Slamming Impacts of Hydrodynamically–Supported Craft

High–speed planing boats are subject to repeated slamming impacts, which can cause structural damage and discomfort or injury to passengers. The goal of this research is to study the fundamental physics of the water-impact of high–speed planing hulls and to measure the slamming loads and resulting motions of the craft upon re–entry into the water after becoming partially airborne. A set of towed scale–model experiments was conducted in calm water, regular waves and irregular waves to capture a sequence of individual impact events. Pressure measurements were taken on the bottom of the hull using both point sensors (PCB Piezotronics) and a pressure mapping system (Tekscan). The pressure signals from the pressure pads (providing both spatial and temporal resolution) and the point–pressure measurements (high temporal resolution) will be presented for individual slam events, allowing a deterministic approach to investigating high–speed planing craft wave slamming.© 2014 ASME