Hydroacoustic and hydrodynamic investigation of bio-inspired leading-edge tubercles on marine-ducted thrusters

Underwater radiated noise (URN) has a negative impact on the marine acoustic environment where it can disrupt creature's basic living functions such as navigation and communication. To control ambient ocean levels due to human activities, international governing bodies International Maritime Organization (IMO) have issued non-mandatory guidelines address this issue. Under framework, hydroacoustic performance of vehicles become critical factor be evaluated controlled throughout vehicles' service life in order mitigate URN level role humankind plays ocean. This study aims apply leading-edge (LE) tubercles humpback whales’ pectoral fins benchmark ducted propeller investigate its potential mitigation. was conducted using CFD, high-fidelity improved delayed detached eddy simulations (IDDES) combination with porous Ffowcs-Williams Hawkings (FW-H) analogy used solve hydrodynamic flow field propagate generated far-field. It been found that LE shown promising mitigation capabilities far-field, OASPL at J = 0.1 reduced maximum 3.4 dB 11 reduction certain frequency ranges other operating conditions. Based detailed analysis researching fundamental vortex dynamics, is disruption coherent turbulent wake structure slipstream causing acceleration dissipation turbulence vorticity-induced noise.