Computational analysis of marine propeller performance and cavitation by using an inviscid-flow BEM model

Numerical results submitted to the workshop on cavitation and propeller performance organised by the Second International Symposium on Marine Propulsors (SMP'11) are presented. Computational analysis is performed by using the INSEAN-PFC propeller flow code developed by CNR-INSEAN. Workshop test cases include open water performance, evaluation of velocity field in the propeller wake and prediction of cavitation in uniform flow conditions. Test cases are proposed as blind tests to workshop participants. A review of the theoretical and computational methodology is given and numerical results are commented. Limitations deriving by the application of a potential-flow methodology are addressed and the expected accuracy of computational results is discussed.