Propeller-rudder interaction under different rudder angle

Abstract

The rudder operating in downstream of propeller suffers extra loading induced by propeller wake. Evolution of propeller wake also can be affected by the rudder especially when the rudder has non-zero rudder angle. Hence, the propeller-rudder interaction under different rudder angle is studied. The evolutions of propeller wake are studied considering different rudder angle. The distributions of pressure and vorticity are compared under different rudder angles. Loading fluctuations on the port and starboard sides of rudder are also discussed. The results demonstrate that larger rudder angle results in higher hydrodynamic performance of the propeller. Loading fluctuations on the rudder surface are dominant at blade passage frequency (BPF) of propeller. The distributions of Loading fluctuations become asymmetric on the two sides of rudder when the rudder angle reaches to 30°.