Multi-Hull Ships

by V.A. Dubrovsky, A. G. Lyakhovitsky

isbn 09644311-2-2 US$259.00 :: ©2001

Hardcover :: 495 pages 7.5"x10" :: 431 fig. :: 510 bibl.

The monograph presents a systematic and detailed description of main aspects of naval architecture of multi-hull ships. The topics include conceptual design, hydrostatics and stability, resistance and propulsion in calm water and high seas, seakeeping, controllability, structural strength, and specifics of applying the multi-hull concepts to various fields of marine transportation. The scope of architectural types encompasses all the variety of multi-hull "species" from ordinary catamarans and trimarans to SWATH ships, wave-piercing, hydrofoil-assisted, super-critical-speed shallow-water catamarans, and to ships with more than three hulls. The sizes of ships range from small fast crafts to large ferries, from river passenger catamarans to transatlantic container carriers, and from high-speed patrol boats to naval combatants and aircraft carriers. This book is a multi-discipline reference book akin to SNAME's 3-volume "Principles of Naval Architecture". In this respect, the book is unique and is the only one of its type available in English. A major part of background research (hardly available to an English-speaking reader) has been done by the authors and their colleagues in the finest Russian research organizations. Authored by recognized Russian experts leading for decades in experimental and theoretical research in this field, the book is addressed to all readers involved in production and operation of multi-hull ships, including designers, naval architects and marine engineers, university professors and graduates, planning and ship operating managers. It is a "must-have" for technical libraries, rule developing organizations, design offices and shipyards, universities, and consulting experts.

• Chapter 1. Variety of forms with historical notes, classification, and ranges of principal parameters.
• Chapter 2. General arrangement and hydrostatics (volume capacity, initial and damage stability and buoyancy).
• Chapter 3. Performance in still water (major resistance components, simplified mathematical models, impact on riverbanks or adjacent shores, towing resistance and model series of catamarans, trimarans, SWATH with parametric variations, super-critical speed shallow-water catamarans, new concepts).
• Chapter 4. Seakeeping and performance in high seas (theory, calculations, experiments, SWATH, enhancing the seakeeping, comparative evaluation).
• Chapter 5. Controllability with detailed background data on course stability, maneuverability, station keeping, and controlling ship's trim, heel, and draft during turning.
• Chapter 6. Structural strength (external loads, hull girder stress analysis, simplified methods).
• Chapter 7. Design algorithm, limitations, and new concepts including super-fast wave-piercing trimarans as ferries, rescue and battle ships; semi-gliding SWATH as seakeeping ferries, patrol, fast container carriers, motor yachts, and naval helicopter-carriers; new forms of SWATH for transatlantic container-carriers, cruise ships, and other specialized vessels. Brief notes on construction and docking.