The Dynamic Responses of the Submersible Vehicle Mast with Different Cross-Sectional Shapes subjected to Underwater Explosion

Abstract

A submersible vehicle mast is a device that extended above the surface of the water while the vehicle remains hidden below. Masts mounted above a submersible vehicle are used to support navigational instruments and various electronic devices, such as radar antennas and sensors. Submersible vehicle mast must be designed to survive extreme loading conditions, such as underwater explosions (UNDEX). The present study applied the finite element method, Cole's empirical formulation and acoustic-structure coupling method to simulate an UNDEX and investigate the survival capability of a damaged submersible vehicle mast. A shape optimization problem was solved for the submersible vehicle mast models subjected to UNDEX with different cross-sectional shapes are circle, ellipse and streamline shape, respectively. The submersible vehicle mast was modelled with cylindrical shapes. First, the cylindrical and rectangular plate in an UNDEX models were conducted and simulation results are close to the failure modes shown in experiments of Kwon and Ramajeyathilagam. Second, Three prototypes of submersible vehicle masts subjected to UNDEX were presented using the same method. The results were show the model with a circular cross-section is stronger than other designs when subjected to an UNDEX. The analytical results could offer a valuable reference for submersible vehicle mast design.