Simulation of turning manoeuvre of planing craft taking into account the running attitude change in a simplified manner

The modelling and simulation of planing craft manoeuvres requires coupled six degrees of freedom (6 DOF) motion equations. A coupled 6 DOF motion equation needs hundreds of manoeuvring hydrodynamic coefficients (MHCs) that are mostly determined using the planar motion mechanism (PMM) test. The number of test runs is too high, unless a kind of simplification is imposed to the motion equations. This study modifies 6 DOF motion equations to 4+2 DOF motion equations in which heave and pitch equations are replaced by dynamic draught and trim (so-called running attitude), respectively. The method is applicable for a manoeuvre that commences in the planing regime and ends in the same regime. On that basis, the PMM test is conducted and the model is restrained in the vertical plane at a certain running attitude, determined by a resistance test. The 4+2 DOF method, together with MHCs from the PMM test, are employed for the simulation of turning manoeuvres of a 25° prismatic planing hull. The results of the simulation indicate that the 4+2 DOF method reasonably predicts the path of the craft during the turning manoeuvre and cuts the number of PMM tests required at the same time. The PMM test results show that MHCs are highly related to forward speed and wetted surfaces. The turning manoeuvre simulation shows that the non-linear terms of MHCs cannot be ignored. The STD/L (Steady Turning Diameter divided by Length of the craft) for a planing craft is very large, compared to ships.