Static Pitch Tests and Uncertainty Assessment for an AUV Model

An investigation has been made on two surface configurations of a submerged body model running with angles of attack in pitch in towing conditions. The data are provided by the tests performed for the DSO Laboratories to evaluate the effect of drag reduction due to riblet structured surfaces on an AUV model. The experiments are performed in the 13.5 x 6.5 x 470 m CNR-INSEAN towing tank equipped with the Remmers R-62 six component balance. The results of the investigation showed the effectiveness of the drag reduction film with riblets at almost all the angles of attack. The axial force reduces of about 1% at the lowest speed, achieving a maximum of 3.0% for the highest speed. No significative difference are recorded for the other force and moment components. In addition a full uncertainty assessment procedure of the experimental results is presented, from the rough acquired data to the dimensionless hydrodynamic forces and moments.