Effects of stacking sequence on nonlinear hydroelastic behavior of composite propeller blade

Abstract

A coupled structural and fluid flow analysis was performed to assess the hydroelastic behavior of a composite marine propeller. The finite element method and lifting surface theory were applied in the structural and fluid analyses, respectively. A coupled equation derived from the Bernoulli equation and the hydrostatic pressure in terms of the blade deflection and strength of the vortex was solved by Newton-Raphson procedure. A MAU 3-60 propeller was analyzed with different stacking sequences of composite layup. The hydroelastic behaviors of the propeller with balanced and unbalanced stacking sequences were investigated and discussed. The unbalanced Stacking sequences were shown to influence the performance of the composite propeller, especially in the region in which the advanced coefficient is low.