Operation of Ride Control Systems to Minimise Slamming of Wave-Piercing Catamarans

2021 ◽  
Vol 163 (A1) ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
M R Davis
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Vertical Motion ◽  
Ship Motions ◽  
Wave Surface ◽  
Active Motion ◽  
Ride Control ◽  
Heave Motion ◽  
Control Feedback ◽  
Active Controls

Wave slam produces dynamic loads on the centre bow of wave piercing catamarans that are related to the relative vertical motion of the bow to the encountered wave surface. Rapid slam forces arise when the arch sections between centre bow and main hulls fill with rising water. In this paper time domain solutions for high speed ship motion in waves, including the action of active motion controls, are used to compute the slam forces. Slamming occurs at specific immersions of the bow whilst the peak slam force is characterised by the maximum relative vertical velocity of the bow during bow entry. Vertical motions of bow and encountered wave are in antiphase at encounter frequencies where slamming is most severe. The range of encounter frequencies where slamming occurs increases with wave height. Wave slam loads reduce ship motions, the heave motion being most reduced. Deployment of a fixed, inactive T-foil can reduce slamming loads by up to 65 %. With active controls peak slamming loads on the bow can be reduced by up to 73% and 79% in 4 m and 3 m seas, local control feedback being marginally the most effective mode of control for reduction of slamming.

Recent Developments in Ride Control

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan J. Haywood ◽  
Benton H. Schaub ◽  
Chris M. Pappas
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
High Speed ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Early Adoption ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ride Control ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Material Choice ◽  
Maintenance Requirements ◽  
Broad Understanding

The use of ride control systems on high speed vessels has become the norm within many industries, producing better seakeeping that in turn provides a more comfortable and operationally effective vessel. Commercial ferry designers have been at the forefront of adoption of new technologies notably with early adoption of T-foils and interceptors. These devices have been taken up by others, for example offshore crew boats and frontline naval warships. The range of vessel types has also expanded with more industries adopting different hull designs including catamarans and trimarans. Ride control systems have developed alongside innovative designers producing for example combined lifting foil and ride control systems, lifting T-foil systems, retractable T-foils. This paper will review the different ride control devices including fins, trim tabs, interceptors, T-foils (including retractable T-foils) and lifting foils. As well as technical aspects, the discussion will consider costs, ease of installation, operational and maintenance requirements and material choice. Extensive examples from a wide range of industries will be presented. By the end of the talk, delegates will have a broad understanding of the options available to them in improving the seakeeping of their vessels.

RESPONSE OF A HIGH-SPEED WAVE-PIERCING CATAMARAN TO AN ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL SYSTEM

2021 ◽  
Vol 158 (A4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J AlaviMehr ◽  
M R Davis ◽  
J Lavroff ◽  
D S Holloway ◽  
G A Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Control Surface ◽  
Control Algorithms ◽  
Active Centre ◽  
Ride Control ◽  
Control Step ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Ride Control System

Ride control systems on high-seed vessels are an important design features for improving passenger comfort and reducing motion sickness and dynamic structural loads. To investigate the performance of ride control systems a 2.5m catamaran model based on the 112m INCAT catamaran was tested with an active centre bow mounted T-Foil and two active stern mounted trim tabs. The model was set-up for towing tank tests in calm water to measure the motions response to ride control step inputs. Heave and pitch response were measured when the model was excited by deflections of the T-Foil and the stern tab separately. Appropriate combinations of the control surface deflections were then determined to produce pure heave and pure pitch response. This forms the basis for setting the gains of the ride control system to implement different control algorithms in terms of the heave and pitch motions in encountered waves. A two degree of freedom rigid body analysis was undertaken to theoretically evaluate the experimental results and showed close agreement with the tank test responses. This work gives an insight into the motions control response and forms the basis for future investigations of optimal control algorithms.

scholarly journals An experimental investigation on slamming kinematics, impulse and energy transfer for high-speed catamarans equipped with Ride Control Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 178 ◽  
pp. 410-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad AlaviMehr ◽  
Jason Lavroff ◽  
Michael R. Davis ◽  
Damien S. Holloway ◽  
Giles A. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Energy Transfer ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Ride Control

