SHAFT LOADS ON AZIMUTH PROPULSORS IN OBLIQUE FLOW AND WAVES

Abstract

A range of model experiments have been carried out in calm water and waves for an oil spill vessel model with twin tractor azimuth thrusters at different heading angles and advance coefficients in the large towing tank at the Marine Technology Centre in Trondheim, Norway. Propeller shaft bending loads have been measured using a shaft dynamometer capable of measuring all shaft side force and bending moment components as well as propeller torque and thrust. The results include the loads on the propeller shaft with and without the presence of a ship hull model at the same heading angles and advance velocities in order to study the wake influence from the ship hull on the hydrodynamic loads. Results show that the ship hull wake has a much stronger effect on the propeller loads when the propeller is azimuthed outward from the ship hull centreline than inward. Measurements from the experiments in waves are also presented for the same thruster model in a straight-line course for both the head and following sea states under different wave conditions. Larger bending loads are found in head sea conditions compared with the following sea conditions. Generally it is found that the shaft bending loads and lateral forces are quite large, which is important to consider in the mechanical design layout and for dimensioning of components.