Date of Award

1-1-2014

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Organizational Unit

Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

First Advisor

Matthew J. Rutherford, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Jennifer Hoffman

Third Advisor

Kimon Valavanis

Fourth Advisor

Mohammad Mahoor

Fifth Advisor

Nikos Vitzilaios

Abstract

Underwater vehicles used to perform precision inspection and non-destructive evaluation in tightly constrained or delicate underwater environments must be small, have low-speed maneuverability and a smooth streamlined outer shape with no appendages. In this thesis, the design and analysis of a new propulsion system for such underwater vehicles is presented. It consists primarily of a syringe and a plunger driven by a linear actuator and uses different inflow and outflow nozzles to provide continuous propulsive force. A prototype of the proposed propulsion mechanism is built and tested. The practical utility and potential efficacy of the system is demonstrated and assessed via direct thrust measurement experiments and by use of an initial proof-of-concept test vehicle. Experiments are performed to enable the evaluation and modelling of the thrust output of the mechanism as well as the speed capability of a vehicle employing the propulsion system.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Florence M. Mbithi

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

99 p.

Discipline

Engineering, Electrical engineering, Mechanical engineering

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