In this paper the Acoustic Analogy is used to predict the underwater noise from a complete scaled ship model in a steady course. The numerical investigation is performed by coupling an incompressible RANS code, equipped with a level-set approach to account for the fundamental time evolution of the free surface, to a FWHbased hydroacoustic solver, here suitably designed to manage the huge set of data coming from a full-unsteady hydrodynamic simulation. The results reveal the overall limited contribution from the propeller thickness and loading noise components and the fundamental one from the nonlinear quadrupole sources. The comparison between the hydrodynamic and hydroacoustic solutions point out the noticeable scattering effects due to the hull surface, the possible influence of sound refractions at the free surface and, above all, the leading role played by the turbulent fluctuating component of the velocity field. Finally, by computing the pressure time histories at a prescribed set of virtual hydrophones and turning them into the frequency domain, the ship noise footprint in dB is traced out, thus showing how the Acoustic Analogy can be effectively used to analyze the ship hydroacoustic behavior, both in terms of amplitude and directivity.

The acoustic analogy represents a powerful and versatile approach, able to numerically predict the noise generated by a body moving in a fluid. It is widely used to provide essential indications about the aeroacoustic behavior of aircraft and helicopters (even at a design stage) and, eventually, to pursue effective strategies aimed at desirable reduction and/or control of noise. Nevertheless, applications in the area of hydroacoustics and in the prediction of ship underwater noise are very rare. In this paper, the potential of the acoustic analogy is directly tested on a large ferry, for which a measurement campaign at sea was performed. In spite of the complexity of the tested configuration [the ship mounts two contracted and loaded tip (CLT) propellers located ahead of two rudders, and its hull is characterized by a rather elongated skeg] and the many variables not taken into account in the numerical simulation (such as the contribution from machinery noise and the probable occurrence of tip vortex cavitation), the agreement between the measured and computed noise spectra is quite satisfactory. The analysis suggests many interesting features of the ship hydroacoustic field: the dominant role played by nonlinear sources far from the body and the relevance of scattering effects from the hull surface. Furthermore, the scattered pressure seems to contribute to alter the frequency content of the resulting signatures with respect to the blade passage frequencies. Finally, an overview of future developments and applications of this numerical approach for marine/maritime problems is presented

The aim of this work is to analyze the hydroacoustic behavior of a marine propeller through the acoustic analogy and to test the versatility and effectiveness of this approach in dealing with the many (and relatively unexplored) issues concerning the underwater noise and its numerical prediction. In particular, a propeller in a noncavitating open water condition is examined here by coupling a Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes hydrodynamic solver to a hydroacoustic code implementing different resolution forms of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FWH) equation. The numerical results suggest that unlike the analogous aeronautical problem, where the role played by the nonlinear quadrupole sources is known to be relevant just at high transonic or supersonic regime, the pressure field underwater seems to be significantly affected by the flow nonlinearities, while the contribution from the linear terms (the thickness and loading noise components) is dominant only in a spatially very limited region. Then, contrary to popular belief and regardless of the low blade rotational speed, a reliable hydroacoustic analysis of a marine propeller cannot put aside the contribution of the nonlinear noise sources represented by the turbulence and vorticity three-dimensional fields and requires the computation of the FWH quadrupole source terms.