A computational method for cycloidal propellers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Zhu, D.M.

Affiliations: Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute, Harbin, China

Abstract: A theoretical computational method to evaluate the performance characteristics of cycloidal propellers is presented. Starting from Taniguchi’s method, improvements have been derived to make it applicable for various eccentricities in the whole advance coefficient region. First the effect of the curved orbit of the blades and the blade rotation is taken into account, that influences camber and zero lift angle. Then the effect of low Reynolds number on drag coefficient and the effect of stalling on lift coefficient are analysed and discussed in detail. Some linearizations are given up to improve the computation accuracy. The improved method is described. Using this improved method to compute the performance of a DTNSRDC model and comparing the results with systematic experiment results (see DTNSRDC Report 2983), it is shown that the agreement between them is quite good for a larger range of advance ratios and eccentricities.

DOI: 10.3233/ISP-1981-2832102

Journal: International Shipbuilding Progress, vol. 28, no. 321, pp. 102-111, 1981