Parameter Influence Analysis in Propeller Optimisation

Paper in proceeding, 2013

This paper presents an optimisation of propeller blade geometry while the propeller is evaluated for different operating conditions. Sheet cavitation is considered by selective constraints in the condition of a fixed wake. The automated optimisation is performed on a propeller for a contemporary cruise vessel with high demand for a certain efficiency and pressure pulse limit; the starting point is an already manually optimised propeller. The defined geometric parameters are used to manipulate the original design by the applied genetic algorithm. These parameters are investigated in a sensitivity analysis to evaluate each impact on the objectives and constraints. Subsequently a second optimisation was accomplished focusing on the input parameters with the essential impacts.