Abstract: To investigate the variation of T-foil lift performance with the submergence depth, the towing experiments were conducted on a group of T-foil steel models, obtaining the lift data for 36 test conditions. The CFD simulation was validated using the experimental data, and the lift data for additional 36 conditions were obtained through CFD simulations. Based on the hybrid dataset combining experimental and CFD results, the accuracy and completeness of the Buckle-Vellinga model were verified and analyzed, leading to the development of a revised model. The new model adjusts the depth of the separation point between the near free surface region and far from free surface region, with the maximum deviation between the model results and the hybrid dataset less than 7%. The revised model could describe the variation of T-foil lift with submergence depth much more accurately and comprehensively.

Key words: T-foil, lift performance, submergence depth, towing experiments