Sahul Muhique,
Kalyan Kalita,
Kalyan Das,
- , Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Assam Engineering College, Jalukbari, Kamrup Metro, Assam, India, ,
- , Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Assam Engineering College, Jalukbari, Kamrup Metro, Assam, India, ,
- , Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Assam Engineering College, Jalukbari, Kamrup Metro, Assam, India, ,
Abstract
Accurate prediction of hydrodynamic characteristics is essential for the design and performance assessment of underwater vehicles and offshore structures. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as an effective tool for analyzing fluid flow behavior around submerged bodies, enabling detailed evaluation of pressure distribution, drag forces, and flow patterns. In this study, the effect of mesh refinement on the hydrodynamic analysis of a DRDC-STR submarine nose section was investigated using ANSYS Fluent. The geometry employed in the numerical simulations was based on the benchmark model proposed by Mackay, which is widely used for validating submarine flow analyses. A series of mesh profiles with varying element densities were generated to examine the influence of grid resolution on simulation accuracy and computational efficiency. The simulations were conducted using a pressure-based solver under steady-state flow conditions. Hydrodynamic parameters, including pressure distribution over the submarine nose section and drag coefficient values, were evaluated for each mesh configuration. Particular attention was given to identifying mesh-independent solutions that provide reliable results without excessive computational cost. The numerical results demonstrate that mesh refinement significantly affects the prediction of hydrodynamic forces and surface pressure characteristics. As the mesh density increased, the computed results converged toward stable values, indicating improved numerical accuracy. An error analysis was performed to validate the simulation outcomes and assess the consistency of the numerical predictions. The maximum numerical variance between successive mesh refinements was found to be less than 5%, which falls within accepted engineering design tolerances. The findings confirm that an appropriately refined mesh can enhance the accuracy of CFD simulations while maintaining computational efficiency. The study provides valuable guidance for future hydrodynamic investigations of submarine hull forms and other submerged marine structures using ANSYS Fluent.
Keywords: ANSYS Fluent, coefficient of drag, standardized DRDC-STR submarine geometry, patch conforming tetrahedron method, pressure drag, viscous drag
[This article belongs to Journal of Offshore Structure and Technology ]
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Journal of Offshore Structure and Technology
| Volume | 13 | |
| Issue | 02 | |
| Received | 05/06/2026 | |
| Accepted | 30/06/2026 | |
| Published | 06/07/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 31 Days |