Experimental study of the effect of internal waves on the rotational hydrodynamics of underwater vehicle

Abstract

Maneuverability, which is closely related to navigation safety, is an important part of the overall performance of an underwater vehicle. The purpose of this study is to analyze the dynamic response of an underwater vehicle to internal waves at different angles and speeds. A combination of experiments and numerical simulations is used to compare the forces on the underwater vehicle. In terms of fluid-structure coupling, the internal wave interface is tracked by the VOF method. In this paper, waves of the same amplitude ratio as the numerical results are simulated using a wave-making sphere. The validity of the numerical method is verified by comparing with the rotation moment test of the underwater vehicle. The results show that different angles of attack have significant effects on the forces and moments of the underwater vehicle and that choosing the right angle of attack and rotation speed can limit the dangerous depth. The conclusion is of certain significance for the safety of underwater navigation.

Keywords

• Internal waves
• Wave-making tests
• Underwater vehicle
• Navigation safety
• Rotary motion