Submit

Login Login

Register Register

Home / Journals / FDMP / Online First / doi:10.32604/fdmp.2026.087716
Journal Menu
Special Issues
Table of Content

All issues

Online First

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Open Access

ARTICLE

Heave-Induced Thrust and Free-Surface Deformation of an Oscillating Hydrofoil

Feiyang Liu1, Yi Zhou1, Decai Qu2, Bowen Zhao3,*
1 Department of Hydroaeromechanics and Marine Acoustics, Saint-Petersburg State Marine Technical University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
2 College of Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
3 Department of Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Modeling, Saint-Petersburg State Marine Technical University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
* Corresponding Author: Bowen Zhao. Email: email

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2026.087716

Received 22 June 2026; Accepted 15 September 2026; Published online 20 September 2026

Abstract

The effects of heave amplitude and oscillation period on the hydrodynamic performance of a three-dimensional NACA0012 hydrofoil operating beneath a free surface are systematically investigated using an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) framework coupled with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method. The shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model and an overset mesh technique are employed to resolve the turbulent flow and large-amplitude hydrofoil motion, while grid and time-step convergence studies are performed to establish numerical reliability. The results show that the heaving hydrofoil generates net thrust throughout the investigated parameter range, demonstrating the dominant role of the motion-induced effective angle of attack in determining the streamwise force. Increasing the oscillation frequency generally enhances thrust production by strengthening momentum exchange within the wake. Heave amplitude has a pronounced influence on the surface pressure distribution, with larger amplitudes intensifying the leading-edge suction peak, increasing the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces, and consequently amplifying the instantaneous hydrodynamic loads. Concurrently, both free-surface wave elevation and wake vorticity increase with heave amplitude, indicating increasingly strong interactions between the vortical wake and the free surface. At excessive amplitudes, however, a greater fraction of the input energy is transferred to surface-wave deformation and vortical structures rather than converted into useful thrust.

Keywords

Heaving hydrofoil; free surface; heave amplitude; oscillation period; hydrodynamic performance; URANS-VOF method

  • 12

    View

  • 1

    Download

  • 0

    Like

Related articles
Copyright© 2026 Tech Science Press
© 1997-2026 TSP (Henderson, USA) unless otherwise stated

Share Link