The numerical investigation of the rotation speed and Reynolds number variations of a NACA 0012 airfoil

Abstract

Marine rudders are equipment that allows us to alter the direction of vessels together with the thrust provided by propulsion systems. Many factors influence the axial forces directed by marine rudders, including rudder form, rudder-propeller-hull interactions, hull velocity, environmental conditions, and rudder rotation speed. In this study, the hydrodynamic characteristics of a marine rudder with the NACA 0012 section are studied using computational fluid dynamics analyses in order to better understand the influence of rotational speed on the rudder and to determine its relationship with the Reynolds number. Commercial software ANSYS Fluent is used to perform RANS simulations for the investigation. Based on the cruising speed of ships, a wide range of Reynolds numbers were chosen to study with the appropriate rotation speeds ranging from 1 deg/s to 7 deg/s with a 2-deg/s step size. In a two-dimensional numerical domain, the RANS method is applied to determine the hydrodynamic behaviour of the rudder. Results obtained from numerical simulations were evaluated and interpreted comparatively. The changes in the Reynolds number and the rudder rotation speed affect the hydrodynamic forces and related coefficients acting on a marine rudder.