Initial wash profiles from a ship propeller using CFD method

The present paper was aimed at presenting the time-averaged velocity and turbulence intensity at the initial plane from a ship′s propeller using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach. Previous experimental studies found that the maximum velocity occurred at the initial plane within a jet, but no agreement was found with regards to the position of this maximum velocity and the velocity distribution across the initial plane. All work to date has been empirical in nature and new approaches are required to provide a better understanding of the flow field. The current investigation was conducted using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach, and found the position of the maximum velocity occurred at a distance of 0.585Rp from the rotation axis. The CFD prediction showed that the axial component of velocity is the main contributor to the velocity magnitude, followed by the tangential and radial velocities which are 78% and 3% of the maximum axial velocity respectively. The axial velocity distribution across the section showed a two-peaked-ridge profile with a low velocity core at the rotation axis. •Provides CFD method to investigate time-averaged velocity and turbulence intensity within a ship propeller jet.•Contains axial, tangential and radial components within the jet.•Presents the profiles of turbulence kinetic energy and vorticity of the jet.