Improved hydrodynamic performance of a collective and cyclic pitch propeller by numerical evaluation of the blade design

The collective and cyclic pitch propeller (CCPP) is a novel concept designed to propel and manoeuvre autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Collective pitch control governs the generated thrust, while through cyclic pitch control a manoeuvring force/side-force is generated. Recent work concluded that new solutions are needed to achieve large side-forces without compromising the observed phase shift. In this paper, increasing the blade surface area is rationalised as the most effective pathway to achieve improved CCPP performance. A three-dimensional numerical RANS-based periodic numerical model was used to evaluate three alternative blade designs. Clear performance improvements were realised by the new blade design, manifested in the ability to generate larger side-forces, both absolute and relative based on the actual surface area, at much smaller phase shifts. A performance improvement relation was established, stating that optimal improvement is realised by increasing both the blade's surface area and aspect ratio. At higher aspect ratios, the side-force is produced in a more efficient manner, both from a general force behaviour and a side-force force generation perspective. Finally, an important note was made regarding the future introduction of blade twist in order to address an observed effect on the ‘neutral’ pitch angle.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2020.108404
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029801820313111
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00298018
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Dubois, A
  • Leong, Z Q
  • Nguyen, H D
  • Binns, J R
• Publication Date: 2020

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 108404
• Serial:
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Publisher: Pergamon
  • ISSN: 0029-8018
  • EISSN: 1873-5258
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00298018

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Hydrodynamics; Maneuvering; Mathematical models; Numerical analysis; Propellers; Ships; Underwater vehicles
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01761629
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 2020 3:08PM