Numerical and experimental analysis of the wake behavior of a generic submarine propeller

The performance and fluid dynamics of a submarine propeller, running in open water conditions, was investigated using experimental and computational methods. The flow velocity was measured using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) and it was computed using Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The wake dynamics were investigated mainly by studying the velocity field in three transversal planes of the wake, at three loading conditions. The experimental results were also used tovalidate the accuracy of the simulations for the most important flow features.