Submarines

The mechanical monster of the sea

Fluid Mechanics
Zaria Martin
April 13th,2023
University of the Bahamas
Llewelyn Curling
 Fluid mechanics

Fluid mechanics is the study of the behavior of fluids, either at rest

or in motion. Fluids can either be liquids or gases and they can be
characterized by their physical properties such as density, specific
weight, specific gravity, surface tension, viscosity and resistance.
 Submarines
•The word submarine simply means 'underwater' or 'under-sea' (as in submarine
canyon, submarine pipeline) though as a noun it generally refers to a vessel that can travel
underwater (Submarine at OED, 2021). A sub is also a watercraft capable of independent
operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater
capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to
remotely operated vehicles and robots, as well as medium-sized or smaller vessels, such
as the midget submarine and the wet sub. Submarines are referred to as boats rather than
ships irrespective of their size (Cutler, 2017).
Inventions of the submarines
 The formulas in Fluid Mechanics

•The formula for pressure in fluid mechanics is: p=F/A

•The formula for density in fluid mechanics is: ρ(rho)= m/V

•The formula for specific weight in fluid mechanics is: ϒ= w/V

Pressure & elevation in fluid mechanics in a submarine

Pressure is defined as the amount of

force exerted on a unit area of a

substance(Mott & Untener,2006). As you

go deeper in a fluid the pressure increases.

It is important to know how the pressure

varies with a change in depth or elevation.

The reference level can be taken as any level. The submarine underwater. In part (a) the sea bottom is taken as reference whereas
part (b) the position of the submarine is the reference level. Because fluid mechanics calculations usually consider differences in
elevation, it is advisable to choose the lowest point of interest in a problem as the reference level to eliminate the use of negative
values for z.
 Pressure vs Depth in a Submarine
• In a fluid of constant density, the pressure increases with the depth below the surface of
the fluid.
• As a submarine dives deeper underwater, the pressure against the sides of the hull
increases, and the side of the hull must be strong enough to withstand high pressures.

• P: absolute pressure (in pascals)

• : atmospheric pressure(at the surface of the fluid, in pascals)
• : density of the fluid (in kg/)
• g: gravitational acceleration (g= 9.8 m/)
• h: depth below the surface of the liquid (m)
 Density in Submarines
•Density is defined as the amount of mass per unit volume of a substance. In the
submarine, the volume stays constant. The density changes by adding or taking away
the different objects.

•The density of a Submarine never changes - what does change is its buoyant
properties. The boat must maintain what is known as Neutral Buoyancy throughout
different changes in water as it travels through the ocean. And trimming the boat gets
the boat to Neutral Buoyancy, which is a submerged state in which the boat neither rises
nor sinks.
 All surface ships, as well as surfaced submarines, are in a positively buoyant condition, weighing less than the volume of water

they would displace if fully submerged. To submerge hydrostatically, a ship must have negative buoyancy, either by increasing its

own weight or decreasing its displacement of water. To control their displacement and weight, submarines have ballast tanks, which

can hold varying amounts of water and air (Submarine Trim and Drain Systems, 2022). Submarines dive and resurface by means

of diving planes and changing the amount of water and air in ballast tanks to affect their buoyancy.

Buoyancy and trim

 Buoyant force

• The formula for buoyant force is:

The buoyant force act vertically upward through the centroid of the
displaced volume(Mott & Untener, 2006).
 When submerged, the water pressure on a submarine's hull can
reach 4 MPa (580 psi) for steel submarines and up to 10 MPa
(1,500 psi) for titanium submarines, while interior pressure remains
relatively unchanged. This difference results in hull compression,
which decreases displacement. Water density also marginally
Submarines in a neutral buoyancy condition are not intrinsically
increases with depth, as the salinity and pressure are higher(Bulk
trim-stable. To maintain desired longitudinal trim, submarines use
Elastic Properties,2007). This change in density incompletely
forward and aft trim tanks. Pumps move water between the tanks,
compensates for hull compression, so buoyancy decreases as depth
changing weight distribution and pitching the sub up or down.
increases. A submerged submarine is in an unstable equilibrium,
tending to either sink or float to the surface. Keeping a constant
depth requires continual operation of either the depth control
tanks or control surfaces(Physics Of Liquids & Gases,2006)(Richard
O'Kane,1987).
The End
 References
• Applied Fluid Mechanics, Mott & Untener. Seventh Edition
•  Submarine at OED; retrieved 4 September 2021
• Cutler, Thomas J. (1 October 2017). "Of Ships and Boats and ..." Bluejacket's Manual.
•  "The Fleet Type Submarine Online: Submarine Trim and Drain Systems. Navpers 16166"
. maritime.org. Retrieved 1 January 2022 – via San Francisco Maritime National Park Association.
• Nave, R. "Bulk Elastic Properties". HyperPhysics. Georgia State University. Retrieved 26
October 2007.
•  "Physics Of Liquids & Gases". Elementary Classical Physics. Retrieved 7 October 2006.
• Richard O'Kane (1987). Wahoo. Presidio Press. p. 12. ISBN 9780891413011.