Experimental study resistances of asymmetrical pentamaran model with separation and staggered hull variation of inner side-hulls

Application of multi-hull ships as marine transportation began to grow rapidly at the present. Advantages of pentamaran due to lower draught with the same displacement of monohull. This study aimed to determine the effect of variations in separation and staggered of inboard side hulls to the total resistances to get the configuration with the lowest resistance interference. Configuration varied by adjusting the separation and staggered of inner side hulls. Method of towing carriage experiments are used with variations of Froude number from 0:1 to 0:7. The highest drag reduction of Fr = 0:35 is II.a configuration (S/L = 3/16, R/L = 1/20) with a maximum percentage of 25%. The influence of the configuration to the resistances depends on the value of Fr, the influence of hull separation indicates the closer hull with the other gives a high interference resistance, while the influence of staggered hull indicates the position of inboard side hulls in optimal separation will give the lowest resistance in mid staggered positions.