Hydrodynamic Drag Reduction for Underwater and Surface Vehicles

The hydrodynamic drag experienced by moving underwater and surface vehicles can have a significant impact on their mission energy budgets in to propelling them through the oceanic fluidic medium, with the drag and the required power increasing non-linearly with the speed of travel. The proposed topic of research is to; comprehensively investigate relevant mechanisms (e.g. vehicle's shape, length, type of flow, speed, etc.) contributing to the drag, their level of impact on the overall drag experienced, methods of mitigating drag using technological advances in materials, deposition and manufacturing techniques, e.g. to actively change the surface smoothness with speed. The development of robust, easy-to-use, economical surveillance techniques for monitoring the state of surface smoothness/corrosion in direct contact with oceanic water to aid in long-term maintenance of the vehicle would also be an area of interest.