Numerical solution of a nonlinear problem of the motion of a plane hydrofoil beneath the free surface of an ideal incompressible fluid

Abstract

A nonlinear problem of the motion of a hydrofoil of infinite span beneath the free surface of an ideal incompressible fluid with gravity is studied. The stream function is used as the dependent variable. Iterative algorithms for small and large Froude numbers based upon solving a linear boundary value problem in each step with subsequent updating of the shape of the free boundary are proposed. Typical predictions are given for a symmetric profile at different values of the submersion depth, the Froude number and the angle of attack. The free surface and streamlines shapes are shown. The dependence of the lift on the submersion depth for motion through fluid layers of different thickness is presented.