Numerical Study on Hydrodynamic Performance of Shallow Underwater Glider Platform

Underwater glider is the new generation of autonomous underwater glider which has been used for ocean observation and wide range of marine environment monitoring. It glides through seawater horizontally and vertically by carried additional wings. This paper presents the investigation of hydrodynamic characteristics of the shallow underwater glider by using Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT 6.3.26. A 3-dimensional Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model is used to estimate hydrodynamic performance of the glider. The effect of angle of attack (varied from -8o to +8o) at various Reynolds numbers and the flow behavior of underwater glider at different flow conditions are studied. The characteristics such as lift and drag forces, lift and drag coefficients and pressure distribution over fixed wings are evaluated in a flow field with Reynolds number ranging from 10 to 10. Lift and drag coefficients are observed to rise as function of angle of attack. Wake formation occurs at the tail and the junction of main wing and fuselage body, and the nose is exerted to highest pressure force compared with the other parts.

[1]  Andrea Caiti,et al.  Folaga : A low-cost autonomous underwater vehicle combining glider and AUV capabilities , 2009 .

[2]  M. Arima,et al.  Motion Characteristics of an Underwater Glider with Independently Controllable Main Wings , 2008, OCEANS 2008 - MTS/IEEE Kobe Techno-Ocean.

[3]  Naomi Kato,et al.  Mini Underwater Glider ( MUG ) for Education , 2008 .

[4]  Gyungnam Jo,et al.  Pitching Control Simulations of an Underwater Glider Using CFD Analysis , 2008, OCEANS 2008 - MTS/IEEE Kobe Techno-Ocean.

[5]  K. Ishii,et al.  Development of glider type small AUV SeaBird , 2007, 2007 Symposium on Underwater Technology and Workshop on Scientific Use of Submarine Cables and Related Technologies.

[6]  C. C. Eriksen,et al.  Seaglider: a long-range autonomous underwater vehicle for oceanographic research , 2001 .

[7]  Stefan B. Williams,et al.  Analysis of an Autonomous Underwater Glider , 2008 .

[8]  F.S. Hover,et al.  Design and projected performance of a flapping foil AUV , 2004, IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering.

[9]  D. C. Webb,et al.  SLOCUM: an underwater glider propelled by environmental energy , 2001 .

[10]  V. G. Idichandy,et al.  Experimental investigation of hydrodynamic force coefficients over AUV hull form , 2009 .

[11]  David M. Fratantoni,et al.  UNDERWATER GLIDERS FOR OCEAN RESEARCH , 2004 .

[12]  Scott Glenn,et al.  Slocum Gliders – A Component of Operational Oceanography , 2005 .

[13]  D.G. Simons,et al.  A highly versatile autonomous underwater vehicle with biomechanical propulsion , 2009, OCEANS 2009-EUROPE.

[14]  Seung-Keon Lee,et al.  Modular modeling of maneuvering motions of an underwater glider , 2008, OCEANS 2008.

[15]  M. Arima,et al.  Modelling and motion simulation of an underwater glider with independently controllable main wings , 2009, OCEANS 2009-EUROPE.

[16]  Xinyan Deng,et al.  Microautonomous Robotic Ostraciiform (MARCO): Hydrodynamics, Design, and Fabrication , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Robotics.

[17]  R. Davis,et al.  The autonomous underwater glider "Spray" , 2001 .