Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection Vehicles

Hydropower stations and dams play a crucial role in water management, ecology, and energy. To meet the requirements of underwater dam defect detection, this study develops a streamlined underwater vehicle design and operational framework inspired by bionic principles. A parametric modeling approach...

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Main Authors: Hong-Xia Cheng, Mei-Jie Cao, Peng-Fei Xu, Yan Kai, Zi-Peng Wang, Gang Wan, Qiao Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/192
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author Hong-Xia Cheng
Mei-Jie Cao
Peng-Fei Xu
Yan Kai
Zi-Peng Wang
Gang Wan
Qiao Hu
author_facet Hong-Xia Cheng
Mei-Jie Cao
Peng-Fei Xu
Yan Kai
Zi-Peng Wang
Gang Wan
Qiao Hu
author_sort Hong-Xia Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Hydropower stations and dams play a crucial role in water management, ecology, and energy. To meet the requirements of underwater dam defect detection, this study develops a streamlined underwater vehicle design and operational framework inspired by bionic principles. A parametric modeling approach was employed to propose the vehicle’s streamlined configuration. Using CFD simulations, hydrodynamic coefficients were calculated and validated through towing experiments in a pool. The hydrodynamic stability of the vehicle was assessed and verified through these analyses. Additionally, various configurations were generated using a free deformation method. An optimization function was established with resistance and stability as the objectives, and the optimal result was derived based on the function’s calculation outcomes. The study designed a high-metacentric underwater vehicle, inspired by the seahorse’s shape, and introduced a novel stability evaluation method. Simulations were conducted to analyze the vehicle’s variable attack angle, drift angle, pitching, and rotational motion at a forward three-throttle speed. The results demonstrate that the vehicle achieves static stability in both the horizontal and vertical planes, as well as dynamic stability in the vertical plane, but exhibits limited dynamic stability in the horizontal plane. After optimizing the original configuration, the forward resistance was reduced by 2.15%, while the horizontal plane dynamic stability criterion <i>C<sub>H</sub></i> was improved by 35.29%.
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issn 2077-1312
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series Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
spelling doaj-art-7c948abcfb7b4534ae05769c52b2bcad2025-08-20T02:44:50ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-01-0113219210.3390/jmse13020192Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection VehiclesHong-Xia Cheng0Mei-Jie Cao1Peng-Fei Xu2Yan Kai3Zi-Peng Wang4Gang Wan5Qiao Hu6College of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaChina Yangtze Power Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430014, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaHydropower stations and dams play a crucial role in water management, ecology, and energy. To meet the requirements of underwater dam defect detection, this study develops a streamlined underwater vehicle design and operational framework inspired by bionic principles. A parametric modeling approach was employed to propose the vehicle’s streamlined configuration. Using CFD simulations, hydrodynamic coefficients were calculated and validated through towing experiments in a pool. The hydrodynamic stability of the vehicle was assessed and verified through these analyses. Additionally, various configurations were generated using a free deformation method. An optimization function was established with resistance and stability as the objectives, and the optimal result was derived based on the function’s calculation outcomes. The study designed a high-metacentric underwater vehicle, inspired by the seahorse’s shape, and introduced a novel stability evaluation method. Simulations were conducted to analyze the vehicle’s variable attack angle, drift angle, pitching, and rotational motion at a forward three-throttle speed. The results demonstrate that the vehicle achieves static stability in both the horizontal and vertical planes, as well as dynamic stability in the vertical plane, but exhibits limited dynamic stability in the horizontal plane. After optimizing the original configuration, the forward resistance was reduced by 2.15%, while the horizontal plane dynamic stability criterion <i>C<sub>H</sub></i> was improved by 35.29%.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/192ROVbionicsconfiguration designCFD
spellingShingle Hong-Xia Cheng
Mei-Jie Cao
Peng-Fei Xu
Yan Kai
Zi-Peng Wang
Gang Wan
Qiao Hu
Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection Vehicles
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
ROV
bionics
configuration design
CFD
title Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection Vehicles
title_full Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection Vehicles
title_fullStr Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection Vehicles
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection Vehicles
title_short Optimization of Configuration Design for Underwater Dam Defect Detection Vehicles
title_sort optimization of configuration design for underwater dam defect detection vehicles
topic ROV
bionics
configuration design
CFD
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/192
work_keys_str_mv AT hongxiacheng optimizationofconfigurationdesignforunderwaterdamdefectdetectionvehicles
AT meijiecao optimizationofconfigurationdesignforunderwaterdamdefectdetectionvehicles
AT pengfeixu optimizationofconfigurationdesignforunderwaterdamdefectdetectionvehicles
AT yankai optimizationofconfigurationdesignforunderwaterdamdefectdetectionvehicles
AT zipengwang optimizationofconfigurationdesignforunderwaterdamdefectdetectionvehicles
AT gangwan optimizationofconfigurationdesignforunderwaterdamdefectdetectionvehicles
AT qiaohu optimizationofconfigurationdesignforunderwaterdamdefectdetectionvehicles