In this paper, the wake characteristics of the underwater vehicle's mast is simulated by using CFD method based on the RNG k-ε model and VOF model. It can be seen that Kelvin wake is generated due to the moving mast. Then the radar scattering characteristic of the mast along with the Kelvin wake produced by the mast is investigated by using the computation electromagnetic method based on the shooting and bouncing rays algorithm. It is shown that the wave surrounding the mast has an impact on the radar scattering feature of the mast. On one hand, the wave plays a role as stealth design by shaping, which is beneficial for stealth. On the other hand, the wave occupies the area which should be coated with radar absorbing material, which is harmful to the stealthy performance.
When underwater vehicle carries out a mission such as wireless communication, electron reconnaissance or searching, the mast will be lifted above the water, which will generate Kelvin wake behind the mast. The mast along with the wake produced by the mast can be easily detected by airborne radar from a great distance. Therefore the hydrodynamic and electromagnetic characteristics of underwater vehicle's mast draw more and more country's attention in the last two decades.
Jiang (2017) makes a numerical study on the flow around the combined column in the unbounded flow field and the free-surface flow field. Jia (2008) analyzes the instantaneous and time averaged flow field and the force on circular cylinders based on the LES method of FLUENT. Cao (2018) investigates the flow around three dimensional circular cylinders numerically under subcritical Reynolds number by using LES method. Cui et al. (2019) carry out hydrodynamic tests and CFD simulation on different angles and low-speed, medium-speed and high-speed conditions of masts on the water surface and under water. Cui et al. (2014) present an improved GRECO algorithm to calculate and analyze the RCS distribution of a mast. Yuan (2014) proposes a hybrid algorithm based on MOM-PO-FMM to estimate the mast column's RCS. Fan (2016) choses the method of moments and physical optics hybrid algorithm to calculate the multilayer dielectric mast column's RCS.
