Directly coupled fluid structural model of a ship rudder behind a propeller

A computational method is presented that models fluid structural interaction problems for three-dimensional marine structures. Flow can be modelled with either potential or viscous incompressible flow. The structure deformation is modelled by a shell finite element formulation. The two fields are coupled by a domain decomposition approach that uses virtual surfaces to transfer information. A typical spade rudder has been modelled for steady-state three-dimensional problems in a free stream and in way of a propeller race. These computational models have been tested for mesh dependancy in both the fluid and structural domains as well as the virtual surface definition. The results show increased correlation to experimental data from uncoupled hydrodynamic modelling as well as detailed structural deformation. Of note is the variation in rudder stock bending moment from that utilised by classification society scantling rules.