Soft Robotic Buckling in Underwater Pulse Jet Propulsion
Blair Thornton (Maritime Engineering), Melike Kurt (Maritime Engineering), Gabriel Weymouth (Technical University Delft)
This PhD aims to improve submersible agility and endurance by developing a novel, jelly-fish-inspired added-mass pulse-jet actuation method. The method leverages buckling of soft fluid-filled tubes, where the large elastic deformation achieved when cantilevered tubes buckle presents an efficient material response controllable by changing fluid-pressure inside the soft tubes. Although internal pressure-induced tube buckling has recently mimicked muscle contraction for linear-pulse-motion on land, use for underwater pulse-jet propulsion has not previously been studied. The near-critical buckling response of fluid-filled soft tubes will be experimentally characterised and models developed to enable design and control of novel mechanisms to harness these deformation for bi-directional in-water pulse-jet actuation. Experiments will measure forward and reverse thrust generation of prototype actuators over a wide range of operating conditions (speeds, actuating frequencies), where simultaneous flow visualisation (e.g., Particle-image-velocimetry, dye-injection) will enable design parameter optimisation. Size-scaling studies and reliability experiments will characterise long-term performance stability to identify key advantages for defence. A prototype (neutrally buoyant ~2m3, 100kg order submersible) using multiple vectored pulse-actuators will characterise stationary (e.g., hovered heading control, position keeping) and high-speed manoeuvring using test tank facilities equipped with wireless-feedback-capable six-degree of freedom underwater motion capture.
Concept of Soft Buckling Pulse Jet Actuator For Forward and Reverse
Key skills: Experimental work, Design, Modelling, Data analysis
Eligibility: UK rates (subject to fund availability)
Start date: October 2023 (subject to fund availability)
Application deadline: August 2023
CIVIL, MARITIME
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
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University of Southampton
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Southampton
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United Kingdom
CIVIL, MARITIME
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
Explore our website:
Contact us:
+44(0)23 8059 5000
+44(0)23 8059 3131
University of Southampton
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department