Hydrodynamic performance analysis of propeller-rudder system with the rudder parameters changing

Abstract

In order to study the effects of geometric parameters of the rudder on the hydrodynamic performance of the propeller-rudder system, the surface panel method is used to build the numerical model of the steady interaction between the propeller and rudder to analyze the relevant factors. The interaction between the propeller and rudder is considered through the induced velocities, which are circumferentially averaged, so the unsteady problem is translated to steady state. An iterative calculation method is used until the hydrodynamic performance converges. Firstly, the hydrodynamic performance of the chosen propeller-rudder system is calculated, and the comparison between the calculated results and the experimental data indicates that the calculation program is reliable. Then, the variable parameters of rudder are investigated, and the calculation results show that the propeller-rudder spacing has a negative relationship with the efficiency of the propeller-rudder system, and the rudder span has an optimal match range with the propeller diameter. Futhermore, the rudder chord and thickness both have a positive correlation with the hydrodynamic performance of the propeller-rudder system.

Keywords

rudder geometric parameters / propeller-rudder system / induced velocity / surface panel method / efficiency / hydrodynamic performance