Prediction of Marine Propeller Performances using RANS Approaches

Flow around marine propeller in open water is analyzed using incompressible RANS computations with k‐e turbulence model. The numerical investigation was performed using a commercial RANS code, while for generating propeller geometry, an in‐house code was employed. Aspects of flow around propeller blades, including global hydrodynamic performance, velocity and pressure distribution, are investigated. Two models of propellers with different skew and rake were selected for the present study. The numerical simulations were performed in different modes of propeller operation. The effect of propeller geometry on hydrodynamic performances is analyzed and the computed thrust and torque coefficients are plotted in comparison with the experimental data available. The numerical results are in agreement with experimental data and the general characteristics of the propeller flow seem to be quite well predicted.