Abstract
In this paper, the applications of surface vortex lattice method to marine propellers in super-and partial cavitation condition are discussed. The propeller blades and cavity are represented by vortex lattices and source distributions on the surfaces of propeller blades and cavity. The governing equation of this method is based on the velocity field and the strengths of singularity elements are determined by two kinds of boundary condition on the blades and cavity surface. The initial cavity extension is obtained by pressure distribution on the blade in non-cavity condition and the cavity shape is calculated by iteration procedure so that the boundary conditions are satisfied at each panels on the cavity surface. The results of pressure distribution on the blade surface and extension and thickness of cavity calculated by the present method show good agreements with experiment and other theoretical calculation results.
