Effects of propeller size on loads during propeller-ice interaction

During navigation in ice, ships' propellers are subjected to frequent interactions with submerged pieces of ice, which can result in extremely high forces on the propeller and propulsion system components. There are two components of the forces: contact forces due to the direct contact between a propeller blade and ice piece; and hydrodynamic forces due to the propeller's operation in the turbulent, ice-blocked flow. This paper investigates the effects of propeller size on propeller loads using a numerical propeller-ice simulation model. The dependence of the main propeller loads on propeller size is quantified, and the relative magnitude of contact and hydrodynamic loads is presented. A comparison is made between the predicted results and regulatory requirements. The effects of an ice size limit on maximum predicted loads is also investigated.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye