Analysis of a fin drag force in a biomimetic underwater vehicle

Abstract

This article presents the analysis of fin drag force in a Biomimetic Underwater Vehicle (BUV). To carry out numerical simulations Incompressible Computational Fluid Dynamics (ICFD) solver was used. The simulation model was verified in the designed laboratory test stand. The laboratory test stand was equipped with specialized sensors for force measurements and control of fluid velocity. An average value of fluid velocity in the water tunnel was measured by specialized high accuracy ultrasonic flowmeter. A vision system was used for analysis of laminar and turbulent flows in the fluid structure interaction area. The research of fluid-structure interaction phenomena was depicted using dimensional analysis.