Experimental Investigation on Resistance of Trimaran

This paper summaries the experimental investigation on the resistance characteristics in calm water of a high speed displacement trimaran with symmetric side hulls. Both the main and side hulls are round bilged. The side hull longitudinal and transverse positions were varied systematically in the test program. The tests were conducted over a Froude number range of 0.3 to 0.8. The effects of the wave resistance interaction were derived. The results of the investigation provide a better understanding to the characteristic of the residual resistance coefficient curve and the components of trimaran resistance including the influence of the side hull location. According to the comparison between resistance performances of a monohull, a catamaran and the trimaran at the same displacement, the trimaran offers the relatively lower powering requirements at high speed than the other two vessels. The investigation shows the potential advantage of trimaran in reducing resistance.