FACT SHEET

ProPulse
Empirical Prediction of Pressure Pulses
Magnitude of pressure pulse induced by a propeller is an important design criterion. This is causing both
noise and vibration. Noise level is essential in case of naval and passenger vessels, whereas high vibration
level impacts all types of ship structure. Therefore prediction of pressure pulse has been a point of interest
for many decades.

Main components of a feed forward recall network with a single hidden layer.

Worst cases occur usually in cavitating condition and

are determined by type, size and frequency of cavitation.
This means that theoretical prediction of pressure pulses
requires an accurate prediction of unsteady cavitation,
which is only possible with intensive modelling and calculation. This has led to costly commercial software, which are
complicated to use and which require extensive amount of
input information.
On the contrary Holden empirical method, which was based
on a database of measurements carried out until 1978, is an
easy to use method with minimum number of input information. This has been successfully used for prediction of
pressure pulses in last two decades. New analysis methods
and measurements carried out at MARINTEK since 1980
offered the excellent opportunity to develop a new empirical
method for prediction of pressure pulses. A method, which
is easy to use but provides predictions accurate enough at
early design stage.
Artificial neural network is applied for analysis of the database. This method is successfully used in recent years in
different scientific fields. Artificial neural networks are in
case of noisy data more efficient than conventional statisti-

cal methods and offer the unique capability of easy adoption

to new data, which makes developed method a quasi-dynamic model. That means with the access to new measurement
data, developed networks can be upgraded with minimum
amount of efforts. Networks are translated to DLLs that can
be implemented easily to existing software.

ProPulse - The software for pressure

pulse prediction
Skilful programming of the method and corresponding Windows interface has yield to a user-friendly software, which
may be implemented as a daily prediction tool for design
engineer. The software has also a module to calculate pressure pulse according to Holden empirical method. Holden
method requires even less number of inputs. The software
is called ProPulse, an abbreviation for propeller pressure
pulse. ProPulse is a Windows NT software. The results can
be presented non-dimensional or with dimensions.
User may calculate pressure pulse for up to 13 different
positions at each run. Output results are:
First harmonic pressure pulse for non-cavitating case
Please turn the page

Main window

Output window

First harmonic pressure pulse for cavitating case

Second harmonic pressure pulse for cavitating case
Input parameters are:
Number of propellers
Propeller main geometry data
Propeller thrust coefficient
Propeller advance coefficient
Propeller direction of rotation
Tip clearance
Cavitation number
Nominal wake screen
Transducer position

MARINTEK - Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute

P.O.Box 4125 Valentinlyst, NO-7450 Trondheim, Norway
Tel: +47 73 59 55 00 Fax: +47 73 59 57 76 Website: www.marintek.no

Reference:
Koushan, K.(2002): Prediction of Pressure Pulses Induced by Propeller, Proceedings of FEDSM02, ASME Joint U.S.-European Fluids
Engineering Conference, Montreal, Canada

Contact: kourosh.koushan@marintek.sintef.no

June 2012