A model-based multidisciplinary conceptual design for blended-wing-body underwater gliders

ABSTRACT

Blended-wing-body underwater gliders (BWBUGs) can achieve superior performance for their shapes. Their overall performance is affected by shapes and shows correlations with other disciplines. In this paper, a universal classification and parameterisation model was proposed, including the shape, layout, structure, and energy consumption. To overcome the coupling between the multidisciplinary design in conceptual design, a model-based multidisciplinary system design was conducted for BWBUGs. This system adopted a parameterisation model to design the shape, layout, structure and employed multiple simulation modules to evaluate the system performance, which can facilitate the convenient definition of overall performance and design constraints, obtain various feasible system schemes rapidly, and boost the series development and agile design of BWBUG.

KEYWORDS:

• Blended-wing-body underwater glider
• model-based multidisciplinary system
• overall performance
• conceptual design

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 52175251, 51875466, 51805436]. Besides, the research work is also supported by the Innovation Foundation for Doctor Dissertation of Northwestern Polytechnical University [grant numbers CX2021051, 2022007].