Potential propulsors for current applications may vary in complexity from traditional open propellers to podded propulsors, multiple blade-row ducted units, and waterjets. In the past, the lifting-line theory has been an effective tool in establishing the principal characteristics of an optimum propeller design. Similarly, turbomachinery through-flow theory has been effective in preliminary estimates for internal flow devices such as waterjets. What is currently lacking is a single, unified approach that can be used for a wide range of propulsor types. This paper presents a possible solution to this problem, based on recent experience in detailed design methods based on coupling lifting surface theory with axisymmetric RANS/Euler solvers. In the present method, lifting-line representations of the blade rows are coupled with an axisymmetric Euler/Boundary Layer solver to provide preliminary estimates of propulsor performance.

Keywords:
swirl, circulation, efficiency, contour, radial distribution, thrust coefficient, field quantity, duct, coefficient, quantity
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Copyright 2003, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
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