High-order implicit large-eddy simulation of flow over a marine propeller

• Published in: Computers & fluids Vol. 224; p. 104967
• Main Authors: Zhang, Bin, Ding, Chi, Liang, Chunlei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 30.06.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Finite element method; Flow stability; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Flux reconstruction; High-order method; Implicit LES; Large eddy simulation; Marine propeller; Mortars (material); Propellers; Simulation; Sliding mesh; Vortices; Working conditions; Implicit LES; High-order method; Flux reconstruction; Marine propeller; Sliding mesh
• ISSN: 0045-7930; 1879-0747
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compfluid.2021.104967

•high-order method is applied to eddy-resolving simulation of marine propeller for the first time.•The advantages of high-order simulations of propeller flows over low-order ones are demonstrated.•The loads are predicted accurately against experiments under a wide range of working conditions.•Vortex formation and flow instability developments are clearly visualized.•The effects of fairwaters of different shapes are quantitatively assessed. We report the first high-order eddy-resolving simulation of flow over a marine propeller using a recently developed high-order sliding-mesh method. This method employs the flux reconstruction framework and a new dynamic curved mortar approach to handle the complex rotating geometries. For a wide range of working conditions, it is validated to predict the loads very accurately against experiments. The method’s low-dissipation characteristic has allowed the capturing of a broad spectrum of turbulence structures for very long distances even on a very coarse grid. Comparison with a previous low-order simulation is also carried out to show the low-dissipation advantage of the present simulations. From detailed load analysis, the major loads and their distributions and time and frequency scales are identified. Visualizations of the instantaneous, phase-averaged, and time-averaged flow fields have revealed the processes of tip vortex formation, major vortex evolutions, and flow instability developments at different working conditions. The effects of different fairwaters on the propeller’s overall performance are also quantitatively assessed.