Numerical Simulation of the Cavitation Performance of the Podded Propulsors in Maneuvering Condition

Compared with traditional propeller, the podded propeller, as a propulsion system, can rotate freely in a 360° horizontal direction which can improve the maneuverability of the vessel. The cavitation occurs in almost all ship propellers, especially under high speed loads. The cavity on the propeller results in more intense vibrations and radiated noises, which is unfavorable to the stealth performance of the marine vehicles. The present study used the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach to analyze the cavitation of a podded propeller during maneuvering operations. The study shows that different oblique flow conditions can result in significantly different cavitation performance of podded propeller.