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Simulation- and data-driven propeller design

Explore and optimize propeller geometries through parametric geometry variation, automated simulation workflows, and multidisciplinary design studies.

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CAESES Propeller Design GUI

Why choose a simulation- and data-driven design approach?

Optimized performance across operating conditions

Simulation-driven propeller design allows engineers to evaluate how different geometries perform under varying speeds, loads, and environmental conditions. This helps identify designs that maximize efficiency and propulsion performance in real-world operation.

Reduced development time and costs

Virtual testing enables rapid assessment of numerous blade shapes and configurations without the need to manufacture and test each concept physically. As a result, development cycles are shortened and prototyping costs are significantly reduced.

Enhanced reliability and reduced risk

A data-driven engineering approach combines simulations, as well as data from other sources to better predict issues such as cavitation, vibration, and noise. This leads to more robust propeller designs with improved durability and lower operational risk.

CAESES’ propeller design capabilities

CAESES is a specialized CAD and automation tool for optimizing complex, performance-critical geometries, with some dedicated capabilities that make it particularly suited for the design of cutting-edge propellers.

Propeller Design Types

Smart parametric modeling

Fully parametric modeling of any type of marine propeller, including unconventional types such as surface-piercing, high-skew, tip-rake, ducted, toroidal, and low-noise submarine propellers.

Smart parametric modeling approach based on parameterized sections and continuous control of the respective input parameters.

Propeller Design Worfkflow

Intuitive yet customizable

Dedicated modeling workflows for propellers greatly simplify the process.

Yet, high level of customization, i.e., no black box models and full freedom to set up user-defined parameterizations and workflows.

Propeller Design Variation

Robust variation

High robustness and flexibility of parametric models for reliable automated design studies and optimization.

Propeller Design Tip Rake

Tips and fillets

Dedicated functionality to close propeller tips with a smooth surface, as well as for the fillet creation between hub and blade (fixed and variable-radius fillets).

Propeller Design Sections

Specialized formats

Ability to import and write specialized formats, such as PFF files.

Read in ASCII files with your sectional data and automatically generate a parametric propeller model including tip and hub with a single click. Such a model is ready for being manufactured, but also for further studies in combination with CFD and stress analysis.

Propeller Design Airfoils

Airfoil definitions

Create custom parametric airfoil definitions and control them using radial parameter distribution functions, or import airfoil point data from a database, interpolate, and parameterize as needed.

Propeller Design Boss Cap Fins

Geometry add-ons

Include energy-saving or noise reducing features such as propeller boss cap fins, serrations, anti-singing edges, or tip fences.

Propeller Design Simulation

Workflow integration

Full interfacing to external analysis, such as CFD or structural analysis.

Generation of simulation domains, including potential flow panel meshes and geometry-adapted support structures for volume meshing.

Interested in a specific capability?

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What our customers say

Pol Muller

In our expe­ri­ence, using CAESES for creating para­met­ric models was MUCH faster and easier than with our tra­di­tional CAD tool – hours versus weeks! For complex geome­tries, the tra­di­tional CAD tool was not the optimum solution because when creating variants we expe­ri­enced a lot of infea­si­ble geome­tries, whereas in CAESES we had almost 100% success. At Sirehna, CAESES has become an indis­pens­able tool for con­duct­ing com­pre­hen­sive shape opti­miza­tion studies in an auto­mated CFD-driven design process.”

Pol Muller
Head of Thrusters

David Bendl

CAESES is a core com­po­nent in the design depart­ment, and nowadays, it drives all new product devel­op­ments to ensure the very best performance.”

David Bendl
Development Engineer

Getting started

FAQs

Can CAESES support AI and data-driven engineering workflows?

Yes. CAESES supports automated generation of large engineering datasets for surrogate modeling, machine learning, and AI-driven optimization workflows.