Experimental Studies of Stern Flap Performance on a Transform Stern High-Speed Displacement Vessel

Hydrodynamic drag of ocean-going vessels imposes severe penalty with regard to exhaust emissions and fuel consumption. Stern flaps have been extensively used as a cost-effective energy saving device, largely by the US Navy. Experimental analysis to identify an optimum stern flap fitted at the transom stern end of a generic high-speed displacement vessel operating at Froude number regime of 0.17–0.48 is described. In this study, twelve different stern flap configurations were studied. Identification of optimum stern flap was based on systematic analysis of extensive model test resistance data of various stern flap configurations over twelve different Froude numbers.