A flat wave-piercing bow concept for high speed monohulls

High-speed monohulls are known to experience excessive motions and structural loads caused by accelerations and slamming when operating in heavy weather. This paper presents a concept of a new wave-piercing bow designed to reduce adverse motions and structural loads. That goal has been achieved by introduction of a bow form that features upper surfaces shaped to generate downward lifting forces, which counterbalance the displacement forces that lift the bow up while moving through a wave and initiate pitching motion; counterbalancing these forces stabilizes the hull. Extensive model testing has been carried out on several models between Deceber 2000 and March 2002. Resistance forces, accelerations and bow pressures were recorded and used to define critical loading cases, subsequently used in a global finite element analysis of the structural arrangement of a generic 165ft Gulf of Mexico crew boat, its scantlings determined using direct approach under ABS High Speed Craft Guide. The research indicated a potential for significant reduction of motions, structural loads, scantlings, structural weight and power requirements.NRC publication: Ye