Optimization Analysis of Screw Propeller Blade

Abstract

Marine screw propeller is a fascinating invention. It transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust force. The generated thrust creates pressure difference of fluid in the front and back surface of the propeller’s blade for acceleration. In this project, the screw propeller, INSEAN E779A model was modified with the main objective to determine its optimized design that could achieve better performance during its operation. In determining the optimized design for the screw propeller blade, different modified models with various dimensions and properties were proposed and modelled in SolidWorks. Subsequently, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was carried out to determine the Maximum von misses stress, strain, deformation and factor of safety along with flow analysis, velocity and pressure trajectories analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). After comparing the analysis results, the optimized design for the screw propeller found in this project is having the dimensions of 3.0 mm thickness, 40° propeller blade twist angle, and 110° of angle between the leading edge and the propeller’s hub. The Maximum Von Misses Stress was improved by 24.15%.