Experimental and numerical investigations for modelling propeller cavitation noise

A major source of the underwater radiated noise from ships is represented by propulsion systems and by propellers in particular. The main noise-generating mechanism within ship propellers is cavitation, associated to the growing and collapse of vapour bubbles resulting from the unsteady hydrodynamic pressure field generated on the blades. The control of propeller underwater radiated noise is therefore strictly related to the control of cavitation phenomena, which are responsible for a larger part of the radiation. The activity within work package 2 of the collaborative project AQUO (Achieve QUiter Oceans by shipping noise footprint reduction, www.aquo.eu) of the 7th FP of the EU focuses on this aspect, which is analysed both from the experimental and numerical viewpoint. The present paper reports motivations, aims and achievements of such activity in the first year of the project.