Improving hydrodynamic performance of surface piercing propeller through trailing-edge optimization

Abstract

Automated optimization is increasingly used in engineering applications. In this study, RANS-based CFD, the NSGA II algorithm, and Kriging were used to optimize a section of a marine surface piercing Propeller (SPP) set. The hydrodynamic performance of the SPP is also determined using the CFD tool. The optimization process involves the NSGA II algorithm in combination with the Kriging method. The optimized geometry is simulated using the CFD tool. Then, the obtained results are added to the initial population and the optimization is repeated in the next iteration. Thus, fewer simulations were required because the addition of the data with the surrogate method was accompanied by a good distribution, using surface methods for the replacement of the main part in the required calculations. As shown, the trailing edge optimization can improve Kt in J = 1 by almost 10.5%, and Kq changes by almost 12%, so this method can be used as an optimization package for similar problems.