Author(s): Domenico Ferraro; Agostino Lauria; Nadia Penna; Roberto Gaudio
Linked Author(s): Nadia Penna, Roberto Gaudio
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Ship propellers generate a turbulent jet that can significantly impact the seabed or the bottom of a navigation channel, often extending far from the propeller itself. The presence of a boundary strongly influences the development of this jet, and, while previous studies have primarily focused on still water conditions, such scenarios do not accurately reflect the dynamics of navigable channels. In navigable environments, channel flow interacts with the propeller jet, further complicating the scouring process. Tsinker (2012) emphasized the need to account for propeller-induced scour when designing new port-related structures or reassessing the performance of existing ones. He noted that all types of structures, particularly those designed to withstand horizontal and vertical forces, such as closed vertical quays, are vulnerable to propeller-induced scour. In these cases, the scour is typically confined to the area immediately in front of the berth wall. In the present study, the scouring process was examined in a laboratory flume, where it was laterally confined by a quay wall and influenced by both propeller rotation and channel flow. The experimental campaign focused on analyzing the bathymetry of the resulting scour holes. Additionally, the hydrodynamic effects were investigated through velocity measurements obtained using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV). The experimental findings were subsequently compared with numerical simulations conducted using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model.
Year: 2024