Fluid Flow Characterization in IPMC Actuated Contractile Water Jet Thruster

Abstract:

Contractile water jet thruster is an alternative method for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) locomotion as well as for the AUV’s manoeuvrability control. Currently, studies on contractile water jet thruster focus more on the thrust force performance and its efficiency, such as the characterization of vortex ring formation process, the slug model L/D ratio and the influence of the thrust performance on the AUV. The aim of this paper is to discuss the fluid flow behaviour in the thruster during contraction process under different actuation frequency. This research utilized Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) as the actuators instead of electric motor for the contractile function. The result shows that the Reynolds number of the intake flow has negative linear relation with the actuation frequency.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 622-623)
• Pages: 1226-1230
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.622-623.1226
• Online since: December 2012
• Authors: Muhammad Farid Shaari, Husaini Abu Bakar, Samad Zahurin
• Keywords: Contractile Thruster, IPMC Actuator, Propulsion System

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