Comparative CFD Analysis of PBCF Geometries

Comparative CFD Analysis of PBCF Geometries | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Comparative CFD Analysis of PBCF Geometries Ines Bezic, Branko Blagojevic, Martina Bašić, Davor Mimica This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9137043/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This paper gives a comparative numerical analysis of different propeller boss cap fin (PBCF) geometries using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. Previous experimental and numerical studies on PBCF applications are first summarized, highlighting their reported impact on ship propulsion and propeller efficiency. The incentive for study comes from industry demand and regulatory requirements for new builds to be more environmentally friendly and to reduce fuel consumption. A propulsion system with small ship propeller and PBCF has been studied, seven propeller cap and nine PBCF models are designed and evaluated through CFD open water test simulations. The numerical setup represents standard open water test conditions, and the results are compared against those of the initial propeller without PBCF. Initial propeller model is five blades fixed pitch propeller designed for 55m passenger ship. Thrust, torque, and propeller efficiency are evaluated and compared to analyse the impact of PBCF geometry on propeller performance. Also, detailed flow field analyses are performed in the region behind propeller to examine changes in vortex structure and velocity distribution induced by the fins. The numerical results provide insight into the interaction between PBCF design and propulsion behaviour. Cavitation PBCF CFD ESD Open water efficiency Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 26 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 06 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 30 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 23 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 16 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9137043","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":620394913,"identity":"9a76ce67-f077-43e5-b483-dbda3ea846f7","order_by":0,"name":"Ines Bezic","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAz0lEQVRIie3OPwrCMBTH8RcKzyV1Dih6hXapCKJXqQidKl4hpRAnnfUYTjoGAk45gksRnFNcHAr+A8EtcXPId3i85QM/AJ/vD8PXIfz1BNIASIh+IDjdOBH4EAAau5F2p1SGHEaTdkvX3DQnGHSkZVj3mDGiswDpfFdsxQWG69RCWJ4AEQqRhftzyBVE2jIM2eJqiLhTZLQqm8aJ5MCIkOxJSAnoRLKETfUsQprFxUpcqJX0N7OzqQ/jSX+pKn5rTj0reZd+/dQF+Hw+n8/SAxSuP/cO2NhTAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ines","middleName":"","lastName":"Bezic","suffix":""},{"id":620394915,"identity":"53592ad5-e319-4643-aa81-1bb4a2b363be","order_by":1,"name":"Branko Blagojevic","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Branko","middleName":"","lastName":"Blagojevic","suffix":""},{"id":620394919,"identity":"bc38d53d-6699-4ea3-8e5d-084b55fef96a","order_by":2,"name":"Martina Bašić","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Martina","middleName":"","lastName":"Bašić","suffix":""},{"id":620394920,"identity":"25ed7ebe-4e33-40a3-abe3-834ed80e4fa9","order_by":3,"name":"Davor Mimica","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Davor","middleName":"","lastName":"Mimica","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-16 11:10:52","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9137043/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9137043/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106959052,"identity":"9675c452-6fa3-46f2-8d2e-f6ca6ee34437","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-15 08:44:25","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3534259,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"submission.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9137043/v1_covered_e21ad11f-3a0c-4cea-81b7-1d406a8141d4.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Comparative CFD Analysis of PBCF Geometries","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"marine-systems-and-ocean-technology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"msot","sideBox":"Learn more about [Marine Systems \u0026 Ocean Technology](http://link.springer.com/journal/40868)","snPcode":"40868","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40868/3","title":"Marine Systems \u0026 Ocean Technology","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Cavitation, PBCF, CFD, ESD, Open water efficiency","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9137043/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9137043/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"This paper gives a comparative numerical analysis of different propeller boss cap fin (PBCF) geometries using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. 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