129 / 2025-07-16 14:09:10

Characterization of ship propeller jet scouring under the influence of restricted navigation channels

Restricted channel; ship's draft; propeller jet; jet scouring

In recent years, China's inland waterway traffic has developed rapidly, with the percentage of restricted waterway mileage increasing annually. Additionally, there has been a growing trend towards the use of larger and higher-speed ships. The jet generated by the rotating propeller of a vessel navigating in restricted waters causes significant scouring erosion of the bed surface, which poses a threat to nearby water-related structures and jeopardizes navigation safety. Investigating the erosion characteristics of the bed surface caused by the propeller jet under restricted water conditions is crucial for ensuring the safety of the restricted channel. This research holds great significance for the construction of water-related infrastructure in the region and for maintaining the safe navigation of the channel. This paper combines the flume test and theoretical analysis to study the development process of propeller jet scour area at different ship loads, analyze the evolution law of jet scour profile under different propeller heights from the bed of the ship, and reveal the change process of the maximum depth of jet scour in restricted waters. Prediction equations for the maximum scour depth under varying propeller-bed distance conditions are proposed through dimensionless analysis, show good accuracy when compared with experimental results.