DESIGN OF CAVITATING PROPELLERS BY LIFTING SURFACE THEORY

This paper presents a theoretical method for the design of supercavitating propellers or trans-cavitating propellers, a type of hybrid supercavitating propeller, by using the lifting surface theory. Based on the performance of the 2-D supercavitating hydrofoil obtained by the linear vortex panel method, the Lerbs' induction factor method is adopted in the preliminary design stage. The geometry of the propeller, such as blade outline, section profiles and circulation and pitch radial distributions are determined. In order to meet design requirements, the final pitch radial distribution and detailed off-sets of section profiles of the blades are then obtained by lifting surface theory for the cavitating propeller.