Design and optimization of cylindrical hull with non-uniform arch ribs for underwater gliders based on approximate model and experiments

Abstract

The underwater glider is one of the most promising autonomous underwater vehicles for long-term ocean observations, whose battery capacity and energy consumption are directly affected by compressibility and buoyancy factor of its pressure hull. Thus, to further increase compressibility and decrease buoyancy factor of underwater vehicles, this study proposes a cylindrical hull with non-uniform arch ribs by analyzing design and test results of the existing hulls used in the Petrel-L glider, China. Considering complexity of the proposed cylindrical hull, the approximate model of mass and other output responses of hull is established based on a parametric model by response surface method, which is used to optimize design variables and thus obtain an optimal cylindrical hull. Additionally, the performance of the optimal hull is verified by finite element method and pressure tests. Compared with a conventional cylindrical hull, the deformation of optimal hull is increased by 38.79%, which can indirectly reduce the energy consumption of the buoyancy drive unit and improve endurance of the Petrel-L glider. Meanwhile, the mass of the optimal hull is decreased by 21.57%, which allows more battery or sensor load under the same pressure. Furthermore, the proposed hull can apply to other underwater vehicles.