Objectives  To facilitate the concept design and optimize the hydrodynamic layout of submarine and improve the inflow quality of propeller,

  Methods  numerical simulations of wake flow and hydrodynamics of the SUBOFF AFF-8 submarine model are carried out based on STAR-CCM+. Through calculating the surface pressure and friction of main hull, appendage(e.g. sail and tail control plane)at different heights together with wakes of propeller disc, coefficients(i.e. pressure coefficient, friction coefficient)in non-dimensional form and wake flow that derived from the numerical values are compared with experimental measured data. In addition, combining with the SST k-ω turbulence model, comparisons are made based on the calculated results by RANS, URANS and DES methods, and vorticity contours closed to the main hull and wake flow contours are applied to analyze the causes of discrepancies.

  Results  The results demonstrate the utility of RANS method in addressing the problem of hydrodynamics and the wakes of the main hull. As for analysis of the wakes using DES method, grid size control is very important.

  Conclusions  RANS method combined with the SST k-ω turbulence model can provide guidance to assist in developing the concept design and the optimization of hydrodynamic layout for a submarine, meanwhile, offer a means of improving the propeller inflow quality, and reducing the radiation noise, etc.