Numerical Study on Propeller Cavitation and Pressure Fluctuation of Model and Full Scale ship for a MR Tanker

Propeller cavitation extent, pressure fluctuation induced by cavitation, pressure distribution on propeller blade, total velocity distribution and nominal wake distribution for a MR Taker were computed in both conditions of model test and sea trial using a code STAR-CCM+. Then some of the results were compared with model test data at LCT and full-scale measurement (Ahn et al (2014); Kim et al (2014)] in order to confirm the availability of a numerical prediction method and to get the physical insight of local flow around a ship and propeller. The nominal wake distributions computed and measured by LDV velocimeter on the variation of on-coming velocity show the wake contraction characteristics proposed by Hoekstra (1974). The numerical prediction of propeller cavitation extent on a blade angular position and pressure fluctuation level on each location of pressure sensors are very similar with the experimental results.