Investigation of Air Entrainment Mechanisms and Suppression Techniques in Marine Vessels

Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the volume of fluid (VOF) method, we developed an analytical framework to quantify free-surface suction around ship hulls. The DTMB 5415 benchmark hull was employed to investigate the mechanisms by which underwater tail fins influence surface wake dynamics. We systematically evaluated the effects of tail-fin span on hydrodynamic drag and free-surface suction across the investigated speed range. Within the Froude number range of 0.05–0.45, underwater tail fins reduced air entrainment by optimizing hull attitude and attenuating stern waves. Free-surface suction capacity exhibited a positive correlation with vessel speed and a negative correlation with tail-fin span length. At Fr = 0.45, the free-surface suction capacity of the bare hull was 13.78 times greater than that at Fr = 0.15. At this speed, the L4 tail-fin configuration achieved a 13.292% reduction in free-surface suction. In contrast, the L2 tail-fin configuration provided a suction reduction of only 9.98%. The optimal tail-fin span represents a trade-off between drag reduction and wake suppression, as longer spans do not necessarily yield superior performance. Under cruise conditions (Fr = 0.25–0.35), the L2 tail-fin configuration exhibited optimal performance, achieving a 5.292% reduction in drag and a 13.492% reduction in free-surface suction. Across the tested Froude number range of 0.05–0.45, underwater tail fins simultaneously improved hydrodynamic performance and reduced free-surface suction, thereby effectively suppressing bubble wake formation.