Parameter Influence Analysis in Propeller Optimisation

Paper i 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.