Integrated Hull Design, Boundary-Layer Control, and Propulsion of Submerged Bodies

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Power requirements of large submerged bodies at high Reynolds numbers are optimized by the hydrodynamic synthesis of body design, boundary-layer control, and propulsion. Con- ventional rigid skin, all turbulent boundary layers, and a single suction slot are accepted as realistic engineering constraints. A 3:1 body has been designed and has been tested in a wind tunnel at a Reynolds number of 107; the wake drag has been found to be CDW = 0.002, and the equivalent suction drag CDS = 0.0142 yielding a total equivalent drag CD = 0.0162 (based on volume). This can be compared to CD = 0.0235 for the best conventional streamlined body (Akron airship model). A total engine power coefficient has also been determined, Cp* = 0.01585, while a conventional streamlined vehicle with stern wake propeller has a Cp* = 0.0215, thereby showing a net gain of 26%. There is a possible tradeoff between suction and pro- pulsion powers allowing the total power coefficient to decrease to CP* = 0.0100 and to reach a 50% power gain.