Evaluation of the FIDAP Computational Fluid Dynamics Code for the Calculation of Hydrodynamic Forces on Underwater Platforms

摘要

The Maritime Platforms Division within DSTO is currently studying the science and technology of autonomous underwater vehicles for defence applications. Part of this work involves a study of the hydrodynamics and maneuverability of these vehicles and the development of methods to determine the hydrodynamic coefficients of submerged bodies as a function of their shape. This report describes the application of the FIDAP Computational Fluid Dynamics package to the calculation of lift and drag forces on relatively simple underwater vehicle shapes, including cylinders, spheres, flat plates, and wing profiles. The degree to which FIDAP accurately reproduces known experimental data on these shapes is described and the applicability of other Computational Fluid Dynamics packages is discussed. (13 tables, 2 figures, 38 refs.).