HIGH-SPEED PROPELLER DESIGN

Established criteria for the design of high speed propellers including both successful empirical techniques as used by various propeller manufacturers and acceptable analytical or theoretical principles are discussed, specifically noting similarities of both approaches and the significant departures from flat-face ogival blade sections. Lifting-line and lifting-surface calculations for non-cavitating designs and semi-empirical procedures for trans-cavitating and fully cavitating propellers are presented, indicating that especially for the latter operating regime typical of the above noted craft many aspects of propeller design still remain an art. The results of a wake study on a particular outboard gear case and the resulting propeller design, its pitch variation and other geometrical differences are discussed. Special emphasis is given to key design decisions and consequent trade offs towards minimizing blade stress, vibrations, and loss of thrust due to cavitation. Comparative performance achieved with propellers designed by the above procedures and tested on specific high speed planing hulls is presented.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Spring Meeting, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, April 2-4, 1973.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

  601 Pavonia Avenue
  Jersey City, NJ  United States  07306-2907
• Authors:
  • Kress, R F
• Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamic lift; Cavitation (Mechanics); Cavitation erosion; Propellers; Supercavitating propellers; Vehicle design
• Old TRIS Terms: Lifting surface theory; Propeller design; Propeller theory
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044476
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: Paper E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 23 1973 12:00AM