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Ice-Class Propeller Strength and Integrity Evaluation Using Unified Polar ClassURI3 Rules

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Abstract

A systematic method was developed for ice-class propeller modeling, performance estimation, strength and integrity evaluation and optimization. To estimate the impact of sea ice on the propeller structure, URI3 rules, established by the International Association of Classification Societies in 2007, were applied for ice loading calculations. An R-class propeller (a type of ice-class propeller) was utilized for subsequent investigations. The propeller modeling was simplified based on a conventional method, which expedited the model building process. The propeller performance was simulated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The simulation results were validated by comparison with experimental data. Furthermore, the hydrodynamic pressure was transferred into a finite element analysis (FEA) module for strength assessment of ice-class propellers. According to URI3 rules, the ice loading was estimated based on different polar classes and working cases. Then, the FEA method was utilized to evaluate the propeller strength. The validation showed that the simulation results accorded with recent research results. Finally, an improved optimization method was developed to save the propeller constituent materials. The optimized propeller example had a minimum safety factor of 1.55, satisfying the safety factor requirement of ≥1.5, and reduced the design volume to 88.2% of the original.

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Abbreviations

C 0.7R :

Blade section chord at 0.7R

C f :

Frictional coefficient

D :

Propeller diameter

D limit :

Diameter limit

EAR :

Propeller expanded area ratio

F b :

Maximum backward force

F f :

Maximum forward force

h D :

Propeller hub diameter

H ice :

Ice thickness

J :

Advance ratio

K Q :

Torque coefficient

K T :

Thrust coefficient

L pp :

Length of perpendiculars, which is the propeller blade length in this research

S ice :

Ice strength index for blade ice force

S qice :

Ice strength index for blade ice torque

T :

Thrust

TF :

Thickness factor

T.F. i :

Thickness factor for case i

T.F. opt_blade :

Available optimized minimum thickness factor for whole blade

T.F. opt_sec :

Available optimized minimum thickness factor for blade section

T.F. orig :

Section thickness factor of original propeller based on the optimization curve

t optim :

The blade section thickness of optimized propeller

t orig :

The blade section thickness of original propeller

T root :

Root thickness

V a :

Ship advance speed, which is flow speed in this research

Va-max:

Propeller maximum advanced speed

N max :

Propeller maximum rotational speed

PC :

Polar class

P droot :

Blade pitch diameter ratio at root

P dtip :

Blade pitch diameter ratio at tip

Q :

Torque

Re :

Reynolds number, which is VL/ν

SF :

Safety factor

SF i :

Safety factor for case i

X :

Characteristic length, which is the propeller radius in this research

Y :

First inflation layer thickness for boundary layer simulation

y + :

Non-dimensional wall thickness

y BL :

Total inflation layer thickness for boundary layer simulation

Z :

Number of blades

H :

Propeller efficiency

N :

Fluid dynamic viscosity

ρ :

Fluid density

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Acknowledgement

The author would like to thank University of Tasmania and Newcastle University for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia

    Qi Li

  2. Marine, Offshore and Subsea Technology, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

    Pengfei Liu

Authors
  1. Qi Li
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  2. Pengfei Liu
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Correspondence to Pengfei Liu.

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Li, Q., Liu, P. Ice-Class Propeller Strength and Integrity Evaluation Using Unified Polar ClassURI3 Rules. J. Ocean Univ. China 20, 823–836 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-021-4586-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-021-4586-6

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