Analysis of camber ratio variation on B-Series propeller performance by using combined panel-vortex method and blade-element theory

Abstract The camber ratio of a propeller significantly affects its hydrodynamic performance. The camber ratio particularly affects the lift force generated by the propeller blades, which ultimately affects the propeller thrust and torque. In this study, effects of camber ratio variations are investigated by using a combined method of panel vortex method and blade element theory. The camber ratios considered in this study are as follows: 0% (0.00, original foil), 1.6% (0.016), 2.2% (0.022), and 2.8% (0.028). A larger camber ratio results in a more convex propeller blade surface. Calculation results show that the larger the camber ratio, the higher the thrust and torque coefficients. The camber ratio of 2.2% (0.022) gives the highest propeller efficiency of 58.5% at the advance coefficient J = 0.7.