R/V Athena Model (5365) Response in Waves

Developing a computational approach to predicting the response of high-speed craft to both global and local impact loads while operating at sea to allow for increased structural optimization.

Naval Surface Warfare Center, West Bethesda, Maryland

Current structural design methods for high-speed naval craft rely heavily on empiricism. Though these methods have been employed reliably for a number of years, it is likely that an unknown level of conservatism exists in the prediction of both global and local impact loads to ensure the vessel's structural design is robust.

A better physical understanding of the dynamic response of high-speed craft in seas would allow for increased structural optimization. To support this understanding, a computational approach to predicting motions and loads was proposed. The publicly releasable hull form Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) Model 5365 (R/V Athena) was chosen to facilitate public release of results to various computational teams.