Numerical Modeling of Cavitation Rates and Noise Acoustics of Marine Propellers

Abstract

The study numerically investigated the noise dissipation, cavitation, output power, and energy produced by marine propellers. A Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings (FW–H) model was used to determine the effects of three different marine propellers with three to five blades and a fixed advancing ratio. The large-eddy Simulations model best predicted the turbulent structures’ spatial and temporal variation, which would better illustrate the flow physics. It was found that a high angle of incidence between the blade’s leading edge and the water flow direction typically causes the hub vortex to cavitate. The roll-up of the cavitating tip vortex was closely related to propeller noise. The five-blade propeller was quieter under the same dynamic conditions, such as the advancing ratio, compared to three- or four-blade propellers.