With the aid of detailed numerical flow simulations it has become possible to determine the isolated propeller blade load during a revolution. The load fluctuation on a single propeller blade can be clearly related to the inflow velocity field. Once the time dependent load, and consequently the performance, of a single blade has been identified, knowledge can be obtained on possible overall improvement of the propeller performance. Also the impact on fatigue strength can be addressed in more detail. In this paper the propeller blade load fluctuations have been analyzed for a propeller in behind ship and in a tunnel, operating as bow thruster. The impact of the inflow to the propeller on the occurring loads will be shown. In case of tunnel thruster units, also possible actions to improve the inflow will be analyzed.

Keywords:
reservoir simulation, upstream oil & gas, fluid dynamics, revolution, fluctuation, bulten transient blade load determination, calculation, efficiency, blade load fluctuation, transition model
Subjects:
Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Reservoir Simulation
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2015. The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
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