Wake Characteristic Analysis of a Marine Propeller under Different Loading Conditions in Coastal Environments

Abstract

Sun, P.; Pan, L.; Liu, W.; Zhou, J., and Zhao, T., 2022. Wake characteristic analysis of a marine propeller under different loading conditions in coastal environments. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(3), 613–623. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The propeller wake field is closely related to the cavitation and noise performance of the propeller. The propeller wake fields under light and heavy loading conditions were numerically studied based on the delayed detached eddy simulation method. The characteristics of propeller wake dynamics under different loading conditions were analyzed to reveal the flow physics during the propeller wake evolution. The results showed that the pitch of the helicoidal vortex behind the propeller is large and the wake is relatively stable under light loading conditions with a high advance coefficient. In the heavy loading condition with a low advance coefficient, the pitch of the helicoidal vortex is smaller; the vortex system tends to be unstable and break down earlier. The downstream alternate strong- and weak-tip vortices indicate that the tip vortex evolution is accompanied by a dissipation process, which plays an important role in the interaction between adjacent tip vortices and the inception of propeller wake instability. The present work can provide a reference for the design and optimization of propellers used by ships sailing in coastal environments and zones farther out to sea.