Atlas: Computational Hydrodynamics for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles by Abdollah Arabshahi

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Fourth Mississippi State Conference on Differential Equations and Computational Simulations
May 21-22, 1999
Mississippi State University and Electronic Journal of Differential Equations
Starkville, MS, USA

Organizers
Ratnasingham Shivaji, Bharat Soni, Jianping Zhu (Program Chair)

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Computational Hydrodynamics for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
by
Abdollah Arabshahi
Applied Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University
Coauthors: Howard J. Gibeling

abstract

The objective of this project is to develop the technology for the design of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and their control systems using a physics-based computational method. This technology will provide the capability for combining complex hydrodynamic flows (involving free surface) prediction codes with control system analysis and synthesis techniques to achieve an accurate integrated design process. An implicit, finite-volume, third-order upwind numerical scheme is used for solving the steady-state and time-dependent flowfields around Autonomous Underwater Vehicles [1-3]. This scheme solves the time-dependent incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using the artificial compressibility method in generalized time-dependent curvilinear coordinate systems. The inviscid fluxes are evaluated by a MUSCL-type flux-difference splitting using Roe averaged variables. The viscous terms are central differenced, and the turbulence effects are modeled with the well known Baldwin-Lomax algebraic model. The present flow solver is referred to as UNCLE ( Unsteady Computation of Field Equations).In addition, the UNCLE code is written in a block-structure form allowing calculation with nearly unrestricted arrangement of arbitrarily sized blocks. The code requires C0 grid line continuity across block boundaries. Consequently, non-interpolated block-block interfaces are a key feature of flow solver. Additionally, to accommodate truly generalized time-dependent curvilinear coordinate systems where grid cell deformation is likely, UNCLE satisfies the geometric conservation law. An overview of the flow solver and a complete numerical solution are planned for the final paper.

References

[1] Arabshahi, A., Taylor, L. K., and Whitfield, D. L., ÜNCLE: Toward A Comprehensive Time-Accurate Incompressible Navier-Stokes Flow Solver, " AIAA-95-0050, AIAA 33rd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Reno, NV, January 1995.

[2] Taylor, L. K., Arabshahi, A., and Whitfield, D. L., Ünsteady Three-Dimensional Incompressible Navier-Stokes Computations for a Prolate Spheroid Undergoing Time-Dependent Maneuvers, " AIAA-95-0313, AIAA 33rd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Reno, NV, January 1995.

[3] Beddhu, M., Jiang, M. Y., Whitfield, D. L., Taylor, L. K., and Arabshahi, A., "Computational Physical Oceanography- A Comprehensive Approach Based on Generalized CFD/Grid Techniques for Planetary Scale Simulations of Oceanic Flows, " MSSU-EIRS-ERC-97-5, March 1997.

Date received: March 30, 1999