SUPERIOR SEAWORTHINESS OF A RESONANCE-FREE FAST OCEANGOING SWATH

2021 ◽  
Vol 156 (A4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Yoshida ◽  
H Kihara ◽  
H Iwashita ◽  
M Kanda ◽  
T Kinoshita
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Ship Motions ◽  
Speed Reduction ◽  
Small Water ◽  
Motion Responses ◽  
Head Waves ◽  
Unsteady Characteristics ◽  
Hull Forms ◽  
Heave Motion

The speed reduction, additional resistance or slamming caused by the large amplitude ship motions, should be completely restricted for a large fast oceangoing ship because of the strict time-punctuality and the high value of the cargo. A “Resonance-Free SWATH (RFS)”, which has negative restoring moments due to the extremely small water plane area, is introduced to minimize the motion responses. A motion control system using small fins is necessary for the RFS, which has no stability during high speed cruising. Theoretical estimations and experiments to search for the optimum values of PD control gains have been performed. Unsteady characteristics of fin-generated lift such as the time lag and the interaction among the fins and lower hulls have been measured and they are taken into account in the motion equations. Then, experiments using the RFS model with controlling fins have been carried out to validate the theoretical estimation for the motion responses of the RFS in waves. The theoretical and experimental results agree well with each other. The motion responses of the RFS in regular and irregular head waves are compared with those of other hull forms, such as a mono-hull, an ordinary SWATH and a trimaran. The clear advantage of the RFS regarding the seaworthiness has been found. In summary, the heave motion response of the RFS is reduced to 1/60 and the pitch motion becomes1/8, compared with those of the existing mono-hull ship.

scholarly journals An Experimental Investigation of Ride Control Algorithms for High-Speed Catamarans Part 1: Reduction of Ship Motions

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (01) ◽  
pp. 35-49
Author(s):  
Javad AlaviMerh ◽  
Jason Lavroff ◽  
Michael R. Davis ◽  
Damien S. Holloway ◽  
Giles A. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Motion Control ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Vertical Acceleration ◽  
Pitch Control ◽  
Model Scale ◽  
Ride Control ◽  
Control Feedback ◽  
Control Surfaces ◽  
Ride Control System

Ride control systems are essential for comfort and operability of high-speed ships, but it remains an open question what is the optimum ride control method. To investigate the motions of a 112-m high-speed catamaran fitted with a ride control system, a 2.5-m model was tested in a towing tank. The model active control system comprised two transom stern tabs and a central T-Foil beneath the bow. Six ideal motion control feedback algorithms were used to activate the model scale ride control system and surfaces in a closed-loop control system: heave control, local motion control, and pitch control, each in a linear and nonlinear version. The responses were compared with the responses with inactive control surfaces and with no control surfaces fitted. The model was tested in head seas at different wave heights and frequencies and the heave and pitch response amplitude operators (RAOs), response phase operators, and acceleration response were measured. It was found that the passive ride control system reduced the peak heave and pitch motions only slightly. The heave and pitch motions were more strongly reduced by their respective control feedback. This was most evident with nonlinear pitch control, which reduced the maximum pitch RAO by around 50% and the vertical acceleration near the bow by about 40% in 60-mm waves (2.69 m at full scale). These reductions were influenced favorably by phase shifts in the model scale system, which effectively contributed both stiffness and damping in the control action.

scholarly journals An Experimental Investigation of Ride Control Algorithms for High-Speed Catamarans Part 1: Reduction of Ship Motions

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad AlaviMehr ◽  
Jason Lavroff ◽  
Michael R. Davis ◽  
Damien S. Holloway ◽  
Giles A. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Control Algorithms ◽  
Ship Motions ◽  
Ride Control

Measured Loading Response of Model Motion Control Stern Tabs

2013 ◽  
Vol 155 (A1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Motion Control ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Lift Force ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Test Apparatus ◽  
Circulating Water ◽  
Ride Control ◽  
Hydraulics Laboratory ◽  
The University

