Observations of tip vortex cavitation inception from a model marine propeller

Abstract

Cavitation inception characteristics of a model marine propellar having three blades, developed area ratio of 0.34 and at three different pitch to diameter ratios of 0.62. 0.83 and 1.0 are reported. The dominant type of cavitation observed at inception was the tip vortex type. The measured magnitude of inceptiOn index are found to agree well with a proposed correlation due to Strasberg. Performance, calculations of the propeller based on combmed vortex and blade element theory are also presented.