Hydrodynamic Analysis of High Performance Ship Hulls with Air Plenums

Multi-hull designs with captured air plenums have potential benefits in reduced resistance, improved seakeeping performance, and better shock mitigation. We have successfully extended our CFD software, 3DynaFS©, to the study of complex ship hulls with air plenums during Phase I. The code enabled us to understand the fundamental hydrodynamics of the hull form, including the ventilated cavity dynamics, the effect of the air cavity on the wave-making resistance, and the stability of the air cavity. In this proposed study, we will enhance the modeling capability of the code and extend its application to realistic simulations with oscillatory pitching motions and to practical hull forms with planing air tunnels.