Phase sampling in the analysis of a propeller wake

A phase sampling procedure is used for the analysis of the non-steady, periodic flow field in the near wake of a marine propeller. This method allows to obtain a true ensemble averaging of the experimental measurements. The average is made over a large number of repeated experiments each of which is taken during a complete revolution of the propeller. The measurements are carried out in a recirculating water tunnel with a two-channel laser Doppler velocimeter. The computer-aided evaluation of the experimental results visualizes the following characteristic features of the wake: (1) the vortex sheet developing from the trailing edge; (2) a sudden increase of the axial velocity in the core of the tip vortex; (3) a boundary layer effect near the shaft of the propeller. From the analysis of the direction of vortex rotation along the radial direction of the blade, it is possible to derive information on the working conditions of the propeller.