Accession Number:

AD0857074

Title:

A Study of Size and Speed of Hydrofoil Craft.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Corporate Author:

BATH IRON WORKS CORP MAINE

Personal Author(s):

• Hoerner,S. F.

Report Date:

1952-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

43.0

Abstract:

Several parameters are investigated in an effort to find performance limitations as to size and speed of hydrofoil boats. The resistance coefficient of typical foil systems is analyzed as a function of speed, size and aspect ratio. Within limits of structural requirements and prior to the inception of cavitation, this coefficient is found to be essentially independent of size and speed. Upon increasing the size displacement of a hydrofoil craft for a given design speed, the foil system tends to outgrow the hull dimensions. The speed of a hydrofoil system has a practical limit if avoiding cavitation. With a lift coefficient of 0.25 and a thickness ratio of 10, this limit is indicated to be in the vicinity of 44 knots. A comparison with displacement or semiplaning craft shows that hydrofoil boats will be more efficient than those conventional vessels - above certain speed-displacement ratios. In combination with the speed limit of 44 knots, the maximum displacement expected to be economical for hydrofoil boats is in the order of 3,000 tons. Author

Descriptors:

• (*HYDROFOIL CRAFT
• PERFORMANCE(ENGINEERING))
• VELOCITY
• PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• ASPECT RATIO
• LIFT
• HYDRODYNAMICS
• DESIGN
• CAVITATION
• HYDRODYNAMIC CONFIGURATIONS
• PLANING SURFACES

Subject Categories:

• Marine Engineering

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE