Layout Effect of Two Autonomous Underwater Vehicles on the Hydrodynamics Performances

Abstract

Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used for the design optimization of the layout of an autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) containing three torpedo-shaped hulls. The AUV layout is defined by two parameters a and b present the stance following YY and XX respectively. several simulations are carried on the AUV with different positions of the torpedo in order to define the optimal layout which designates the minimum drag. the numerical results approve that the variation in the drag coefficient of the AUV is the to the interaction of the flow rate and the pressure change between the both hulls. in addition, an optimal layout for the minimum AUV drag with two torpedoes is found which provides a drag reduce of about 11.4% lower than a single UV with a single torpedo.