Transient Numerical Study On Maneuverable Motion Of High Speed Supercavitating Vehicles

The supercavitation technology is a way to increase the speed of underwatervehicles, which will change the future of the naval warfare. But it involves somechallenges such as multiphase flow, turbulence, cavitation, and can’t be applied totally.The Russian supercavitation weapon “Shkval” can only navigates in a straight path, soit is an important research project to develop maneuverable supercavitation vehicles.In terms of this background, the cavity shape and the hydrodynamic forces whenthe vehicle is in various motions are researched. The contents are as follows:(1) The flow characteristics are studied in periodic pitching and yawing motions ofthe vehicle using two-fluid multiphase flow model and mesh morphing technology. Thecavity shape and the hydrodynamic forces are discussed based on the results of variousangles and frequencies.(2) Based on the software CFX coupling with the dynamic and kinematicalequations of the vehicle, the cavity shape and the hydrodynamic forces of the vehicle infree rolling motions are studied.(3) A model to simulate cavitating flows in turning motions is presented by addinga source term in momentum equations. The cavity shape in turning motions is comparedwith the results based on the Logvinovich’s principle and the empirical formula, and thehydrodynamic characteristics are discussed in different conditions both for natural andventilated supercavitation.