Effect of Fish Wedge on the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Marine Rudder

Abstract

In this paper, the effects of fish-wedge on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a marine rudder have been studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this case, NACA0012 airfoil section has been used as the rudder section. The computed results of lift and drag coefficient at different angles of attack for NACA0012 have been validated with the experimental results and then the effects of fish-wedges with different lengths with constant width have been studied using different turbulence models and finally the use of fish wedge section as a flap to increase its efficiency is studied. For model development of the rudder section Rhinoceros 5 has been used and for meshing ANSYS workbench is used. The analysis of flow past rudder with fish-wedge has been done using a commercial CFD software Fluent which is based on Finite Volume Method (FVM). In every case, water is used as the fluid medium and the flow has been simulated at Reynolds number 6×106, which is equivalent to the flow of water having velocity of 6.03 m/s. This type of rudder with fish edge can produce higher lift force in a comparatively low angle of attack, which is suitable for special type of vessels, e.g., tug boat.