Numerical simulation of three dimensional cavitation shedding dynamics with special emphasis on cavitation–vortex interaction

Recent experiments showed that there is an interaction between the fluid vortex formation and cavitation, but the mechanism is still an open problem. In the present paper, the structure of the cavitating flow around a twisted hydrofoil was investigated numerically using the mass transfer cavitation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ocean engineering 2014-09, Vol.87, p.64-77
Main Authors: Ji, Bin, Luo, Xianwu, Arndt, Roger E.A., Wu, Yulin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3D structure
Applied fluid mechanics
Cavitation
Computational fluid dynamics
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Homogeneous model
Hydrodynamics, hydraulics, hydrostatics
Hydrofoil
Mathematical models
Nonhomogeneous flows
Physics
Rotational flow and vorticity
Separated flows
Three dimensional
Turbulence
Turbulent flow
Vortical flow
Vortices
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Summary:Recent experiments showed that there is an interaction between the fluid vortex formation and cavitation, but the mechanism is still an open problem. In the present paper, the structure of the cavitating flow around a twisted hydrofoil was investigated numerically using the mass transfer cavitation model and the modified RNG k-ε model with a local density correction for turbulent eddy viscosity. The predicted three dimensional cavity structures and the shedding frequency agree fairly well with experimental observations. Three types of flow behavior along the suction side of the twisted hydrofoil are discussed. Further analysis of the flow field reveals that cavitation promotes vortex production and increases the boundary layer thickness with local separation and the flow unsteadiness. Finally, the influence of cavitation on the vorticity distribution is illustrated using the vorticity transport equation in a variable density flow and is demonstrated by the contribution of vortex stretching, vortex dilatation and baroclinic torque terms. •3D cavitating turbulent structure around a twisted hydrofoil is simulated.•Three types of flow behavior along the hydrofoil suction side are illustrated.•The mechanism of cavitation–vortex interaction is discussed.
ISSN:0029-8018
1873-5258
DOI:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2014.05.005