ABSTRACT
A Simulation Based Design Optimization approach is proposed for the design of RIM driven propellers operating in an accelerating duct. The tool relies on RANS analyses of parametrically described geometries driven by an automatic, multi-objective optimization loop for the design of propellers with improved performances simultaneously in terms of both propulsive efficiency and cavitation inception. Pareto convergence is achieved by using a mix of fully resolved RANS analyses and surrogate models aimed at significantly improving the computational efficiency of the procedure. The effectiveness of the design approach is verified by comparing the devised RIM propellers with the performance of a reference ducted propeller at the same functioning point while design trends and guidelines are extracted from the analysis of the amount of data collected during the optimization process.
