An Investigation of the Effect of Varied Blade Shapes of the Trim Interceptor on the Resistance Characteristics of a Planing Vessel at Medium Speeds

The use of trim interceptors on fast boats to enhance performance still presents challenges in achieving optimal design across various parameters. The design of interceptor blades with conventional square cross-sections prompts consideration of whether altering the blade shape can affect its effectiveness in minimizing resistance on planing boats. This comprehensive study explores various permutations of interceptor blade shapes and their impact on the characteristics of resistance in planing botas. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using the Reynolds Averaging Navier-Stokes (RANS) method, verified and validated, is employed to conduct this investigation. The results indicate that the round shape consistently exhibits lower resistance compared to rectangular, ½ V, and full V shapes across a range of speeds (Froude number 0.76 – 0.99).