Head-to-head hydrodynamic performance comparison of six foil setups with four and two foil configurations on trimarans in different operational conditions

Achieving high efficiency and performance is essential in both the commercial and maritime sectors, where the selection of foil configurations significantly influences a vessel's overall effectiveness. This study begins with a comprehensive analysis of a six-foil setup on a trimaran, followed by a head-to-head performance comparison against four-foil and two-foil configurations, all aimed at identifying the most effective solution for enhancing vessel performance in different operational conditions. Numerical simulations were conducted using computational fluid dynamics with validation performed against available experimental data for two catamaran models. The research explores the impact of six-foil setup and compares it with four-foil and two-foil configurations across both semi-planing and planing regimes, analyzing trim, sinkage, lift-to-drag ratio, shear drag, pressure drag, total drag, and rooster tail formation. It is ascertained that adding hydrofoils enhances vessel's hydrodynamic performance, with effectiveness varying based on foil type and configuration. In the semi-planing regime, the two-foil National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) 6612 configuration stands out for its superior trim control and reduced sinkage, while four-foil and six-foil setups provide greater stability. In the planing regime, the NACA 6612 in two- or four-foil configurations offer the best trim control and minimal sinkage. Additionally, the two-foil NACA 6612 configuration demonstrates higher efficiency in terms of lift-to-drag ratio and reduced frictional resistance. Overall, this comparative study shows that for high-speed applications, the two-foil NACA 6612 configuration offers ideal balance of hydrodynamic efficiency and stability, while the four-foil NACA 0012 configuration is ideal for reducing rooster tail effect, improving performance and sustainability.