Assessment of Simplified Propeller-Models for General Purpose CFD Solvers

CFD simulation of a whole hull-propeller configuration requires high computational efforts to solve accurately propeller hydrodynamics. This fact may be unacceptable for preliminary design and optimization applications. Thus, in order to overcome this crucial aspect, the presence of the propeller should be simulated by simplified models that represent a good trade-off between accuracy and computational costs. In this paper three different hydrodynamic models for the analysis of propellers working in hull-behind conditions are presented and compared, from a numerical standpoint, in view of a further implementation into a general purpose CFD solvers. Their drawbacks and potentialities are discussed to derive some guidelines on the use of fast and reliable algorithm suited to treat either design and off-design conditions.