Unsteady Hydrodynamic Behaviour of a Rudder Operating in the Propeller Slipstream1

Abstract In order to determine rudder dimensions, a reasonably accurate prediction of the hydrodynamic forces generated by the rudder configuration should be obtained. Several methods were developed to simulate this interaction by coupling potential code and RANSE code. The obtained results agree well with experimental results. The computational speed allows a parametric analysis of the interaction (rudder position, propeller load, etc.). Several configurations are simulated in both steady and unsteady state modes in order to estimate the influence of geometric parameters on the hydrodynamic coefficients of a rudder operating in the propeller slipstream.