Zero wave resistance for ships moving in shallow channels at supercritical speeds. Part 2. Improved theory and model experiment

Abstract

This paper deals with a specially designed slender ship moving steadily at a chosen supercritical speed in a suitable narrow shallow channel such that the wave resistance becomes zero. It is a sequel to Chen & Sharma (1997), which predicted theoretically the existence of a ship–channel configuration of zero wave resistance. It was derived from a two-soliton solution of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation. The present theory comprises an improved shallow-water wave equation of Boussinesq type for the far field and an enhanced slender body approximation in the near field. Moreover, a physical model experiment performed in the Duisburg shallow water towing tank (VBD) is reported. It confirms that at the exact design condition the ship's reflected bow wave cancels the stern wave so completely that there are almost no waves behind the ship and the measured resistance is reduced so much that the wave resistance component is practically zero.