Effect of rudder angle on propeller wash velocities at a seabed

This paper deals with an experimental investigation into the velocity distribution downstream of a propeller, operating at bollard pull conditions and in the presence of a mobile sediment bed. Previous investigations either ignored the effect of a rudder in the wash or considered only its influence on an unconfined jet. The velocity profiles within the jet produced by a rotating propeller with a rudder present were measured at a mobile bed and compared to currently available predictive equations. The velocity distribution profiles in the jet, influenced by bed proximity, were found not to comply with current predictive methods. The velocity distributions measured within the jet were found to be complex and non-symmetrical. To provide a basic velocity predictive tool, a neural network analysis toolbox within Matlab was utilised and trained using the experimental data.