Prediction of hydrodynamic performance of 3-D WIG by IBEM

The hydrodynamic performance of three-dimensional WIG (Wing-In-Ground) vehicle moving with a constant speed above free water surface has been predicted by an Iterative Boundary Element Method (IBEM). IBEM originally developed for 3-D hydrofoils moving under free surface has been modified and extended to 3-D WIGs moving above free water surface. The integral equation based on Green's theorem can be divided into two parts: (1) the wing part, (2) free surface part. These two problems are solved separately, with the effects of one on the other being accounted for in an iterative manner. Both the wing part including the wake surface and the free surface part have been modelled with constant strength dipole and source panels. The effects of Froude number, the height of the hydrofoil from free surface, the sweep, dihedral and anhedral angles on the lift and drag coefficients are discussed for swept and V-type WIGs.