HYDRODYNAMIC RESISTANCE OF HIGH SPEED CATAMARANS: MODEL TEST METHODOLOGY AND MODEL - SHIP CORRELATION

The paper deals with the first part of a wide experimental project on three geosim models of a high-speed catamaran, whose hull form corresponds to the one of a full scale catamaran operating in the Naples Gulf. The research is carried out jointly at INSEAN (Rome Towing Tank) and at Naples University towing tank, with the following main aims: - to compare different techniques of towing direction of the models in the resistance tests; - to obtain indications on the validity of the model-ship correlation based on Froude methodology also by means of the direct measurement of the wave resistance component; - to investigate on both viscous and wave interference phenomenon. Up to now, systematic cairn water tests have been completed only on the scale model ? = 13 and the results obtained, analyzed and discussed can be already considered a contribution to the solution of the above-mentioned problems.