IJSCT 184tn

Technical Note: A Variable-Geometry Trimaran

Authors

D C Witt, University of Oxford (retired), UK

Summary

To travel fast with reasonably low power requires a vessel to be long and narrow. The requirement for static stability means that unless ballast is used such a vessel will be restricted in vertical height, with adverse consequences for bending strength and for cargo or passenger space. If stability at cruising speed were achieved by the use of automatically controlled fins or rudders, the problem might be solved. Stability at low speeds or when stationary could be got by lowering a pair of outer hulls to form a trimaran. The paper describes a trial design and tests on a scale model.

Reference

Transactions RINA, Vol 158, Part B1, International Journal of Small Craft Technology, Jan-Jun 2016 

DOI Number

DOI No: 10.3940/rina.ijsct.2016.b1.184tn

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