| Abstract | In the early days of underwater vehicle development, the hull geometry of tethered submersibles was developed from relatively simple hydrodynamic considerations. Modern untethered vehicles, on the other hand, require some combination of long range, high endurance, and high maneuverability, with a finite energy source on board. Their design must therefore be optimized, in which hydrodynamic optimization is a major factor. Sound hydrodynamic design requires a good knowledge of vehicle dynamics. Computer simulation codes can achieve this but require an accurate representation of the external forces and momnets on the vehicle (usually in the form of hydrodynamic, or stability, coefficients). The complex flow over a three-dimensional hyll with appendages makes it very difficult to estimate these quantities numerically. For this reason, a hybrid experimental-numerical approach is adopted. A five degree-of-freedom (DOF) test apparatus, called the Marine Dynamic Test Facility (MDTF), is being developed that can measure the hydrodynamic coefficients experimentally; the results are then the basis for modelling the forces and moments in a numerical simulation. The MDTF has application not only to underwater vehciles from small submersibles to naval submariens, but also to surgace ships, advanced marine vehicles, and offshore structures. It will be available to vehicle designers for the accurate evaluation of vehicle performance in a controlled laboratory environment. This paper describes the development of this important tool and presents the current status and its possible important application in the design of submersible and towed vehicle systems. |
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