Active trim tabs are commonly used as part of the ride control systems of high-speed craft. This paper investigates the lift characteristics of rectangular stern tabs that are commonly fitted to INCAT wave-piercer catamarans. A test apparatus was developed to enable the testing of a model scale trim tab in a circulating water tunnel in the University of Tasmania hydraulics laboratory. The magnitude and location of the lift force produced by the tab were measured over a range of tab angles and flow velocities. From this the lift coefficient of the tab was calculated and the performance of the tab under varying conditions was analysed. The lift force produced by the tab was shown to increase with velocity and tab angle as expected, with the lift coefficient of the tab increasing linearly with tab angle and remaining relatively constant with increases in flow velocity. The magnitude of the measured lift coefficient was lower than had been previously estimated in shallow water tests and the force was found to act forward of the tab hinge, indicating that much of the lift force generated by the tab is due to the increased pressure on the underside of the hull forward of the tab.

scholarly journals An Experimental Investigation of Ride Control Algorithms for High-Speed Catamarans Part 2: Mitigation of Wave Impact Loads

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (02) ◽  
pp. 51-63
Author(s):  
Javad AlaviMehr ◽  
Jason Lavroff ◽  
Michael R. Davis ◽  
Damien S. Holloway ◽  
Giles A. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Control Algorithms ◽  
Impact Loads ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Pitch Control ◽  
Model Scale ◽  
Ride Control ◽  
Control Feedback ◽  
Ride Control System

High-speed craft frequently experience large wave impact loads due to their large motions and accelerations. One solution to reduce the severity of motion and impact loadings is the installation of ride control systems. Part 1 of this study investigates the influence of control algorithms on the motions of a 112-m highspeed catamaran using a 2.5-m model fitted with a ride control system. The present study extends this to investigate the influence of control algorithms on the loads and internal forces acting on a hydroelastic segmented catamaran model. As in Part 1, the model active control system consisted of a center bow T-Foil and two stern tabs. Six motion control feedback algorithms were used to activate the model-scale ride control system and surfaces in a closed loop system: local motion, heave, and pitch control, each in a linear and nonlinear application. The loads were further determined with a passive ride control system and without control surfaces fitted for direct comparison. The model was segmented into seven parts, connected by flexible links that replicate the first two natural frequencies and mode shapes of the 112-m INCAT vessel, enabling isolation and measurement of a center bow force and bending moments at two cross sections along the demi-hulls. The model was tested in regular head seas at different wave heights and frequencies. From these tests, it was found that the pitch control mode was most effective and in 60-mm model-scale waves it significantly reduced the peak slam force by 90% and the average slam induced bending moment by 75% when compared with a bare hull without ride controls fitted. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of a ride control system in reducing wave impact loads acting on high-speed catamaran vessels.

MEASURED LOADING RESPONSE OF MODEL MOTION CONTROL STERN TABS

2021 ◽  
Vol 155 (A1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Bell ◽  
T Arnold ◽  
J Lavroff ◽  
M R Davis
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Motion Control ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Lift Force ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Test Apparatus ◽  
Circulating Water ◽  
Ride Control ◽  
Hydraulics Laboratory ◽  
The University

Active trim tabs are commonly used as part of the ride control systems of high-speed craft. This paper investigates the lift characteristics of rectangular stern tabs that are commonly fitted to INCAT wave-piercer catamarans. A test apparatus was developed to enable the testing of a model scale trim tab in a circulating water tunnel in the University of Tasmania hydraulics laboratory. The magnitude and location of the lift force produced by the tab were measured over a range of tab angles and flow velocities. From this the lift coefficient of the tab was calculated and the performance of the tab under varying conditions was analysed. The lift force produced by the tab was shown to increase with velocity and tab angle as expected, with the lift coefficient of the tab increasing linearly with tab angle and remaining relatively constant with increases in flow velocity. The magnitude of the measured lift coefficient was lower than had been previously estimated in shallow water tests and the force was found to act forward of the tab hinge, indicating that much of the lift force generated by the tab is due to the increased pressure on the underside of the hull forward of the tab.

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