Numerical investigation of the hydroacoustic performance of a marine propeller

Underwater radiated noise generated by ships is a critical environmental concern, with marine propellers being a dominant source of such noise. Accurate prediction during the design phase is essential for minimizing its adverse effects. This study investigates the hydroacoustic performance of the INSEAN E۷۷۹A four-bladed marine propeller using a hybrid computational fluid dynamics model. The approach integrates unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings acoustic analogy to simulate turbulent flow and predict far-field noise propagation. The propeller operates at a constant rotational speed of n=۱۲ revolutions per second, with an advance velocity of V=۱.۳ m/s, resulting in an advance ratio of J=۰.۴۹. A hydrophone array, consisting of ۱۴۴ strategically placed receivers within the computational domain, is employed to capture spatial and directional variations of sound pressure levels (SPLs). Results indicate that near-field hydrophones detect elevated SPLs due to intense turbulence and tip vortex interactions, while far-field receivers demonstrate significant attenuation, governed by distance and turbulence dissipation. The high density of hydrophones provides a robust dataset for validating noise predictions and understanding the spatial distribution of acoustic emissions. This study lays a solid foundation for future research and advancements in optimizing marine propulsion systems to mitigate underwater noise pollution.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hydroacoustics ، Ffowcs Williams-Hawking (FW-H) acoustic analogy ، Marine Propeller (INSEAN E۷۷۹A)