Marine Propeller Theory and Application

Marine propellers have been the primary means of ship propulsion for centuries and remain at the heart of modern marine engineering. Reflecting the latest advances in the field, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory, design, analysis, and performance of marine propellers. Combining fundamental principles with practical applications, it presents a wealth of numerical results derived from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, state-of-the-art measurement and testing techniques, and detailed design case studies.
The eight chapters cover the development of marine propulsion systems, propeller geometry, propulsion theory, open-water testing, ship-propeller interaction, cavitation, structural strength, and chart-based propeller design. Moving beyond purely theoretical treatments, the book offers an accessible and practice-oriented approach. Through extensive CFD visualizations and engineering examples, it illustrates the complex relationships between propeller geometry, hydrodynamic performance, cavitation behaviour, and structural integrity.
It also introduces modern design, manufacturing, measurement, and testing technologies, together with advanced chart-based design methods that extend beyond conventional efficiency-focused approaches. This work will be a valuable reference for researchers, graduate students, and engineers in naval architecture, marine engineering, ship hydrodynamics, and propulsion system design.