Comparison of computational methods for hydrodynamic performance prediction of oscillating marine propulsors

The biomimicry of fish fins has been suggested as an efficient and low-noise approach to propulsion for remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles. Propulsion of this type is achieved through the use of fin-like propulsors that undergo oscillatory motions. Two computational approaches of differing fidelity and computational space/time requirements have been used to calculate thrust and efficiency of oscillating marine propulsors in order to determine the region where each method is most appropriate for design applications. The higher fidelity and computational cost method is an unsteady Navier–Stokes approach. The lower fidelity and computational cost method is a lifting-surface potential flow method supplemented with strip theory to account for viscous effects. In comparison with two-dimensional experimental results, both methods were able to accurately capture magnitudes and trends in light to moderate thrust conditions (CT0.7) and in conditions where dynamic stall effects are prevalent (αmax>20∘, low Strouhal numbers), the higher fidelity method is required to achieve sufficient predictive accuracy. •Two methods are used to model oscillating marine propulsors.•The methods are a lifting surface method and unsteady Navier–Stokes method.•Both methods are capable of predicting performance with reasonable accuracy.•Lifting surface analysis saves about 5,000 processor-hours per 3-D case.•Lifting surface breaks down for heavily loaded and dynamic stall cases.