Design study of stern tunnel wedge shapes for a low draft shallow water vessel. (4th May 2022) - Praveen, D. S. Ch.
ABSTRACT: The hydrodynamic design of inland vessels mainly relies on resistance, propulsion, maneuvering, squat, and wash effects. From the propulsion point of view, inland vessels are mostly provided with a stern tunnel to overcome the limitations of the low draft by accommodating a propeller of larger diameter to have higher propulsive efficiency. The present work examines the influence of stern tunnel geometry on the resistance of an inland vessel in fully loaded and ballast conditions using model experiments and CFD investigations. Also, to ensure the propeller immersion in ballast conditions, the stern tunnel water entrainment properties are studied. Furthermore, to understand the stern tunnel-propeller interaction effects and propulsion coefficients, self-propulsion simulations using CFD are performed. The design study presented in this paper highlights the influence of stern tunnel configuration on the propulsion performance of an inland vessel in deep and shallow water.