In comparison with the motion of displacement ships in waves, thenumber of studies existing in the literature on the motion of fullyskirtedair cushion vehicles (ACV) in waves is very limited, and mostof them took the theoretical approach aiming at the formulation andderivation of solution for particular types of ACV or certain elementsof the problem. This is probably because the coupling between the body,skirt system, air cushion and the waves is of extreme complexity.Experimental studies are even scarcer while it seems to be the bestmethodology at present to investigate the motion of ACVs and use theresults for validation of theoretical or numerical methods. In this paper,an experimental study of the motion of an ACV in regular waves ispresented. A scale model is designed and manufactured by analyzingthe requirements of model test. The tests were carried out for a varietyof bag-to-cushion pressure ratios in order to analyze its influence on themotion. The vessel speed and wave direction were also varied so as toinvestigate the pattern of the motion.
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