Parametric and Wake Study of a Ducted Propeller Using The Variational Multi-Scale Method

Abstract

A Variational Multi-Scale formulation was used to generate a high-fidelity simulation of a ducted propeller in a 3D unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes turbulent flow. The blades were incorporated as moving surfaces via an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian treatment of such equations. The domain features surfaces such as struts, ducts and blades whose boundary layer mesh requirements are relaxed via weak boundary condition enforcement. Good grid convergence is obtained. Validation of the model is done for the thrust with third-party experimental data. A wake study shows insights into the flow. These results showcase the applicability of the formulation to evaluate designs of ducted propellers.