Coupled Analysis of Underwater System by Numerical Approach

Underwater weapons in defense application are used to hit against enemy ships and submarines. These are designed to operate under extreme depths which require minimization of structural weight for increasing the performance, speed and operating range. This paper deals with the design and analysis of assembled system made of aluminum alloy and CFRP material. It mainly consists of different subsystems. These subsystems are used to accommodate different varieties of electronics and other systems required for underwater applications. These subsystems generate the heat fluxes which are transferred to both ends of the system. In addition, this underwater system also subjected to external hydrostatic pressure during functioning. Hydrostatic and thermal loads can cause system failure due to shell expansion and O-ring failure and can cause water leakage into the vehicle compartments. This paper mainly concerns about the avoidance of system failures and increase the efficiency of underwater vehicle. Coupled analysis (thermal and hydrostatic) carried out for existing design using ANSYS finite element analysis software. With this analysis stresses, deformations and strains of vehicle are found out for existing design. Buckling analysis also carried out for subsystem shells for finding the buckling pressure. This analysis proves the stresses and buckling pressures are within the limits. This analysis is used to identify the weak zone and most affected area of the vehicle which helps for the modifications and remedies for underwater vehicle.