A Review of Hydrodynamic Wakes Research on Submerged Bodies

Research on the hydrodynamic wakes of submerged bodies is one of the key technologies for optimizing their stealth performance and enhancing anti-submarine detection capabilities. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically review the current state of research on this subject. Firstly, this paper analyzes and summarizes the types and characteristics of hydrodynamic wakes generated by submerged bodies. Next, it provides a detailed review of research efforts in water tunnel experiments and numerical simulations: the findings from water tunnel experiments concerning wake formation and evolution are analyzed, and the results from numerical simulations regarding the dynamic characteristics of wake flow fields are summarized. Finally, the current applications of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology in detecting submerged body wakes are discussed, including an analysis of its advantages and challenges in complex marine environments. The analysis indicates that the comprehensive utilization and synergistic development of multiple research methods—such as water tunnel experiments, numerical simulations, and SAR technology—will offer more comprehensive and efficient methods and means for detecting submerged body wakes. Looking forward, it is recommended to strengthen practical experimental research in large-scale environments to enhance the reliability and applicability of research methods, thereby providing more effective data support for hydrodynamic wake detection technologies of submerged bodies.