Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Ananthakrishnan, Palaniswamy

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Dhanak, Manhar R.

Abstract

This thesis presents two-dimensional hydrodynamic analysis of flapping foils for the propulsion of underwater vehicles using a source-vortex panel. Using a simulation program developed in MatLab, the hydrodynamic forces (such as the lift and the drag) as well as the propulsion thrust and efficiency are computed with this method. The assumptions made in the analysis are that the flow around a hydrofoil is two-dimensional, incompressible and inviscid. The analysis is first considered for the case of a deeply submerged hydrofoil followed by the case where it is located in shallow water depth or near the free surface. In the second case, the presence of the free surface and wave effects are taken into account, specifically at high and low frequencies and small and large amplitudes of flapping. The objective is to determine the thrust and efficiency of the flapping –foils under the influence of added effects of the free surface. Results show that the free-surface can significantly affect the foil performance by increasing the efficiency particularly at high Frequencies.

Extent

81 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00004351

Format

pdf

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