Experimental Study on the Flow Field, Force, and Moment Measurements of Submarines with Different Stern Control Surfaces

Abstract

Flow field performance tests of submarine models with cross-rudder and X-rudder stern control surfaces were conducted to study X-rudders’ performance in non-uniform flow fields. The tests compared performance parameters such as resistance, lateral steering force, yaw moment, stern velocity field, and flow field inhomogeneity coefficient under low- and high-speed conditions. The test results show that, at low speed, the resistance of the X-rudder submarine is smaller than that of the cross-rudder one at the same rudder angle. In contrast, at high speed, the resistance of the cross-rudder submarine is smaller than that of the X-rudder submarine. Under low- and high-speed conditions, the X-rudder’s lateral steering force and yaw moment are larger than those of the cross rudder at the same rudder angle. The superiority of the maneuverability of the X-rudder becomes more apparent with increasing rudder angle. At a rudder angle of 10°, the X-rudder’s lateral steering force and yaw moment are about two times larger than the cross rudder’s. In the small-radius area of the propeller plane, the inhomogeneity coefficient of the X-rudder is generally smaller than that of the cross rudder. This is probably because the cross-rudder stern control surfaces have fixed stabilizers with flaps, and the X-rudder stern control surfaces are all-moving, with a small fixed part next to the submarine. This test provides a reference for designing the stern control surface of low-noise submarines.

Steering and Rising Testing of an Innovative Tourist Submarine

“…A set of towing-tank tests of submarine models with a cross-rudder and an X-rudder were conducted to study the X-rudders' performance in non-uniform flow fields [21]. The tests examined the resistance, lateral steering force, yaw moment, stern velocity field, and flow-field inhomogeneity coefficient under low-and high-speed conditions.…”

Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation of Hydrodynamic Forces and Moments Acting on Stern Rudder Plane Configurations of a Submarine

“…Three types of rudder-plane configurations are often equipped on submarines; namely, Cross-plane, X-plane, and Y-plane rudders. Experimental studies on submarines appended with a control surface and/or marine propeller are frequently conducted, such as those detailed in [1][2][3][4][5]. For example, research on the prediction of hydrodynamic coefficients of rudders, stabilizers, and the submarine body has been presented by Park et al [1].…”

“…Experiments on both rudders and stabilizers were carried out in a towing tank with the deflection angle ranging from −30 degrees to +30 degrees. In addition, using an experimental method, Ke et al [2] predicted the lateral force and yaw moment under the Cross-skeg rudder and X-rudder configurations. The axial velocities of fluid flow induced by the rudder plane configurations were investigated.…”