Computational Analysis of Cavitating Marine Propeller Performance using OpenFOAM

Other conference contribution, 2015

In this paper, numerical results, based on implicit LES and transport equation mass transfer modelling approach, submitted to the Second International Workshop on Cavitating Propeller Performance at the Fourth International Symposium on Marine Propulsors (SMP’15) are presented. The numerical simulations are performed using OpenFOAM. The present work is focused on the second task of the workshop, Propeller in oblique flow inside tunnel in wetted and cavitating conditions. We summarise results from the three different operating conditions given in the task, where the experimental data of one condition is revealed, and the two other conditions are put forward as blind tests to workshop participants. For the condition where experimental data is known, we see good agreement for the forces in wetted conditions that slightly deteriorate in cavitating conditions. Cavitation extent is over predicted, where mid-span bubbly cavitation in the experiments is predicted as a sheet cavity; cavitation in the tip region does however seem reasonable. This is also likely the reason for the larger error in force prediction. A limited mesh resolution study has been performed.