Large-eddy simulation of a ducted propeller in crashback

Large-eddy simulation (LES) using an unstructured overset numerical method is performed to study the flow around a ducted marine propeller for the highly unsteady off-design condition called crashback. Known as one of the most challenging propeller states to analyse, the propeller rotates in the reverse direction to yield negative thrust while the vehicle is still in forward motion. The LES results for the marine propeller David Taylor Model Basin 4381 with a neutrally loaded duct are validated against experiments, showing good agreement. The simulations are performed at Reynolds number of 561 000 and an advance ratio J = -0.82. The flow field around the different components (duct, rotor blades and stator blades) and their impact on the unsteady loading are examined. The side-force coefficient K(S )is mostly generated from the duct surface, consistent with experiments. The majority of the thrust and torque coefficients K-T and K-Q arise from the rotor blades. A prominent contribution to K-Q is also produced from the stator blades. Tip-leakage flow between the rotor blade tips and duct surface is shown to play a major role in the local unsteady loads on the rotor blades and duct. The physical mechanisms responsible for the overall unsteady loads and large side-force production are identified as globally, the vortex ring and locally, leading-edge separation as well as tip-leakage flow which forms blade-local recirculation zones.