Objectives  Compared to traditional metal rigid propellers, the rigidity of composite marine propellers is lower, and the deformation of the blade under fluid-structure interaction has an obvious effect on hydrodynamic and noise performance. It is therefore particular to the composite propeller model test.

  Methods  Dimensional analysis is used to build a special similarity relation and conversion method for the hydrodynamic and noise performance of the composite propeller. To meet the requirements of the model test, the special test technology is analyzed according to the processing of the composite propeller model and its fluid-structure interaction characteristics.

  Results  The composite propeller model test, besides satisfying the similarity relation to the metal propeller model test, also essentially satisfies the similarity relation of the blade's hydrodynamic deformation.

  Conclusions  Unlike traditional metal propellers, the composite propeller offset, mechanical properties and dynamic deformation of the blade must be collected in the test, so as to select a reasonable model scale and propeller model material. Meanwhile, not only must the same dimensionless advance coefficient between the model and full-scale propeller be kept, but also the combined similarity of stiffness characteristics and Mach number of the blade tip must be met.