A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter

A new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has high maneuverability near the bottom and a direction turnaround ability, called the autonomous underwater helicopter (AUH). This paper numerically investigates the hydrodynamic performance of the AUH. A Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation, a...

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Main Authors: Hoang-Phuong Vu, Thanh-Long Le, Tran-Hanh Phung, Thanh-Truong Nguyen, Thi-Hong-Nhi Vuong, Tran-Phu Nguyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9733
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author Hoang-Phuong Vu
Thanh-Long Le
Tran-Hanh Phung
Thanh-Truong Nguyen
Thi-Hong-Nhi Vuong
Tran-Phu Nguyen
author_facet Hoang-Phuong Vu
Thanh-Long Le
Tran-Hanh Phung
Thanh-Truong Nguyen
Thi-Hong-Nhi Vuong
Tran-Phu Nguyen
author_sort Hoang-Phuong Vu
collection DOAJ
description A new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has high maneuverability near the bottom and a direction turnaround ability, called the autonomous underwater helicopter (AUH). This paper numerically investigates the hydrodynamic performance of the AUH. A Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique, is applied to analyze the AUH’s behavior. Investigations of the AUH’s hydrodynamic characteristics become more obvious with a service speed in the range of 0.4–1.2 m/s. For the same velocity condition, the resistance of the AUH increases, and the irregular eddy at the rear of the AUH expands with changes in the angles of attack and the length/height ratio. Essential design characteristics including pressure, velocity distribution, and velocity streamlines are shown and analyzed. These insights can be used as a guideline to reduce drag force and optimize the AUH profile for future designs. It has great potential for improving the AUH’s control algorithms.
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id doaj-art-a381c49d8143483ea03b05e810dd3f7e
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issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-a381c49d8143483ea03b05e810dd3f7e2025-08-20T02:49:55ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-10-011421973310.3390/app14219733A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater HelicopterHoang-Phuong Vu0Thanh-Long Le1Tran-Hanh Phung2Thanh-Truong Nguyen3Thi-Hong-Nhi Vuong4Tran-Phu Nguyen5Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamVietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamVietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamFaculty of Vehicle and Energy Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), Ho Chi Minh City 70000, VietnamA new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has high maneuverability near the bottom and a direction turnaround ability, called the autonomous underwater helicopter (AUH). This paper numerically investigates the hydrodynamic performance of the AUH. A Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique, is applied to analyze the AUH’s behavior. Investigations of the AUH’s hydrodynamic characteristics become more obvious with a service speed in the range of 0.4–1.2 m/s. For the same velocity condition, the resistance of the AUH increases, and the irregular eddy at the rear of the AUH expands with changes in the angles of attack and the length/height ratio. Essential design characteristics including pressure, velocity distribution, and velocity streamlines are shown and analyzed. These insights can be used as a guideline to reduce drag force and optimize the AUH profile for future designs. It has great potential for improving the AUH’s control algorithms.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9733autonomous underwater vehicleautonomous underwater helicoptercomputational fluid dynamicsnumerical simulationhydrodynamic characteristics
spellingShingle Hoang-Phuong Vu
Thanh-Long Le
Tran-Hanh Phung
Thanh-Truong Nguyen
Thi-Hong-Nhi Vuong
Tran-Phu Nguyen
A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter
Applied Sciences
autonomous underwater vehicle
autonomous underwater helicopter
computational fluid dynamics
numerical simulation
hydrodynamic characteristics
title A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter
title_full A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter
title_fullStr A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter
title_full_unstemmed A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter
title_short A CFD Study of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter
title_sort cfd study of the hydrodynamic characteristics of an autonomous underwater helicopter
topic autonomous underwater vehicle
autonomous underwater helicopter
computational fluid dynamics
numerical simulation
hydrodynamic characteristics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9733
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