AMC School of Engineering lecturer Dr Javad AlaviMehr and his team were awarded the Medal of Distinction for best research paper through the Royal Institution of Naval Architecture.
A study into reducing the motion and improving the ride comfort of high-speed wave piercing catamarans has won a leading international maritime research prize.
AMC School of Engineering lecturer and Doctor of Philosophy (Maritime Engineering) graduate, Dr Javad AlaviMehr and his team were awarded the Medal of Distinction for best research paper through the Royal Institution of Naval Architecture.
Dr AlaviMehr investigated the response of a high-speed catamaran to an active ride control system by conducting scale model experiments in AMC’s towing tank, based on a 112-metre INCAT catamaran.
“The operation of high-speed catamarans in large waves can produce significant vessel motions that can lead to passenger discomfort, as well as extreme loadings during full bow immersion and wave slam impact,” he said.
“These large loads and motions can be effectively reduced through the implementation of a ride control system (RCS) that can significantly reduce the extreme loads sustained by the hull girder and reduce the incidence of motion sickness for passengers on-board the vessel.”
The findings from Dr AlaviMehr’s work provide an insight into the motions control response and form the foundation for future investigations exploring optimal control algorithms.
“The development of an improved ride control system at model scale can now be used as a basis for improving the ride comfort and design of future high-speed wave piercing catamaran vessels,” he said.
Tasmanian Business Reporter 
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