Investigation of sweep angle effects on a submarine hydrodynamic drag using computational fluid dynamics

In the present paper,the effects of the increase in surfaces backward sweep angle of horizontal tail and the hydrofoil of a typical submarine on its hydrodynamic drag are investigated with computational fluid dynamics (cfd). results show that with the increase in the horizontal tail backward sweep angle about 50° in constant surface area,hydrodynamic drag can reduce 6% than zero backward sweep angle condition. this value is equal to 44 n reductions in hydrodynamic drag force and 180 watt of consumption power in 4 m/s speeds of this submarine. also,with increasing 60° of this submarine hydrofoil backward sweep angle,the constant hydrofoil volume can reduce 14% from hydrodynamic drag rather than zero hydrofoil backward sweep angle. this hydrodynamic drag reduction of this typical submarine in cruising speed (4 m/s) is equal to 97 n force,saving 388 watt of the consumption power. in general,the 50° of horizontal tail backward sweep angle and 60° of hydrofoil backward sweep angle can reduce 19% of hydrodynamic drag rather than zero tail and hydrofoil backward sweep angles. these amounts of drag reduction and power saving in this typical submarine can increase the range and the endurance. © 2015 jordan journal of mechanical and industrial engineering. all rights reserved.