Experimental measurements of hull pressures on fast displacement catamarans during motions in long-crested head-seas

Piezoresistive pressure transducers have been used to measure the pressure variations at six points on a catamaran hull moving in regular, long-crested, head-seas. Preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of this experimental approach although a more refined experimental procedure may be required to obtain greater accuracy in the pressure measurements.The pressure measurements were carried out for one demihull spacing at two speeds in calm water and also in regular waves of differing wave periods. The mean pressures from both calm water and regular wave tests are presented along with the RMS variation from the mean during the tests in regular waves