Parametric Geometric Model and Shape Optimization of Airfoils of a Biomimetic Manta Ray Underwater Vehicle

doi:10.1007/s12204-019-2076-4

Abstract

Abstract: As a new kind of autonomous underwater vehicle, bionic submersible has many merits such as high efficiency and low costs. In order to obtain such advantages, it is a good way to simulate the shapes of marine animals and apply them to the design of artificial underwater vehicle. In this paper, an optimization system of airfoils is proposed by the improved class-shape-transformation (CST) parameterization method and genetic algorithm (GA). The appearance of a manta-ray-inspired underwater vehicle is rebuilt using the optimal sectional airfoils obtained by the proposed optimization system. Computational simulations are carried out to investigate the hydrodynamic performance of the submersible using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Fluent. The results demonstrate that the maximum thickness of the vehicle increases by 9%, which means the loading capacity is increased. Moreover, the underwater vehicle shows better hydrodynamic performance, and the lift-drag ratio of initial design is increased by more than 10% using the presented optimization system of airfoils.

Key words: biomimetic underwater vehicle| class-shape-transformation (CST) parameterization method| shape optimization| computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

摘要： As a new kind of autonomous underwater vehicle, bionic submersible has many merits such as high efficiency and low costs. In order to obtain such advantages, it is a good way to simulate the shapes of marine animals and apply them to the design of artificial underwater vehicle. In this paper, an optimization system of airfoils is proposed by the improved class-shape-transformation (CST) parameterization method and genetic algorithm (GA). The appearance of a manta-ray-inspired underwater vehicle is rebuilt using the optimal sectional airfoils obtained by the proposed optimization system. Computational simulations are carried out to investigate the hydrodynamic performance of the submersible using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Fluent. The results demonstrate that the maximum thickness of the vehicle increases by 9%, which means the loading capacity is increased. Moreover, the underwater vehicle shows better hydrodynamic performance, and the lift-drag ratio of initial design is increased by more than 10% using the presented optimization system of airfoils.

关键词: biomimetic underwater vehicle| class-shape-transformation (CST) parameterization method| shape optimization| computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

CLC Number:

U 662

LUO Yang (罗扬), PAN Guang* (潘光), HUANG Qiaogao (黄桥高), SHI Yao (施瑶), LAI Hui (赖慧). Parametric Geometric Model and Shape Optimization of Airfoils of a Biomimetic Manta Ray Underwater Vehicle[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science), 2019, 24(3): 402-408.

References 19

[1]	YOERGER D R, JAKUBA M, BRADLEY A M, etal. Techniques for deep sea near bottom survey usingan autonomous underwater vehicle [J]. InternationalJournal of Robotics Research, 2007, 26(1): 41-54.
[2]	TRIANTAFYLLOU M S, TRIANTAFYLLOU G S.An efficient swimming machine [J]. Scientific American,1995, 272(3): 64-70.
[3]	WANG Z, Yu J, ZHANG A. Hydrodynamic performanceanalysis of a biomimetic manta ray underwaterglider [C]//Proceedings of the 2016 IEEE InternationalConference on Robotics and Biomimetics.Qingdao, China: IEEE, 2016: 1631-1636.
[4]	ROSENBERGER L J. Pectoral fin locomotion in batoidfishes: Undulation versus oscillation [J]. Journalof Experimental Biology, 2001, 204(2): 379-394.
[5]	SUZUMORI K, ENDO S, KANDA T, et al. A bendingpneumatic rubber actuator realizing soft-bodied mantaswimming robot [C]//Proceedings of the 2007 IEEEInternational Conference on Robotics and Automation.Roma, Italy: IEEE, 2007: 4975-4980.
[6]	YANG S B, QIU J, HAN X Y. Kinematics modelingand experiments of pectoral oscillation propulsionrobotic fish [J]. Journal of Bionic engineering, 2009,6(2): 174-179.
[7]	CAI Y, BI S, ZHENG L. Design optimization ofa bionic fish with multi-joint fin rays [J]. AdvancedRobotics, 2012, 26(1/2): 177-196.
[8]	CHEN Z, UM T I, BART-SMITH H. Bio-inspiredrobotic manta ray powered by ionic polymer-metalcomposite artificial muscles [J]. International Journalof Smart and Nano Materials, 2012, 3(4): 296-308.
[9]	BROWER T P L. Design of a manta ray inspiredunderwater propulsive mechanism for long range, lowpower operation [D]. Boston, USA: Tufts University,2006.
[10]	WILFRIED S. Water-hydraulic manta ray withflapping-wing drive [EB/OL]. (2015-09-20) [2017-09-12]. https://www.festo.com/rep/en corp/assets/pdf/Aqua ray en.pdf.
[11]	CLARK R P, SMITS A J. Thrust production and wakestructure of a batoid-inspired oscillating fin [J]. Journalof Fluid Mechanics, 2006, 562: 415-429.
[12]	CAI Y, BI S, ZHENG L. Design and experiments ofa robotic fish imitating cow-nosed ray [J]. Journal ofBionic Engineering, 2010, 7(2): 120-126.
[13]	LI G, DENG Y, OSEN O L, et al. A bio-inspiredswimming robot for marine aquaculture applications:From concept-design to simulation [C]//Proceedings ofthe OCEANS 2016-Shanghai. Shanghai, China: IEEE,2016: 1-7.
[14]	ZHOU C, LOWK H. Better endurance and load capacity:An improved design of manta ray robot (RoMan-II) [J]. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2010, 7(Suppl):137-144.
[15]	SUN C, SONG B, WANG P. Parametric geometricmodel and shape optimization of an underwater gliderwith blended-wing-body [J]. International Journal ofNaval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, 2015, 7(6):995-1006.
[16]	KULFAN B M. Universal parametric geometry representationmethod [J]. Journal of Aircraft, 2008, 45(1):142-158.
[17]	BU Y, SONG W, HAN Z, et al. Aerodynamic optimizationdesign of airfoil based on CST parameterizationmethod [J]. Journal of Northwestern PolytechnicalUniversity, 2013, 31(5): 829-836 (in Chinese).
[18]	GOLDBERG D E, HOLLAND J H. Genetic algorithmsand machine learning [J]. Machine learning,1988, 3(2): 95-99.
[19]	CHENG X. Theoretical and experimental study on theleading-edge tubercle of three-dimensional airfoil [D].Harbin, China: Harbin Engineering University, 2013(in Chinese).