Propeller cavitation, with all its noise, vibration, erosion, etc. is largely the consequence of blade lift fluctuations when operating in non-uniform inflow. It is easily shown, on the basis of simple low-aspect-ratio approximations, that forward-skew reduces the lift/incidence slope at the outer radii while the common back-skew increases it. Forward-skew has by now been applied with good results to axial propeller-type and mixed-flow pump impellers, an advanced water jet's impeller and several ducted thrusters. Finally, it has been applied to a ducted, CRP main propulsion screw with notable reduction of radiated noise - all without loss of capacity or efficiency.
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Copyright 2009, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
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