Innovative autonomous vehicles called underwater gliders are made to travel across the ocean’s depths with the least amount of energy. Because of their energy-efficient design, which is often powered by batteries recharged by surface solar panels, underwater gliders are essential for long-term scientific missions, environmental monitoring, and climate research. They provide a sustainable method of investigating and comprehending the marine environment. Thanks to several reference papers such as “ CFD analysis and hydrodynamic improvement on hybrid buoyancy-driven underwater glider for extended range capabilities,” the challenging simulation is performed.

Simulation Process

The initial geometry model is not difficult to draw. However, it is targeted to model the hydrodynamic movement of the underwater glider, considering both under and above water. This requires the utilization of a multiphase model, in our case Volume Of Fluid (VOF) model. The glider motion needs a continuous alteration in the mesh grid as it moves. So the Dynamic Mesh module must be activated. The grid consistently modifies whenever necessary based on Smoothing and Remeshing methods.

Post-processing

The animation vividly illustrates the glider’s translational movement, driven by defined User-defined Function (UDF), and the corresponding deformation of the mesh, which adapts to the glider’s varying positions and shapes. This dynamic meshing effectively captures the fluid-structure interactions, providing a detailed depiction of velocity distribution around the glider.. The velocity distribution patterns reveal areas of higher and lower flow speeds, indicating efficient propulsion. These findings underscore the efficacy of dynamic meshing in accurately modeling underwater glider dynamics, contributing to improved designs and operational strategies for these autonomous vehicles.