Kinetics of pitching and heaving rubber hydrofoil in the water tunnel

Abstract

This project aimed to investigate the propulsive performance of rubber hydrofoil profile SD8020. By utilizing softer material i.e. rubber, the author aimed to study its effect on the propulsive performance and the vortices flow structure in the propulsion system. The author also intended to examine the effect of the addition of flexible extension onto the hydrofoil to the propulsive performance of the system. Finally, by integrating heaving motion, a combined heavingpitching oscillation was achieved, and the author carried out the investigation to find the result of the addition of heaving motion into the system and how the heaving parameters would affect the propulsion system. Rubber hydrofoil with flexible extension was found to generate stronger thrust force and perform in a better propulsive efficiency than the rubber hydrofoil without flexible extension. In the experiment, rubber hydrofoil with flexible extension also found to be within the Strouhal number of 0.2 to 0.4, which was the Strouhal number adopted by the nature aerodynamics.