Dynamic investigation of the influence of propeller on the vibro-acoustic characteristics of marine propulsion systems

The stability of the marine propulsion system is significantly influenced by the load applied to the propeller and its own inertial effect. This paper focuses on the investigation of the propulsion system powered by double-cylinder turbines under unsymmetric input power, aiming to understand its dynamics through theoretical modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental verification. Firstly, a nonlinear dynamic model of the system is established considering the time-varying and nonlinear internal factors including meshing stiffness, tooth surface friction, tooth side clearance, and the unsymmetrical external input power. Subsequently, numerical methods are employed to explore the effects of the load on the propeller and its own rotational inertia on the stability and vibration characteristics of the propulsion system. The study describes the complex dynamic behavior that emerges due to these influencing parameters. Finally, the theoretical model is validated, and a comprehensive experimental platform for parallel propulsion systems is utilized to further investigate the impact of the load and rotational inertia on the vibro-acoustic characteristics of the system. The findings serve as valuable guidance for the design of power parameters and the optimization of propellers for the propulsion system characterized by parallel power configuration from the perspective of dynamics.