Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Marine Propeller Cavitation

Abstract

Cavitating ow is investigated around marine propellers, experimentally and numerically. Two di erent types of conventional model propellers are used for the study. The rst one is a four bladed model propeller, so called model A, and the second one is a three bladed propeller, model B. Model A is tested in di erent cavitation regimes in a K23 cavitation tunnel. The results are presented in characteristic curves and related pictures. Finally, the results are discussed. Model B is investigated based on existing experimental results. In addition, model B is used for validation of the numerical solution prior to the testing of model A. The cavitation phenomenon is predicted numerically on a two dimensional hydrofoil, NACA0015, as well as propeller models A and B. The cavitation prediction on a hydrofoil is carried out in both steady and unsteady states. The results show good agreement in comparison with available experimental data. Propeller models are simulated according to cavitation tunnel conditions and comparisons are made with the experimental results, quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show good agreement with experimental data under both cavitating and noncavitating conditions. Furthermore, propeller cavitation breakdown is well reproduced in the proceeding. The overall results suggest that the present approach is a practicable tool for predicting probable cavitation on propellers during design processes.