Numerical simulation of the relationship between underwater jets oscillation and shock wave

Abstract

In order to study the relationship between an underwater shock wave and jet thrust oscillation, a simulation model of underwater jet is established. As per a numerical calculation based on the SST (Shear Stress Transport), and VOF (Volume of Fluid) models, the flow speed of jet gas has been changed with the pressure ratio. When the jet speed becomes supersonic, its corresponding shock structure will occur. When the pressure ratio is small, the shock wave structure in the nozzle is normal, and in case of an increase of the jet speed, the jet is moving from the nozzle inside to the outside. When the pressure ratio reaches a certain number, the shock is out of nozzle, and the nozzle is operating in an over-expansion state, the thrust oscillation amplitude is high. When the pressure ratio is large, and the nozzle is operating in the under-expanded state, then the structure of shock wave is very complex, jet back-attack no longer appears, and the thrust amplitude is rather smaller than the over-expanded one. Two kinds of situations are compared. And the comparison revealed that the highly under-expanded state is more conducive to the stability of the underwater vehicle, which can provide a reference for the corresponding design.