Numerical and experimental optimization of a CP propeller at different pitch settings

Propeller design is an activity which nowadays presents ever increasing challenges to the designer, involving not only the usual mechanical characteristics and cavitation erosion avoidance, but also other side effects, such as radiated noise and/or pressure pulses. Moreover, in some cases propeller characteristics have to be optimized in correspondence to very different functioning points, including considerably off-design conditions, which are hardly captured by conventional design methods. In present paper, a recently presented method, based on the coupling between a multiobjective optimization algorithm and a panel code, is applied to the design of a CP propeller at different pitch settings, with the aim of reducing cavitating phenomena and, consequently, resultant radiated noise. Numerical results are validated by means of an experimental campaign at cavitation tunnel, showing the capability of the method to assess propeller functioning characteristics, thus representing a very useful tool for the designer in correspondence of challenging problems.