The study on the broadband thrust spectrum of propeller in anisotropic and inhomogeneous turbulence

Considering the effects of stretching of turbulent eddies and inhomogeneous distribution of turbulence parameters, such as turbulence length scale, a new analytical approach to calculating the unsteady broadband thrust of propeller in anisotropic and inhomogeneous turbulence was introduced based on the correlation methods conducted in isotropic turbulence. Stephens's experiment was used to verify the theoretical approach to modeling in anisotropic and inhomogeneous turbulence. The effects of turbulence parameters on propeller broadband thrust in anisotropic and inhomogeneous turbulent field were discussed. The results showed that the haystack amplitudes at blade passage frequencies increase with the nonuniform level of the turbulent intensity and stretching parameters of turbulence eddy, while the effects of nonuniform distribution of inflow velocity and turbulence length scale can be neglected. Additionally, the haystack frequencies of propeller thrust spectrum are only dependent on blade passage frequency. •The mechanism for propeller acting in the inflow turbulence is proposed.•An approach to calculate the unsteady thrust spectrum of propeller in anisotropic and inhomogeneous turbulence is proposed.•The effects of variety of turbulent parameters on unsteady thrust spectrum are discussed.