Experimental and numerical validation of the improved vortex method applied to CP745 marine propeller model

The article presents a numerical analysis of the CP745 marine propeller model by means of the improved vortex method and CFD simulations. Both numerical approaches are validated experimentally by comparing with open water characteristics of the propeller. The introduced modification of the vortex method couples the lifting surface approach for the propeller blades and the boundary element method for the hub. What is more, a simple algorithm for determination of the propeller induced advance angles is established. The proposed modifications provide better results than the original version of the vortex method. The accuracy of the improved method becomes comparable to CFD predictions, being at the same time a few hundred times faster than CFD.