Experimental characterization of oblique and asymmetric water entry

Accurate prediction of fluid-structure interactions during water entry is of fundamental importance for the design of planing vessels. However, our understanding of the physics of water entry largely relies on simplified impact conditions, in which the body symmetrically strikes the water surface. In this work, we propose an integrated experimental and theoretical framework to isolate the effects of oblique and asymmetric impact on the water entry of a rigid wedge. Through particle image velocimetry (PIV) and a complementary array of sensors (including position sensors, accelerometers, and pressure sensors), we seek to elucidate the impact dynamics of a wedge and the associated flow physics. In a series of experiments, we systematically analyze the role of the heel and velocity angles on the pile-up evolution, hydrodynamic loading, and energy imparted to the fluid flow. The modified Logvinovich model is extended to study asymmetric and oblique impact for moderate deadrise angles, thereby offering further insight into the physics of the impact. Our results indicate that the heel angle remarkably influences the wedge dynamics, pile-up evolution, and velocity distribution, while the velocity angle has a critical role on the distribution of the hydrodynamic loading. These findings offer evidence for a complex interplay between geometric parameters on the water entry of rigid wedges, which could ultimately improve our understanding of planing vessels operating in real cruise conditions.