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Abstract

In this study, the hydrodynamic performance of a proposed underwater glider (UG) that utilizes a diamond wing was analyzed and its gliding ability in undersea environments with both steady and uniform and unsteady and nonuniform oceanic currents optimized. The flow field around the UG was analyzed using the software package RANS CFD. Under conditions where the current varied linearly both with water depth and time, the UG exhibited harmonically heaving and pitching motions, with a constant acceleration incident flow. The dynamic lifting and drag forces acting on the diamond wing and the dynamic heaving force and pitching moment acting at the center-ofgravity of the UG body were also determined. The hull efficiency of the proposed Diamond-Wing UG showed an increase of 27%-45% for angles of attack (AOAs) in the range 2-18 compared with the Sea-Wing UG, developed by the Shengyang Automatic Institution in 2013. Further, the lift-to-drag ratio of the wing increased by 6.5%-14% for AOAs in the range 4-12, and the optimal tilt angle for maximum hull efficiency and liftto-drag ratio was found to be in the range 15-20. The results of comparison of the analysis algorithm and numerical model with the results of ellipsoids generated by theoretical calculations and calculations from various studies in the literature showed good agreement. The simulation results showed that the UG with the proposed diamond-shaped wing possesses anti-flow ability and strong maneuverability in nonuniform and unsteady inflow conditions.

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