Component Waveform Theory

Anything to do with hull shapes in general (i.e. not specific designs)
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Fredthecharlie
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Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2015 5:31 pm

Component Waveform Theory

Post by Fredthecharlie »

I read Wooden Boat Magazine and came across an article about a design of an electric launch designed using Component Waveform Theory which seems to be related to this subject. For more information go to http://www.woodenboat.com and scroll down their home page to find "Extended Content" and select the item Electric Launch Fusion

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fishwics
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Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 10:29 pm

Re: Component Waveform Theory

Post by fishwics »

I found that article very interesting. The full paper, by Australian Alan Skinner, is at http://www.mcgowanmarinedesign.com/Home ... 202017.pdf

It's quite a long paper (160pp), and doesn't print well. The first part is a review of the history of "rule of thumb" hull design methods, both empiric ("cod's head, mackerel tail") and theoretical (Waveline theory) etc; the second is his own hypothesis which builds on Colin Archer's versed sine+trochoid method (incidentally espoused by John Morwood, founder of AYRS) by putting a slightly different theory behind it.

In summary, he suggests the distribution of cross-sectional areas of a low drag hull should be related to the waves it develops at various speeds. Consequently there is no one "best" shape, but a series of shapes that are optimised for different speeds (w.r.t "hull speed"). He further suggests it might be possible to develop a hull optimised for more than one speed by taking account of changes in trim to alter the distribution of hull volume.

Has anybody tried this in practice? or even run it though another drag-estimating programme such as Michlet?

Simon

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