Integrated Lifting-Surface and Euler/Boundary-Layer Theory Analysis Method for Marine Propulsors

摘要

A propeller lifting surface design and analysis program is automatically coupled with a Euler/integrated Boundary Layer Theory (IBLT) axisymmetric flow solver. The lifting surface method solves the localized propeller problem, while the Euler/IBLT solver handles the global flowfield, capturing the effective inflow problem. For viscous flows, the boundary layer is constructed based upon the parameters specified by the IBLT solution, and is merged with the inviscid Euler flowfield. The robust coupled method is capable of representing open propellers, ducted propulsors, and internal flow cases, including multi-blade row applications. For large axisymmetic bodies, the user may specify a nominal inflow, and the coupled method is used for the localized propulsor problem only, further increasing the computational efficiency. The specified nominal flow field may be calculated by other numerical flow solvers, obtained from experimental results, or calculated from a Euler/IBLT solution of the entire body. The coupled code is an extremely rapid flowfleld gridding, calculation, and convergence method, which allows an order of magnitude reduction in convergence time when compared to the current efforts using Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) as the flow solver. Experimental validation is demonstrated for open, ducted, and internal flow propulsors.