Propeller Design

Propeller design is a key component for the performance of a ship or aircraft. Propellers convert rotary motion from an engine, turbine, or electric motor into linear thrust that pushes the vehicle forward. Their blades come in a large variety of shapes, which are typically defined by airfoil sections and how they change in radial direction. This largely determines the propeller’s properties with respect to efficiency, structural strength, or noise generation. As the geometric parameters can encompass rather large design spaces, often in combination with conflicting objectives, automated workflows are usually the only feasible approach for a thorough design investigation.

CAESES’ Propeller Design Capabilities

CAESES® is a dedicated CAD and automation environment for exploring and optimizing complex and performance-critical geometries (see also this overview on turbomachinery applications). In particular, it brings along several key capabilities for designing cutting-edge propeller geometries:

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

• Alternatively, powerful and flexible morphing capabilities for imported geometries.

• High level of customization, i.e., no black box models, and full freedom to set up user-defined workflows.
• High robustness and flexibility of parametric models for automated design studies and optimization.
• 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).
• 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 – all with a single click, in just a few seconds. Such a model is ready for being manufactured, but also for further studies in combination with CFD and stress analysis.
• 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.

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

Learn More about Propeller Design

Propeller Design with CAESES – Do it yourself!

1. Test the online design tools based on the Wageningen B-Series.

2. Download CAESES®, register for a trial license, and open the propeller sample file that comes with the software.

3. Create a geometry from scratch with the propeller modeling tutorials in CAESES®.

Case Studies and Blog Posts for Propeller Design

Questions?

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have questions in the context of your specific application. We look forward to discussing it together with you!