Table of Contents
Why are submarines blunt?
Modern submarines are usually cigar-shaped. It significantly reduces the hydrodynamic drag on the sub when submerged, but decreases the sea-keeping capabilities and increases drag while surfaced.
Why modern submarines are faster underwater?
Drag. The modern submarines are designed to operate fully submerged, so they have less drag when submerged than on the surface. The resistance from water is skin drag, and this skin drag does go up as the wetted surface increases when the sub submerges.
What is the top speed of a submarine?
There are established reports and manufacturer’s claims that would indicate two (or perhaps more) submarines are capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots (56 km/h). In 1965, USS Albacore reported a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h), but this was not an official record.
Why is the bow of a submarine pointy?
Beneath the water your main source of drag will be the suction behind the boat created by turbulent flow, so it’s more important to be pointy in the back than the front–that maintains laminar flow and minimizes turbulence. The bow of submarines could be pointy and they would work just as well.
Why do submarines have a hemispherical nose?
The hemispherical sub nose is better at resisting the pressure than a sharply pointed nose. The pressure hull of a submarine, especially at the bow, is well inside of the hydrodynamic hull. At the bow the gap is usually filled with a large sonar array, possibly torpedo tubes, and other equipment.
Why does a ship have a wave breaking bow?
The reason ships have these wave breaking bows is because it takes energy to lift the water against gravity. This is actually a large part of the total drag. That’s why you see such a big difference between submerged and surface speeds.
Why are submarines faster underwater than ships?
the reason subs are faster underwater has either nothing or at most very little to do with their hydrodynamics. Subs are faster submerged because their propellers can operate more efficiently. The props can rotate significantly faster in deeper water before cavitation occurs and the subs lose all semblance of stealth.