Influence of Launch Depth on Ejection and Ignition Process ofUnderwater Vehicles

LIU Shang; HUANG Xi; WANG Lihang; LIU Pingan; CHU Yue

doi:10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0129

Volume 34 Issue 1

Feb 2026

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Article Navigation > Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems > 2026 > 34(1): 120-128

LIU Shang, HUANG Xi, WANG Lihang, LIU Pingan, CHU Yue. Influence of Launch Depth on Ejection and Ignition Process ofUnderwater Vehicles[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems, 2026, 34(1): 120-128. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0129

Citation:

LIU Shang, HUANG Xi, WANG Lihang, LIU Pingan, CHU Yue. Influence of Launch Depth on Ejection and Ignition Process ofUnderwater Vehicles[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems, 2026, 34(1): 120-128. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0129

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Influence of Launch Depth on Ejection and Ignition Process ofUnderwater Vehicles

doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0129

LIU Shang^1
,,
HUANG Xi^{1, 2},
WANG Lihang⁴,
LIU Pingan^{1, 3},
CHU Yue¹

1.
College of Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Harbin Engineeing University, Harbin 150001, China
2.
Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Institute, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Sixth Research Institute, Xi’an 710100, China
3.
Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Dual-Medium Power Technology, Handan 056017, China
4.
Aecc South Industry Company Limited, Aero Engine Corporation of China, Zhuzhou 412000, China

Received Date: 2025-09-16
Accepted Date: 2025-10-30
Rev Recd Date: 2025-10-25

Available Online: 2026-01-19

Abstract

Abstract

Underwater launch technology is a key development direction in the field of underwater vehicles. The ejection and ignition process is a coupled process involving two stages: ejection of the vehicle from the launch tube and ignition near the tube muzzle. During this process, the coupling effect between high-temperature and high-pressure gas flow and the water environment forms a complex multiphase flow field. Simultaneously, severe impacts occur between the vehicle and the launch tube wall, leading to dynamic load variations. Investigating the flow evolution mechanism of this process is significant for improving the theoretical system of underwater launch. To investigate the ejection and ignition characteristics of underwater vehicles in deep-water environments, this paper employed Fluent software combined with the overset grid technique and user-defined functions to systematically study the influence of launch depth on this process. The results indicate that launch depth significantly affects the evolution of the gas jet and thrust characteristics during the ejection and ignition process: With increasing launch depth, the radial expansion of the gas bubble at the tube exit is suppressed; the entrainment effect at the tube muzzle after the vehicle leaves the tube is markedly enhanced; the gas jet is more prone to breakup, and nozzle vortices lead to engine thrust loss. This paper can provide theoretical support for the optimal design of underwater vehicle launch systems.
- underwater vehicle,
- underwater launch,
- multiphase flow,
- overset grid,
- launch depth,
- coupling

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References(23)

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