This study is to investigate flow characteristics around a marine propeller using Laser-Doppler Velocimetry. This experimental method is different from conventional ones in that it provides direct quantitative information which would be extremely difficult or almost impossible to obtain with other mechanical measuring probes such as the pitot tube and the hot-film anemometer.
Measurements are compared to predictions by the actuator disk theory and the numerical lifting-surface theory. The agreement between theories and experimental results is good, or at least theory nicely follows the experimental flow pattern, which indicates that the propeller design theory can be improved further using the present LDV technique.
