A numerical investigation into the influence of bio-inspired leading-edge tubercles on the hydrodynamic performance of a benchmark ducted propeller
Stark, Callum and Shi, Weichao and Atlar, Mehmet (2021) A numerical investigation into the influence of bio-inspired leading-edge tubercles on the hydrodynamic performance of a benchmark ducted propeller. Ocean Engineering, 237. 109593. ISSN 0029-8018 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.109593)
Preview |
Text.
Filename: Stark_etal_OE_2021_A_numerical_investigation_into_the_influence_of_bio_inspired_leading_edge_tubercles.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript License: Download (4MB)| Preview |
Abstract
Marine ducted thrusters are widely used to provide propulsive thrust for a range of marine vessels due to their high thrust capability in heavy loaded conditions. This paper presents a novel and optimised bio-inspired marine ducted thruster, where leading-edge tubercles are applied to the duct of a ducted propulsor to explore the impact on hydrodynamic performance. Nine different geometrical configurations of tubercle were investigated with varying amplitude and wavelength within the optimisation study. The hydrodynamic performance of the marine ducted thruster is evaluated using a commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, STAR-CCM+, with an incompressible implicit unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) solver combined with the Body Force Propeller (BFP) method for the duct optimisation study. Then, the selected optimal duct was chosen for further analysis using the propeller resolved Rigid Body Motion (RBM) method, more commonly known as the sliding mesh technique. Through the numerical optimisation study, the leading-edge modification is predicted to have the capability to enhance the duct thrust in the heavy-loaded conditions, although this is dependent on the wavelength and amplitude of the tubercle. Furthermore, during the investigation the traditional tubercle behaviour was observed, namely the high-low pressure patterns and streamwise counterrotating vortices. Interestingly, flow separation was observed to be compartmentalised on the outer side of the duct cross-section in conditions where flow separation occurred such as at the maximum efficiency operating point.
ORCID iDs
Stark, Callum ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7391-5197, Shi, Weichao ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9730-7313 and Atlar, Mehmet;-
-
Item type: Article ID code: 77277 Dates: DateEvent1 October 2021Published4 August 2021Published Online1 August 2021AcceptedSubjects: Naval Science > Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering Department: Faculty of Engineering > Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering
Strategic Research Themes > Ocean, Air and SpaceDepositing user: Pure Administrator Date deposited: 04 Aug 2021 10:34 Last modified: 27 Nov 2024 23:26 Related URLs: URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/77277