Typhoon: A vortex-lattice code for assessing dynamic stability characteristics of hydrofoil crafts

Abstract

In this paper an open-source implementation of the vortex-lattice method to perform a dynamic stability analysis for hydrofoil crafts is discussed. The difference with existing vortex-lattice codes is the addition of a free-surface boundary condition which is needed to analyse surface piercing foils. This code, called Typhoon, can be used to perform a dynamic stability analysis (DSA) on hydrofoil vessels. The goal of this code is to have an easy-to-use and cheap alternative to compare different designs in early design stages. This paper gives a brief background to all the concepts used, followed by a short theoretical explanation of the vortex-lattice method. The second part of this paper focuses on a practical example of how this code can be used on an example.