Full-scale foils were constructed and mounted on a vessel in continue, and its performance was examined in sea tests. Determining the best section and also the most suitable position for mounting the foil is a novel study in the field of hydrodynamics of catamaran vessels.