Numerical Investigation on the Scale Effect of a Stepped Planing Hull

This article discusses the scale effects on a planing boat, utilizing the computational fluid dynamics method. The simulation is compared with a tank test for verification and validation. The planing boat sails use both aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Studying the performances and wave patterns of different dimensions of the models is the best way to investigate the scale effect without using experimental data. The resistance is discussed in two parts, namely residuary resistance and friction resistance, and is compared to the calculated data using the international towing tank conference (ITTC) formula. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations of the model are increased by 4.77% on average, and the boat computations are also increased by 3.57%. The computation shows the scale effect in detail. The residuary resistance coefficients at different scales are approximately equal, and the friction resistance coefficients show the scale effect. The scale effect for longitudinal steadiness is also captured for the period of the porpoising behavior. The rational for the full-scaled boat oscillation period and the model is the root of the scales.