Numerical Simulation of the Submarine Self-Propulsion Model Based on CFD Technology

The self-propulsion test of submarines is a key technology when evaluating its performance. In this paper，the simulation and modeling of a full appendage submarine with high-skew propeller are presented. Particularly，the flow patterns，the thrust and torque of the propeller and the wave resistance of the submarine are obtained via three-dimensional numerical analysis. Furthermore，analysis of the hydrodynamic properties of the SUBOFF bare hull as well as the appended submarine reveals high consistency between the two. It is observed that both the propeller thrust and the submarine body resistance are functions of the propeller rotating rate while the inflow velocity remains constant. Consequently，through altering the propeller rotating rate，various self-propulsion points can be determined under different inflow velocities. In brief，the proposed model provides insight into the flow pattern of full appendage submarines with 7-bladed propellers，and helps improving the overall performance and efficiency of the propeller.