Investigation of hydrodynamic lift & drag on an autonomous winged submarine using computational fluid dynamics. (15th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Olmos, Sergio; de Lara, José; Carrasco, Pablo
• Is Part Of: Ocean engineering. Volume 186(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-08-15
• Subjects: Hydrodynamic -- Numerical simulation -- Winged submarine -- Lift -- Drag; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2019.05.076
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-8018

Abstract

Abstract: In the current study it has been analyzed the submarine take-off and subsequent submarine flight of a novel unmanned vehicle, has two operational modes: on sea surface as USV 1 vehicle and submarine mode as UUV 2 . In the submarine mode the vehicle operates with the wings in a horizontal position and a specific speed that is needed for the immersion. The vehicle does not function as an underwater glider; it functions closer to an underwater aircraft. For that reason, the performance must be evaluated as a function of the generated "Drag" and "Lift". Due to the nature of its double purpose, it is required to know the performances in two conditions: fully submerged and on surface. These two cases will be analyzed with different numerical models for both scenarios, with free surface for USV mode and for the UUV mode. These scenarios are set out with four different numerical models which are: central body with central wing, central wing, central wing with flaps at 20° and wing on surface. To measure the correlation between generated lift and speed a 1:2 scale model was used and tested in open waters. The data gathered in those tests was used to validate the mentioned CFD simulations. Highlights: The vehicle is capable of a hybrid role UUV/USV by swinging its wings from horizontal position (UUV) to vertical (USV). In UUV mode the vehicle operates with the wings in a horizontal position and a specific speed, needed for the immersion. In USV mode the vehicle becomes a catamaran. This mode changing ability is which makes it so innovative. The submarine take-off is achieved by generating down force in the wings, keeping it submerged during submarine flight. To validate the CFD results between generated lift and speed a 1:2 scale model was used and tested in open waters.