PROPELLER BLADE CAVITATION INCEPTION PREDICTION AND PROBLEMS OF BLADE GEOMETRY OPTIMIZATION: RECENT RESEARCH AT THE KRYLOV SHIPBUILDING RESEARCH INSTITUTE

An analytical method for cavitation inception number predictions that is applicable also to blade geometry optimization is described. Test and numerical data on full-scale propellers operating near the ship hull are given along with model results from cavitation tunnel tests. The paper may be regarded as a general review of research carried out and partially published in Russia during the past decade.