The effect of lift on the wave-making resistance of multi-hull craft

A potential based panel method is presented to estimate the wave-making characteristics of multi-hull craft. In order to simulate the lifting potential flow around the sub-hulls, the method adopts mixed source/doublet distributions on the sub-hulls and their wake surface, while sources are distributed on the main hull and the free surface. In this way, the asymmetric flow characteristics of the sub-hull are properly simulated, i.e., a Kutta condition is satisfied at the trailing edge of the sub-hull. Comparison is made between the numerical and model experimental measurements, and a good correlation has been found. The wave-making characteristics and pressure distributions on the sub-hull predicted by the present method can differ from those based on a distribution of sources alone, especially the pressure distributions at the stern of the sub-hulls.