Design optimization of duct-type AUVs using CFD analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine the ideal design for the external and internal shapes of duct-type autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The most important design factors for duct-type AUVs are minimizing the drag force and increasing the thrust because these determine the propulsive efficiency. To improve the propulsive efficiency, the various factors that affect the drag force and thrust of duct-type AUVs were examined. All of the experiments were performed using CFD analysis because physical experiments are inefficient in terms of cost and time. To improve the CFD analysis efficiency, the Taguchi method was used to minimize the number of CFD analyses. Through these processes, design factors that reduce the drag force and increase the thrust according to the external and internal shapes were analyzed. We propose an optimized model that can improve the propulsive efficiency.