Strength Evaluation of a Composite Marine Propeller Blade

Abstract

The strength of a composite propeller blade is evaluated by performing a nonlinear hydroelastic analysis. The finite element method, lifting surface theory, least square method, equilibrium equation, and Hashin failure criteria are employed for the structural analysis, fluid analysis, stress smoothing, three-dimensional stress calculation, and strength assessment, respectively. Additionally, the strength of the blades with balanced and unbalanced stacking sequences are evaluated and discussed. Five failure modes, fiber tension and compression, matrix tension and compression, and delamination are considered. The strength is shown to be insufficient for the blades with [.../45 2 /90/0] S . Meanwhile, the blades with [.../2/90/0] S and [.../15/15/90/0] S are shown to have sufficient structural strength. However, attention shall be paid to the delamination failure at the leading and trailing edges of the blade.