Date of Award
2016
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Ocean Engineering
Department
Ocean Engineering
First Advisor
Jason Dahl
Abstract
Autonomous underwater vehicles are becoming increasingly more prevalent in exploring and studying the bodies of water found all over the world. Having a way to detect and identify the surrounding environment in close range would allow vehicles to move more efficiently and safely through hazardous environments or in groups of many. This study took biological inspiration from the fish sensory organ known as the lateral line to design, fabricate, and test a pressure sensor integrated foil. It examined the ability of pressure sensors to detect flow structures as well as variation in flow structures during a dynamic, flapping foil sinusoidal motion by changing the mean heave distance away from a wall. The experimental results showed that the foil's pressure sensors could detect a leading edge vortex at higher angles of attack and were able to detect the shedding vortex along the chord during dynamic motion with validation from PIV analysis and force sensors. The pressure sensors were also able to detect differences in pressure as a resultant from ground effect. These results could pave the way to creating vehicles that can interact and respond to the surrounding environment.
Recommended Citation
Stott, Alexander Robert, "Development and Testing of a Pressure Sensor Integrated Foil" (2016). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 956.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/956
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