Application of Large Eddy Simulation to Predict Underwater Noise of Marine Propulsors. Part 1: Cavitation Dynamics

Marine propulsors are identified as the main contributor to a vessel’s underwater radiated noise as a result of tonal propeller noise and broadband emissions caused by its induced cavitation. To reduce a vessel’s signature, spectral limits are set for the propulsion industry, which can be experimentally obtained for a complete vessel at the full-scale; however, the prediction capability of the sound sources is still rudimentary at best. To adhere to the regulatory demands, more accurate numerical methods for combined turbulence and two-phase modeling for a high-quality prediction of acoustic sources of a propeller are required. Several studies have suggested implicit LES as a capable tool for propeller cavitation simulation. In the presented study, the main objective was the evaluation of the tip and hub vortex cavitating flows with implicit LES focusing on probable sound source representation. Cavitation structures for free-running propeller test cases were compared with experimental measurements. To resolve the structure of the tip vortex accurately, a priory mesh refinement was employed during the simulation in regions of high vorticity. Good visual agreement with the experiments and a fundamental investigation of the tip cavity structure confirmed the capability of the implicit LES for resolving detailed turbulent flow and cavitation structures for free-running propellers.