Aspect ratio effects on hydrodynamic characteristics of Magnus stabilizers

Abstract Magnus stabilizer is a novel device for anti-rolling of ships which generates lift through a high-speed rotating rotor (rotor wing) based on Magnus effect. The present work aims to investigate the influence of aspect ratios, A S (ratio of the length and the diameter) on hydrodynamic characteristics with particular attention paid to the A S at maximum hydrodynamics (lift/drag, hydrodynamics coefficients and lift-drag ratio). The simulation experiments were carried out on two different conditions: rotor wings in flow with ship speed and rotary speed not changed and with ship speed or rotary speed changed. For the first condition, hydrodynamics on rotor wings with the length 1 m–4 m and diameters from 0.05 m to 0.8 m were investigated. The relationships between the aspect ratios at the maximum hydrodynamics and the length of rotor wing were summarized. For the second condition, hydrodynamics on rotor wings with the same length but different diameters from 0.05 m to 0.8 m were investigated. How the A S at maximum hydrodynamics affected by ship speed or rotary speed were analyzed. Finally, for practical purposes, the aspect ratio was optimized considered about A S at maximum lift coefficient, lift-drag ratio and lift increment for a 2.5-m rotor wing.