| dc.description.abstract | The P 47 series Fast Attack Craft (FAC) of the
Sri Lanka Navy has been designed to achieve a design
speed of 40 knots. Presently, the P 47 series consists of 05
No’s of FACs, namely P 471, P 472, P 473, P 474 and P475
which have the capability of reaching the maximum speed
of 40 knots during post-slipping trials on completion of
Routine Under Water Maintenance (RUWM) or Hull
Cleaning design. However, after one to two months of
operation, the maximum achievable speed of the craft is
reduced to 25 – 28 knots gradually. This significant
performance drop of P 47 series FAC has affected its speed,
acceleration, and manoeuvrability. Consequently, this
reduction compromises the operational efficacy of the
vessels and creates considerable barriers to naval
operations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the
primary causes of these problems and also to propose
suitable solutions. A comprehensive analysis using NavCad
software and Savitsky method was employed to
simulate/model the craft’s hydrodynamic behaviour under
various load conditions with LCG shifts and adjustments to
weight distribution and experimental trials were carried
out to validate the theoretical models. This investigation
provides empirical evidence and practical solutions for a
long-lasting issue of performance reduction in P 47 series
FAC in the Sri Lanka Navy while filling the gap in available
literature.
The research findings enhance the
understanding of planning hull dynamics while providing
actionable insights for naval architects, engineers and
decision-makers. Further, this study provides directions
to explore further optimization techniques and real-world
applications in future. | en_US |
