A MODEL STUDY OF THE HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A SERIES OF PADDLE-WHEEL PROPULSIVE DEVICES FOR HIGH-SPEED CRAFT

The report covers an investigation of the hydrodynamic characteristics of a series of scale models of paddle wheels with fixed radial blades, designed for speeds in excess of 20 knots. The results indicate that a six-bladed wheel has higher propulsive efficiency and thrust than a twelve- bladed wheel. Peak efficiency is in the neighborhood of 41 percent and occurs at slip values of 30 to 40 percent. Thrust increases with immersion depth, within the range tested ( 16 percent of the wheel diameter immersed ). There is a slight break in the thrust curve over a span of 10- percent slip, after which the thrust again increases with increasing slip. There is evidence of scale distortion, and it is felt that the present model, with a scale factor of 8.5 to 1, may have been too small. ( Author )

• Corporate Authors:

  Stevens Institute of Technology

  711 Hudson Street
  Hoboken, NJ  United States  07030
• Authors:
  • Wray, Gilbert A
  • Starrett, James A
• Publication Date: 1970-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 119 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• Old TRIS Terms: Paddle wheel propulsion
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00007573
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Defense Documentation Center
• Report/Paper Numbers: SIT-DL-70-1428 Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: DAAE07-69-C-0356
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 30 1973 12:00AM