Hydrodynamic Performance Evaluation of an Ice Class Podded Propeller Under Ice Interaction

Abstract

Fluid-structure interaction between an ice sheet on the water surface and a podded R-Class propeller was examined and analyzed in terms of numerical simulation using a newly enhanced unsteady time-domain, multiple body panel method model. The numerical model was validated and verified and also checked against various previous in-house experimental measurements. The simulation was performed in a real unsteady case, that is, the ice piece stands still and the podded propeller moves and approaches the ice piece until collision occurs. Experimental data were taken from a previous cavitation tunnel test program for a bare R-Class ice breaker propeller under open water conditions, for the R-Class propeller approaching a blade-leading-edge contoured large size ice block under the proximity condition, and from an ice tank test program for a tractor type podded/strutted R-Class propeller under open water conditions. Comparison between experimental and numerical results was made. A general agreement was obtained. The magnitude of force fluctuations during the interaction increased significantly at the instant immediately before the impact between the propeller blades and the ice piece.