Numerical study of confined water effects on a self-propelled submarine in steady manoeuvres

This paper deals with the analysis of the confined water effects on the manoeuvring capabilities of a submarine. The analysis is carried out by using numerical simulations based on the RANS equations. The problem under consideration is an advancing submarine with constant speed and straight path at zero and non-zero drift/pitch angles, in open water, close to bottom and close to free surface conditions. The features of the flow around the submarine are described in terms of velocity and pressure fields; the computed force and moment coefficients are presented and compared with INSEAN measurements.