Experimental study of the slamming in a modern racing yacht

The hydrodynamic impact, or hydro-impact, phenomenon caused by slamming on racing yachts and the local structure’s response is studied experimentally. Pressure transducers and aspecial measurement system named ‘Slam Patch’ have been designed and implemented to measure the hydro -impact pressure and/or the local structure’s response. The measurement systems were installed on a 1/7-scale model of an Open 60 yacht. Modal, rotational drop, and seakeeping-slamming tests are carried out. The measured hydro-impact pressure was processed statistically. A methodology to scale up the test results to prototype is mentioned. At the same time,the transient response of a simple structure under half-sine impulse is calculated using a commercial finite element analysis program to study the effect of the relationship between impulseduration and natural frequency of the structure