Defining the flexible electro-mechanical cable configuration when towing underwater vehicle in specific current profile

BACKGROUND: Research vessels are equipped with various winches designed to solve a wide range of problems. In this regard, there is a need for their design. The two most pressing real-world problems are: Defining the electro-mechanical cable (EMC) configuration and the submerged depth of an underwater vehicle (UV) for a given EMC length; Determining the EMC length required to ensure a given submerged UV depth. The designs are based on the current profile and the underwater vehicle towing speed. For the initial stages (physical and mathematical models), we use a motion reversal-based approach known in ship theory, i.e. we consider the flow of liquid around the vessel rather than a vessel’s motion in a liquid, to solve both problems. In this case, as UVs are towed at a constant speed, the mechanical system consisting of the EMC and the UV is a distributed-parameter system. This indicates that the system has infinite degrees of freedom. The state of equilibrium of this mechanical system is unknown and we need to determine it. AIM: To calculate a flexible electo-mechanical cable (EMC) configuration when towing an underwater vehicle in a specific current profile using numerical techniques and computer technology. The object is a flexible EMC with a connected UV. The subject is a mechanical system with multiple degrees of freedom. Its configuration is determined by the proposed calculation algorithm and a developed calculation program.