A tool for the prediction of wave wake in deep water

To determine the hull form parameters affecting wave wake, a testing program was conducted utilising a computational fluid dynamics program, (CFD), and scale model tests. A parent hull form was chosen, which was representative of a typical low wave wake high speed catamaran. From the parent hull form, multiple variant hull forms were created. Their wave wake was obtained for a range of speeds in deep water using CFD, and the free surfaces recorded and analysed using a decay method. The CFD was validated though scale model testing. From the results, regression analysis was used to develop a simple prediction tool. The regression analysis was then validated though the trial of a test hull form, which was unrelated to the original hull series. Given key hull form parameters the wave wake height for a vessel can be predicted. The tool allows the designer to rank hull forms relative to each other, within a given variable range. © 2005: Royal Institution of Naval Architects.