Hydrodynamic evaluation of interceptor configuration on a high-speed ship with tunnel propeller for resistance reduction

In high-speed ship design, accurate hydrodynamic prediction is crucial to optimizing performance and efficiency. One of the strategies is taking the advantages of interceptors, which have proven to be a promising solution for resistance reduction and trim control. However, most studies predominantly focus on vessels with undisturbed stern geometries, in contrast, certain high-speed vessels, such as patrol craft or military fast boats, are equipped with tunnel propeller configurations designed to protect the propeller while ensuring optimal performance at high Froude numbers. This study focuses on the use of interceptors for hulls with tunnel propellers using experimental and numerical approaches. Varies interceptors span dimension strategically installed on the tunnel propellers, with consistent blade height. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach used to investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics of the hull, providing comprehensive investigation of the total resistance, pressure distribution, wave profile, and dynamic trim. This study shows that interceptors can still perform effectively even on hulls equipped with tunnel propellers. Furthermore, vessel speed and configuration play a significant role in interceptor effectiveness. The most impact on resistance reduction was achieved with the mid-tunnel interceptor configuration: up to 9.7% at Fr=0.85.