Pressure-distribution investigation of a semi-balanced ship skeg-rudder

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Description/Abstract

The results of free stream wind tunnel experiments on a semi-balanced ship skeg-rudder are presented. Tests were carried out to derive the distribution of pressures over the rudder; these tests form an extension to earlier force measurements which were the subject of separate reports.

The chordwise distributions of pressure indicate the regions of separation occurring on the rudder, and the influence of the transition strip and sealed gaps is demonstrated by changes in the pressure distributions.

Spanwise distributions of load show that changes in skeg angle (for a particular rudder angle) have an influence on both the skeg and all-movable portions of the rudder. Total forces and spanwise centres of pressure derived from the integration of the spanwise pressure loadings are in reasonable agreement with the earlier dynamometer measurements.

It is concluded that the chordwise and spanwise pressure distributions obtained from the experiments provide a satisfactory account of the detailed load distribution over a skeg-rudder for various skeg and rudder angles.